E-cigarettes in Brazil

Brazil: Stefania Piras, general manager of tobacco products inspection for the National Public Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), has defended the national ban on e-cigarettes and said use in the country is still low, press reports. The Anvisa board voted unanimously in July to maintain the existing ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco. The agency is still discussing whether a new draft regulation will go out to public consultation.

Brazil: The Ministry of Justice has ordered 31 companies to stop selling e-cigarettes within 48 hours or face a daily fine of BRL5,000 ($960). Although the National Public Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has already banned e-cigs, the ministry has seen evidence of them being sold with the appearance of legality.

Brazil: The board of the National Public Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) decided unanimously at an extraordinary meeting yesterday, 6th July, to maintain the existing ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco. The agency will now prepare a regulatory draft that will be sent to the body’s governing body, the college, for deliberation. The college will later decide whether or not to open the draft for a public consultation.

Brazil: The National Public Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) was to discuss the regulation of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco in an extraordinary meeting today, 6th July. The public meeting was called to consider information and comments received during a public consultation, which closed on 10th June. In its preliminary report, published in April, the agency suggested that the existing ban should be maintained. No final decision is expected yet.

Brazil: National Public Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) director Cristiane Jourdan has told media there is not yet enough evidence for the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco for them to be approved for use. However, she added that studies were at an early stage and that potential additional measures mentioned in the regulatory report published earlier this month, such as an advertising ban, were awaiting a final decision. ANVISA is taking technical and scientific evidence about the products until 11th May.

Brazil: The National Public Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) will be receiving technical and scientific evidence about e-cigarettes and heated tobacco from 11th April to 11th May to help it analyse the impact of regulation. Any interested party can offer evidence. The agency has also published a report suggesting the current prohibition should be maintained, and that educational campaigns should be implemented, aimed particularly at young people. Any firm decisions will come later.