Alleged Violations of Tobacco Control and Other Laws

Tobacco companies aggressively block, weaken, and undermine policies designed to protect public health and reduce tobacco use, and at times they have been found to work outside of countries’ laws. In multiple instances tobacco companies have been found to have violated the law.

Following extensive marketing of Philip Morris International’s heated cigarette IQOS across Colombia on billboards, bars and social media, local public health group Asociación Colombiana de Educación al Consumidor – Educar Consumidores, has filed a lawsuit, in the Administrative Court of Bogota, against regulators for failing to protect Colombians from this aggressive tobacco advertising.

Evidence provided in the lawsuit shows widespread promotion of IQOS at local bars, music festivals, and restaurants as well as through social media content that has been posted by popular social media influencers. The evidence collected in Colombia is similar to the marketing of IQOS seen in other countries.