Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of September 21, 2026, from the General Directorate of Public Health and Health Equity, publishing the Agreement with the National Committee for Tobacco Prevention |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | September 29, 2026 |
| Effective date | September 18, 2026 |
| Signatory parties | Ministry of Health (General Directorate of Public Health and Health Equity) and National Committee for Tobacco Prevention (CNPT) |
| Reference framework | Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Prevention and Control 2024-2027 and WHO's MPOWER strategy |
| Category | Regulatory Changes — Public Health |
| Legal nature | Collaboration agreement of public interest (not a public contract) |
The Ministry of Health and the CNPT have formalized a collaboration agreement that will enter into force on September 18, 2026, although its publication in the BOE occurred on September 29, 2026. This agreement is not a public contract nor does it generate economic benefits between the parties: it is a collaboration of public interest between the administration and the third sector, framed within the Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Prevention and Control 2024-2027 and the WHO's MPOWER strategy.
The relevance for the healthcare sector, researchers, and companies in the tobacco and nicotine field is clear: this agreement establishes the institutional foundations to promote regulatory modifications, awareness campaigns, and epidemiological surveillance on tobacco consumption and new nicotine devices in Spain.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement articulates a series of specific commitments between the Ministry of Health and the CNPT. Below are all the planned actions:
| Joint action | Primary responsible |
|---|---|
| Joint participation in the annual Congress on Tobacco Prevention and Control (main national forum on the subject) | Both parties |
| Exchange and sharing of tobacco prevalence and consumption data | Both parties |
| Preparation of technical reports on tobacco use | Both parties |
| Support for regulatory modifications on tobacco and nicotine matters | Both parties |
| Dissemination of awareness campaigns through the CNPT's network of professionals and scientific societies | CNPT |
| Dissemination of scientific evidence on new nicotine devices | CNPT (through its network) |
The CNPT provides its network of professionals and scientific societies as a dissemination channel, while the Ministry provides the institutional framework and public administration resources. The nature of the agreement expressly excludes any contractual relationship or benefits typical of public contracts.
Economic and operational impact
This agreement does not imply direct economic transfers or immediate sanctions for companies or professionals. However, its operational impact is relevant in several areas:
- Tobacco and nicotine sector: Explicit support for regulatory modifications anticipates possible tightening of regulation on new nicotine devices (electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches). Sector companies must anticipate more restrictive regulatory scenarios.
- Healthcare professionals and health centers: The dissemination of campaigns and scientific evidence through the CNPT's network may translate into new clinical protocols or healthcare practice recommendations.
- Researchers and scientific societies: The exchange of prevalence data and preparation of technical reports opens opportunities for collaboration and access to updated epidemiological information.
- Advertising and communication sector: Awareness campaigns promoted by this agreement may generate tenders or assignments in the field of public health communication.
From a regulatory perspective, the agreement is framed within the Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Prevention and Control 2024-2027, which means that actions derived from it will extend at least until 2027. Nicotine sector companies must incorporate this time horizon into their strategic planning and regulatory compliance.
Who does it affect?
- Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists): recipients of awareness campaigns and scientific evidence disseminated by the CNPT.
- Scientific societies and professional associations integrated into the CNPT's network: active channels for disseminating the agreement.
- Researchers in public health and epidemiology: potential access to prevalence and consumption data shared between the parties.
- Manufacturing and distribution companies of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and nicotine devices: affected by possible regulatory modifications promoted by the agreement.
- Companies in the advertising and health communication sector: potential beneficiaries of campaigns financed or promoted by the Ministry of Health.
- Smokers and nicotine product consumers: final recipients of prevention and control campaigns.
Practical example
A heated tobacco device manufacturing company currently operates in Spain under existing regulation. With the signing of this agreement, the Ministry of Health and the CNPT commit to preparing technical reports and supporting specific regulatory modifications on new nicotine devices.
This means that within the horizon of the 2024-2027 Plan, this company could face new restrictions on commercialization, advertising, or product composition derived from jointly prepared technical reports. The Regulatory Affairs director of this company should, from now on, monitor reports and communications from the CNPT and the Ministry of Health, and evaluate more restrictive regulatory scenarios aligned with the WHO's MPOWER strategy.
Similarly, a scientific society integrated into the CNPT's network will receive campaign materials and updated prevalence data to disseminate among its members, which may translate into new intervention protocols in clinical practice.
What should companies do now?
- Tobacco and nicotine sector companies: Review the Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Prevention and Control 2024-2027 and identify which regulatory aspects on new nicotine devices may be affected by technical reports prepared by this agreement.
- Regulatory Affairs departments: Set up alerts on CNPT and Ministry of Health publications related to regulatory modifications in tobacco and nicotine, especially within the 2024-2027 horizon.
- Healthcare professionals and scientific societies: Be alert to campaign materials and scientific evidence disseminated by the CNPT through its network, as they may involve updates to clinical protocols.
- Researchers and research centers: Explore collaboration pathways with the CNPT or the Ministry of Health to access prevalence and consumption data that will be shared under this agreement.
- Health communication companies: Monitor tenders and assignments that may result from awareness campaigns promoted by this agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNPT and what role does it have in this agreement?
The CNPT (National Committee for Tobacco Prevention) is a third-sector entity that brings together healthcare professionals and scientific societies specialized in tobacco use. In this agreement, its main role is to provide its network of professionals to disseminate awareness campaigns and scientific evidence on new nicotine devices, as well as collaborate in preparing technical reports and supporting regulatory modifications.
When does the Health Ministry-CNPT 2026 agreement enter into force?
The agreement entered into force on September 18, 2026, although its publication in the BOE occurred on September 29, 2026. The official reference is the Resolution of September 21, 2026 from the General Directorate of Public Health and Health Equity (BOE-A-2026-20254).
Does this agreement imply sanctions or new economic obligations for tobacco companies?
Not directly. The agreement does not establish sanctions or immediate economic obligations. However, one of its explicit objectives is to support regulatory modifications on tobacco and new nicotine devices, which may result in more restrictive regulations within the 2024-2027 Plan horizon. Sector companies must anticipate this regulatory scenario.
What are the new nicotine devices mentioned in the agreement?
The agreement explicitly references "new nicotine devices" as the subject of scientific evidence dissemination. This category includes products such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco devices, and nicotine pouches, which are in the regulatory focus of both the Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Prevention and Control 2024-2027 and the WHO's MPOWER strategy.
What is the WHO's MPOWER strategy and why is it relevant to this agreement?
MPOWER is the acronym for the six tobacco control measures recommended by the World Health Organization: Monitor tobacco use, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco, Warn about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, and Raise taxes on tobacco. This agreement explicitly aligns with this strategy, indicating that joint actions by Health and the CNPT will follow this international framework as a reference for future regulatory proposals.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20254
