Brazil’s National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon), part of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, has officially notified various digital platforms, including e-commerce sites and social media networks, to remove all content and offers related to electronic cigarettes (vapes and pods). This action reinforces a long-standing ban on these products, originally established by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in 2009 and strengthened in 2024.
The notification, issued on Tuesday (August 19th) by the National Council for Combating Piracy (CNCP), gives platforms a tight 48-hour deadline to remove the prohibited content. Additionally, they must submit a report within 10 business days detailing the actions taken, including metrics on content moderation and new controls to prevent the recurrence of such publications. “They must remove, demonetize, and prevent the recurrence of these contents in Brazil,” stated CNCP’s executive secretary, Andrey Corrêa.
This move addresses the growing popularity of vapes among young people in Brazil, despite their illegal status. Health authorities like the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) consider e-cigarettes a “threat to public health,” serving as a gateway to nicotine addiction. Studies show the aerosol contains harmful chemicals and carcinogenic heavy metals like nickel. Neurologist Wanderley Cerqueira of Albert Einstein Hospital warns that continuous use can cause inflammation in various organs and that different flavors can carry unique risks, with mint vapes potentially making users more susceptible to pneumonia. This is not the first such action; platforms like YouTube and Instagram were previously notified in April to remove similar content.
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