Mexico Earns Global Recognition for Tobacco Control Policies

Bloomberg Philanthropies has recognized the Mexican government for its progress in implementing policies that ban the advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products. The acknowledgment was presented during the Advances and Outlook in Tobacco and Nicotine Control: Mexico as an International Reference event, held at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER).

Francisco Gutiérrez, National Commissioner for Mental Health and Addictions, CONASAMA, credited the recognition to coordinated efforts across federal health authorities. He says that the distinction represents a shared responsibility between government and civil society to strengthen public policies based on scientific evidence and free from conflicts of interest. “This is not only a matter of pride but also a responsibility to continue informing and preventing the consequences of tobacco and nicotine use,” he adds.

The award comes as Mexico continues to align its strategies with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), signed by 192 countries. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death globally, generating significant economic costs for health systems due to treatments for smoke-related diseases. Authorities noted the need to advance legislative measures, including the constitutional ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems, as part of a broader national health protection agenda.

Ramiro López, Deputy Minister for Health Policy and Population Welfare, warns about aggressive marketing strategies from tobacco and vaping product manufacturers targeting younger populations. He says that the industry’s sponsorship efforts do not offset the harm caused by its products.

The country has made significant progress in implementing the MPOWER strategy, says José Moya, Representative in Mexico, PAHO. This framework includes actions to monitor tobacco use, protect the public from smoke exposure, offer cessation support, warn about health risks, enforce bans on promotion, and increase tobacco taxes. He says, however, that interference from the tobacco industry remains a key challenge to fully consolidating these measures.