Brazilian Senate Postpones Vote on Proposal to Legalize E-cigarettes
According to Brazilian media Globo, the Brazilian Senate's Committee on Economic Affairs (CAE) postponed the vote on a proposal to legalize the sale of e-cigarettes in Brazil and prohibit the consumption and sale of them to minors on March 12th.
After investigator Eduardo Gomez's (PL-TO) opinion was approved, deliberations on the proposal were interrupted, and a request for a public hearing was subsequently approved.
The public hearing will be held jointly with the Oversight and Control Committee and the Social Affairs Committee. If CAE approves the project, it will need to be reviewed by these committees before being sent to the House of Commons.
The proposal put forward by Senator Soraya Thronicke has faced resistance among conservative lawmakers. The proposal calls for Brazil to be able to produce, consume, sell, export, and import e-cigarettes after they are registered by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), regardless of whether they contain nicotine or tobacco ingredients. Additionally, the proposal would prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed spaces, similar to traditional cigarettes.
Since 2009, the sale of e-cigarettes has been prohibited in the country due to a resolution by Anvisa. At that time, the agency decided to ban the sale, import, and promotion of these devices due to a lack of scientific data on their safety.
In 2022, the ban was upheld, but the decision may be subject to reconsideration expected later this year.
The report also stated that regulation could lead to an increase in job opportunities in the market, with tax revenue increasing by $673 million. Senate Majority Leader Jacques Wagner said that the President's office has not yet taken a position on the progress of the proposal in Congress.
In a public statement, the medical association pointed out the risks to human health and supported the continued prohibition of sales.
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