Colombia became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on July 9, 2008.
Smoke Free Places: Smoking is prohibited on public transportation, in enclosed public places, and in enclosed workplaces, without exception. The ban includes a residence that is a place of work for others.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: Tobacco advertising is prohibited in all forms of media. The law also prohibits all “tobacco promotion.” Although the law does not define “promotion,” a Constitutional Court case (C-830-10) found the term to have the meaning of “tobacco advertising and promotion” as set forth in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: A warning text and accompanying image must appear on the two principal display areas (front and back) of tobacco product packages, and occupy 30 percent of each display area. Each of the six prescribed warnings must appear on an equal number of packages of each brand each year. The Ministry of Welfare is required to update the warnings annually. Misleading terms such as “light” and “low tar” are prohibited on tobacco packaging, but other misleading packaging (e.g., colors, numbers, and symbols) is not prohibited.
Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in Colombia are below these recommendations.
| SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
|---|---|
|
Health-care facilities
Yes
|
Private offices
Yes
|
|
Primary and secondary schools
Yes
|
Public transport
Yes
|
|
Universities
Yes
|
Restaurants
Yes
|
|
Governmental facilities
Yes
|
Bars and Pubs
Yes
|
|
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
No
|
|
| BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|
|
Domestic TV and radio
Yes
|
Promotional discounts
Yes
|
|
Domestic magazines and newspapers
Yes
|
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising
Yes
|
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
Yes
|
Paid placement in media
Yes
|
|
Retail product display
Yes
|
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
Yes
|
|
Internet advertising
Yes
|
Publicity of sponsorships
Yes
|
|
Free distribution
Yes
|
|
| HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
|
Text warnings describe health impacts
Yes
|
Number of published warnings at any given time
6
|
|
Warnings include a picture or graphic
Yes
|
Warnings required to rotate
Required
|
|
% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
30%
|
Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
Yes
|
|
Front
30%
|
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
Yes
|
|
Back
30%
|
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
Yes
|
| TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
|---|---|
| PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) |
|
In country currency
5152.00
COP
|
Total taxes
73%
|
|
In US dollars
1.38
USD
|
Total excise
57%
|
Sources:
SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org
Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021. Available at: www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/
Last updated: May 15, 2020