Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Applauds Uruguay’s Reaffirmation of Global Tobacco Control Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 4, 2025 – The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids commends the Government of Uruguay for its decisive action to reverse two executive decrees which had weakened the country’s tobacco control measures. These decrees from 2021 and 2022 had allowed the sales of heated tobacco products and relaxed plain packaging requirements, representing a step backward in Uruguay’s globally recognized efforts to reduce tobacco use. The repeal of these decrees restores Uruguay’s commitment to public health and sends a strong message that public policy must be guided by evidence, not by pressure from the tobacco industry.

Uruguay – a member of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a global public health treaty - has long been a global pioneer in tobacco control. In 2019, it became the first country in Latin America to implement plain packaging for tobacco products, an evidence-based measure that reduces the appeal of tobacco and limits the tobacco industry's ability to mislead consumers. Uruguay also made international headlines in 2010 when it stood up to Philip Morris International’s legal challenges and won, setting a historic precedent for governments worldwide committed to protecting their citizens from tobacco.

We also recognize the essential role of Uruguayan civil society organizations, whose persistent advocacy, including legal action, was instrumental in achieving this outcome. Their efforts underscore the power of civil society engagement in defending public health. 

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids stands ready to continue supporting Uruguay and other low- and middle-income countries committed to advancing strong and effective tobacco control measures.