Brazilian Associations Urge Regulations on E-Cigarette and DEFs

According to a report by Revistaoeste on August 14th, 38 Brazilian commercial, trade union, industrial, and agricultural associations have jointly signed and released a declaration urging Congress to implement "urgent" regulations on e-cigarettes and electronic smoking devices (DEFs).

Despite the ban imposed by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), approximately 2.9 million people are still using e-cigarettes, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute (IPEC). This number has increased by 600% compared to 2018. Another study conducted by Covitel in 2023 estimates that as many as 4.4 million adults are using e-cigarettes.

According to Congressman Hiran Gonçalves (PP-RR), banning the consumption of these products without regulation is not an effective solution, especially considering the prevalence of this habit among young people.

I believe that we should regulate its use and sales, impose high taxes, and use the revenue to treat diseases related to tobacco and nicotine.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for strict control over advertisements.

The coalition also pointed out that regulating this market is important to curb national economic losses.

According to a study by the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (FIEMG), the market value of the e-cigarette industry is approximately 10.5 billion Brazilian Reais (2.74 billion US dollars). Currently, this market is dominated by criminal organizations, leading to an annual federal tax loss of 3.4 billion Brazilian Reais (620 million US dollars) and a state tax loss of 2.1 billion Brazilian Reais (380 million US dollars).

The 38 entities also proposed conducting toxicological and plant quarantine analysis, as well as carrying out educational campaigns to reduce e-cigarette consumption among young people. In addition, there is a need to restrict the nicotine content in these products and limit flavors and colors that may attract young people.

The initiator of bill PL 5.008/2023, Senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS), has expressed concerns about e-cigarette use in Brazil. The bill is currently awaiting review by the Senate's Economic Affairs Committee.

Various unregulated e-cigarettes are entering our market without being taxed, and we don't even know what these devices contain. We don't know what 2.9 million Brazilians are using.