Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health (MSP) has officially approved the 15th Round of Health Warnings for tobacco and nicotine packaging under Ministerial Agreement MSP-MSP-2026-0005-A. Published in Official Registry No. 254, this regulatory update aims to curb consumption by visibly exposing the severe health risks of smoking, vaping, and oral nicotine use.
Health warnings on packaging remain one of the most cost-effective measures to educate the public and prevent initiation. This latest round addresses modern consumption habits by expanding warnings beyond traditional cigarettes to include electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and novel oral products.
The new warnings focus on six critical health consequences associated with tobacco and nicotine use:
- Brain Addiction: Alteration of brain reward and reinforcement circuits.
- Mortality: Premature death linked to cancer and chronic illnesses.
- Amputations: Increased risk of vascular disease and limb loss, particularly for diabetic users.
- Oral Health: Periodontal disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer.
- Respiratory Damage: Chronic inflammation, persistent cough, asthma, and COPD.
- Toxicity: Exposure to carcinogens, heavy metals, and toxic secondhand aerosols.
To ensure comprehensive coverage, the MSP has classified regulated products into five distinct groups:
- Group 1: Traditional combustible products (cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, waterpipes).
- Group 2: Heated tobacco products (HTPs).
- Group 3: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes, vapes).
- Group 4: Smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, snus).
- Group 5: Novel oral nicotine products (nicotine pouches, gummies, gums).
