The collegial council of Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) is assessing this Friday (1st) whether the regulation of e-cigarettes in Brazil should be put up for public discussion.

The decree has prohibited since 2009 the production, sale, import and advertising of electronic smoking devices, popularly known as vapes.

Electronic cigarettes have been banned in the country since 2009 – Photo: Pixabay

Following the publication of the agenda for the meeting last Wednesday (22), Anvisa said it had received several requests for oral statements and access to agency facilities from representatives of the regulated sector, civilians and the general public to observe the discussions.

Public demonstrations are also being planned in front of Anvisa’s headquarters in Brasília by organizations interested in the issue. “The Collegial Council has decided that the above-mentioned public meeting will be held without the presence of representatives of the regulated sector, civilians and the general public, in order to ensure the normality of its conduct.”

The debate will be broadcast on Anvisa’s official YouTube channel. Interested parties may make oral representations to the directors for information in accordance with available instructions. The material will be published on the agency’s website and reproduced during the meeting.

Anvis report

Electronic cigarettes have been banned in Brazil since 2009 – Photo: Agência Brasil/Ministry of Health/ND

Last year, Anvisa’s board of directors unanimously approved a technical report that called for maintaining the ban on electronic smoking devices and taking additional measures to curb illegal trade in this type of product, such as increased verification efforts and educational campaigns.

The document defines a diagnostic type and research phase containing information and data on the likely impacts of regulation, which serve to test impacts, propose action scenarios and support decision-making. Thus, the report brings together all the evidence collected by Anvisa’s technical team.

Understand

Electronic smoking devices are also known as e-cigarettes, vapes, pods, e-cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars, and heat-not-burn devices (heated tobacco). Although commercialization is prohibited in Brazil, these devices can be found in several commercial establishments and their consumption, especially among young people, has increased.

Since 2003, when they were created, the equipment has undergone a number of changes: disposable or disposable products; refillable products containing liquid refills (which primarily contain propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine and flavorings) in an open or closed system; heated tobacco products having an electronic device to which a rod containing tobacco is attached; a capsule system that contains nicotine salts and other substances diluted in liquid and resembles, among other things, flash drives.

“The commercialization, import and advertising of all types of electronic smoking devices are prohibited in Brazil by decision of the Anvisa Collegial Council No. 46 of August 28, 2009. This decision was based on the precautionary principle due to the lack of scientific data to support the claims attributed to these products.”

Health Hazard

E-cigarettes with a pleasant aroma and taste have hit the market, promising to be less harsh than regular cigarettes. However, the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) warns that the vast majority of vapes contain nicotine, an addictive psychoactive drug that, when inhaled, reaches the brain in 7 to 19 seconds, releasing chemicals that cause an immediate sensation of pleasure. .

According to the company, in electronic cigarettes, nicotine is present in liquid form with a strong additive ability along with solvents (propylene glycol or glycerin), water, flavorings (about 16 thousand types), flavorings and substances designed to produce a smoother vapor to make inhalation easier and absorption through the respiratory tract. “Hundreds of substances have been found in aerosols, many of which are toxic and carcinogenic.”

“The e-cigarette, in the form of a USB flash drive, delivers nicotine in a “nicotine salt” form that resembles the natural structure of nicotine found in tobacco leaves, making it easier to inhale over a longer period of time without causing discomfort to the user. User.”, emphasized AMV.

“Each flash drive e-cigarette unit contains 0.7 milliliters (ml) of nicotine e-liquid, providing 200 puffs, which is the same as the number of puffs a smoker would take from 20 regular cigarettes. In other words, we can say that smoking a flash drive is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes (pack).”

Also according to the organization, the use of e-cigarettes has been associated as an independent factor in the development of asthma, increases arterial stiffness in healthy volunteers, and is a risk of acute myocardial infarction, just like traditional cigarettes. Laboratory studies have shown that e-cigarettes are carcinogenic to the lungs and bladder.

Pulmonary disease outbreak

Between August 2019 and February 2020, there was an outbreak of lung diseases among e-cigarette users. There have been nearly 3,000 cases and 68 confirmed deaths in the United States alone.

National Congress

In addition to the Anvisa debate, the Federal Senate is considering Bill (PL) 5008/2023, sponsored by Senator Soraya Tronique, which would authorize the production, import, export and consumption of electronic cigarettes in Brazil.

The youth

According to the National Study of School Health (PeNSE) conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2019, 22.6% of students aged 13 to 17 in the country said they had tried cigarettes at least once in their lives, and 26.9% tried hookah, 16.8% tried electronic cigarettes.

The study surveyed adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who were attending 7th grade of primary school and 3rd grade of secondary school in public and private schools.

Tobacco control

Brazil has received international recognition for its tobacco control policies. In July 2019, it became the second country to fully implement all measures outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce tobacco consumption and protect people from chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).