President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s war on tobacco looks like it won’t let up any time soon.
Last month, he signed a decree banning the sale of vaping products and electronic cigarettes. Meanwhile, smoking was banned in several iconic public places in Mexico City’s historic center.
Now the federal government wants to prohibit displays of cigarettes and tobacco products at their points of sale.
According to an initiative published in the Federal Commission for Regulatory Improvement (Cofemer), such displays cover shelves, counters and other points that have direct or indirect visibility to the customer.
The National Council of the Tobacco Industry (Conainta) responded to the proposal by saying the move would hinder free trade and financially affect businesses selling these products, and may even force some smaller ones to close.