Brazil’s MPF and Anvisa sign pact to intensify enforcement against vapes

Key Points

• MPF and Anvisa formed a cooperation framework to strengthen vape enforcement and risk communication.
• The key goal is full compliance with Anvisa’s RDC 855/2024 vape ban.
• The agencies will share technical intelligence from inspections in physical and digital environments and run joint actions.
• MPF will pursue civil/criminal accountability and coordinate with other oversight bodies; Anvisa will provide technical-scientific support and share surveillance data.
• Bimonthly coordination meetings; 60-month term; no funding transfers.

2Firsts, Feb 3, 2026

According to Brazil’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), the MPF and the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) signed a protocol of intentions to intensify enforcement against electronic smoking devices (DEFs) and develop public awareness campaigns on health risks.

The cooperation was enabled by the Health Commission linked to the MPF’s First Chamber for Social Rights and Oversight of Administrative Acts (1CCR). The protocol was signed by MPF Secretary-General Eliana Torelly and Anvisa Director-President Leandro Safatle.

The agreement seeks to ensure full compliance with Anvisa’s RDC No. 855/2024, which prohibits the manufacturing, importation, commercialization, distribution, storage, transportation, and advertising of e-cigarettes across Brazil. The cooperation will be carried out through the sharing of technical information from inspections in both physical locations and online environments, along with coordinated joint actions.

Under the division of responsibilities, MPF will pursue civil and criminal accountability for identified violations and coordinate with other control bodies. Anvisa will provide technical-scientific support and share data related to actions taken by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance System.

To align strategy, the institutions will hold bimonthly meetings. The protocol is valid for 60 months and may be extended; it предусматривает no transfer of financial resources between the parties.

The protocol also reflects MPF’s earlier position. In 2024, MPF issued a technical note on Bill No. 5,008/2023, which proposed legalizing and regulating these devices, recommending against its approval on the grounds that it would weaken Brazil’s national tobacco control policy and violate the precautionary principle. The note emphasized maintaining and strengthening the current prohibition framework, ramping up enforcement, tightening import controls to curb illicit trade, and pairing those measures with education campaigns, systematic monitoring, and cessation-focused strategies.

Image source: Federal Prosecution Service of Brazil (MPF)