Brazil Senate to Legalize Vape Sales Amid Medical Opposition

A contentious bill proposed by Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS) aims to legalize the sale of electronic cigarettes in Brazil, despite a standing ban by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The bill, which has faced several postponements, is set to be discussed by the Senate’s Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) on Tuesday, August 20th, and has mobilized 80 medical entities to voice their strong opposition.

Medical Community Stands Firm Against Vape Legalization

In a joint statement led by the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) and the Brazilian Society of Pulmonology and Tisiology (SBPT), the medical entities unequivocally reiterate their stance against any changes to the regulation of electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, “without any reservations.”

Doctor Ricardo Meirelles, coordinator of the AMB Anti-Smoking Commission, argues, “This project is a disservice to the Brazilian population because it intends to release a product that causes a lot of harm to health.”

Anvisa’s Ban and the Potential Consequences of Legalization

In April of this year, Anvisa unanimously decided to maintain the ban on the manufacture, import, and sale of electronic cigarettes in the country, a position it has held since 2009. However, if the legalization bill advances in the Senate, it will be sent to the Chamber of Deputies without the need for Anvisa’s approval.

Senator Thronicke’s bill, written in 2023, contends that the ban “was justified based on one of the principles of health surveillance, the precautionary principle, since at that time little was known about the products.” She argues that preventing commercialization would be like “covering the sun with a sieve,” given the increase in use despite the lack of approval.

If electronic cigarettes are legalized, they will be subject to taxation, and supporters of the proposal in the Senate estimate that the collected taxes could reach R$2.2 billion per year.

Healthcare Costs and the Dangers of Vaping

Doctors counter that the potential tax revenue would not cover the increased healthcare costs associated with the legalization of electronic cigarettes. They argue that the growth in respiratory diseases would be significant, requiring more investments in the Unified Health System (SUS). In 2022 alone, Brazil spent R$153.5 billion on medical expenses and lost productivity caused by the consequences of tobacco use.

“It has been proven for many, many years that the harm caused by smoking is much greater than the government collects in taxes from cigarettes. The harm caused by electronic cigarettes will also outweigh the possible pseudo-benefits,” Meirelles reinforces.

Paulo César Rodrigues Pinto Correa, coordinator of the SBPT Smoking Commission, points out that electronic cigarettes are toxic and serve as a gateway to conventional cigarettes. “Today we have Evali, a lung disease associated with electronic cigarette or vaping products, which is already a specific disease, in addition to other risks to the respiratory system,” he adds.

Correa believes that the issue is the target of political maneuvers and calls for more monitoring and combating of the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes. Without this, he warns, the increase in illegal sales will continue to be used as justification for attempts to legalize them.

As the debate over the legalization of electronic cigarettes in Brazil continues, the medical community remains steadfast in its opposition, emphasizing the potential health risks and the need for stricter regulation and enforcement of the existing ban.

News source: Vape: 80 entidades médicas reiteram proibição da venda no Brasil

Author
Recent Posts

Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.