On July 6, 2022, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, Anvisa) decided to maintain the current ban on the importation, advertising, and sale of electronic cigarettes in Brazil.
The decision was made during an extraordinary public meeting of Anvisa, where the board unanimously approved the regulatory impact analysis report (relatório de análise de impacto regulatório, AIR) on electronic smoking devices (dispositivos eletrônicos para fumar, DEF).
A presentation made during the meeting listed the reasons drawn from several studies that supported continuing the ban, among which are the following: no type of DEF is useful for stopping smoking or treatment; DEFs, because of the presence of nicotine, cause dependence and various health risks; reducing the emission of substances does not mean reducing risk or harm to health; medium- and long-term studies of health impacts have not been carried out; young people are being initiated into smoking through DEFs, making it two to three times more likely that they will start to use conventional products; and the great diversity of products makes it impossible to predict the risks.
The report concluded that it is necessary to maintain the ban on electronic smoking devices, which includes all types of electronic cigarettes, and to adopt additional measures to curb the irregular trade in these products, such as increased enforcement actions and carrying out educational campaigns.
Since 2009, all types of electronic smoking devices have been prohibited by Anvisa, according to Resolution No. 46 of August 28, 2009. Article 1 of Resolution No. 46 prohibits the commercialization, import, and advertising of any electronic devices for smoking.