On January 16, 2026, the Mexican government published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) a reform presented as a “public health” measure, significantly strengthening the sanctions framework applicable to vaping products. The provisions entered into force in the days immediately following publication and triggered enforcement measures with practical consequences also for foreign nationals.

The central element of the reform is its supply-chain approach: it is not merely a matter of restricting retail sales, but of targeting commercial activities connected to vaping products, including so-called “analogous electronic systems”, at every level — production, distribution, commercialisation, importation, and related activities.

For travellers, carrying an electronic cigarette in their luggage may become a serious issue. According to press sources, in the event of an inspection, devices may be confiscated, and very substantial financial penalties may apply; where there is suspicion of conduct linked to distribution activities, prison sentences of up to eight years may also be imposed.

It is also worth highlighting the political framing of the reform: within the same legislative framework, vaping products are referred to alongside toxic substances, chemical precursors, and unauthorised synthetic drugs (including fentanyl), thus placing vaping within the same policy “risk” perimeter.