Brazil Orders Retailers to Stop Selling E-cigarettes or Face Fines

Last week, Brazil's Ministry of Justice ordered 32 retailers in the country to cease the sale of electronic cigarette products or face substantial daily fines. The companies were given 48 hours to comply with the order, which was published in the official Brazilian Gazette on September 1. If retailers disregard the Ministry's order, they will be subject to a daily fine of 5,000 Brazilian reals (approximately $969 USD).

Less than two months after Brazil's food and drug regulatory agency, the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), confirmed its stance to maintain the existing ban on e-cigarette products in the country, a threat has arisen.

Brazil passed a ban on e-cigarettes in 2009, but these regulations are often ignored and e-cigarettes can be purchased in stores and online. Even large retailers appear to be disregarding the country's laws. According to a report by The Brazilian Report, one of the companies named in a judicial order is French retailer Carrefour, which operates over 1,000 stores in the country and is the largest chain supermarket in Brazil.

The Brazilian Judiciary and Public Security Department issued a press release on September 1, describing their action as a "preventative measure". According to the statement, the country's consumer protection agency, SENACON, "has assessed the necessity of taking emergency measures to address problems and protect consumer health and safety".

Approximately 20 million Brazilians smoke legally sold cigarettes. Brazil is the world's second largest tobacco producing country, second only to China.

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