Brazil’s Health Surveillance Agency Wins World No Tobacco Day Award for E-Cigarette Ban Recognized by WHO

Key Points:

1.The National Health Surveillance Agency of Brazil received an award from the World Health Organization for banning e-cigarettes.

2.Research data shows that the usage rate of e-cigarettes among Brazilian adults is projected to increase by 24% in 2024.

3.The ban on e-cigarettes in Brazil has contributed to significantly lower levels of e-cigarette usage compared to other countries.

4.Brazil has launched anti-smoking campaigns and expanded treatment methods to actively combat emerging challenges.

According to Brazilian media portal Tela on May 28th, Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) was awarded the World No Tobacco Day prize from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its outstanding contributions to tobacco regulations and the prohibition of e-cigarettes. The award ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (Opas) in Brasilia. Anvisa Director Danitza Buvinich emphasized that the ban on e-cigarettes is an important measure to protect public health.

On the same day, a study conducted by the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (Inca) found that by 2024, the use of e-cigarettes among adults had increased by 24%, while the use of traditional tobacco had grown by 25%, reaching 13.8% of the national population. These figures are seen as a setback for anti-smoking policies.

Health Minister Alexandre Padilha emphasized the importance of continuing to implement Anvisa's resolution banning the sale and promotion of e-cigarettes. He stated that the number of people using e-cigarette devices in Brazil is far lower than in countries that have legalized these products. Research also shows that smoking costs Brazil 153.5 billion reais ($27.1 billion) annually, representing 1.55% of the gross domestic product.

In order to raise public awareness, especially among young people, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has initiated a campaign called "Smoke-Free Life, Healthy Future". The campaign aims to alert people to the potential risks of e-cigarettes and their additives. According to data, the usage rate of e-cigarettes among young people aged 18 to 24 is as high as 6.1%.

Additionally, Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS) is expanding the accessibility and variety of smoking cessation treatments. Between 2022 and 2024, related medical services increased by 96.4%, reflecting Brazil's efforts in smoking prevention and treatment.

Brazil was one of the earliest countries to join the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.