Brasilia, April 19, 2024 – The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) of Brazil reaffirmed this Friday (19/04) the decision to prohibit the commercialization, import, and advertising of electronic smoking devices. The update of the current resolution in force in the country occurred this Friday (19/04) during the 6th Ordinary Public Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Socorro Gross, the representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Brazil, congratulated Anvisa on approving the resolution, which aligns with PAHO/WHO recommendations for tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. "The resolution protects, saves lives, effectively promotes public health, and is a crucial step towards a healthier and safer environment for all people," she said.
Socorro Gross also highlighted that the text approved by Anvisa's Board of Directors after public consultation is a response to the tobacco industry's harmful strategies to attract young people to consume these products that cause serious health problems. "The measure adopts a proactive stance by anticipating and prohibiting similar products that may emerge in the future. This is crucial considering the serious health harms, especially to children and young people exposed to them."
In 2009, Anvisa banned all types of electronic smoking devices, and it was also in a resolution of the board of directors of that year. In December 2023, the regulatory agency opened a public consultation to receive contributions for the new resolution text regulating electronic smoking devices.
Brazil is among the eight countries that ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and among the five that ban the sale of heated tobacco products. It adopted this regulatory approach along with other leading tobacco control countries in the region, such as Panama and Mexico.
Electronic cigarettes
Electronic nicotine delivery systems are the most common form of electronic cigarettes. When used, they heat a liquid to create aerosols that the user inhales. These liquids contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance found in tobacco, and other additives, flavorings, and chemicals, some of which are toxic to the health of the user and those exposed to them.
Tobacco kills one million people a year in the Region of the Americas. Although measures taken since the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force in 2005 have reduced the percentage of smokers from 26.8% of the total population in 2000 to 16.6 % in 2022, these new tobacco and nicotine products threaten these achievements.
