Brazil stands out in the fight against smoking in the Americas

Brazil is among the most advanced countries in the world in the fight against deaths and diseases caused by tobacco. According to the Progress Hub platform, which monitors the implementation of the proposals of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Brazil ranks 1st in the Americas region in proposals such as reducing industry interference , regulation of the content of tobacco products and coordination of surveillance and research into tobacco-related products. The National Day to Combat Tobacco was celebrated this week.

Adopted in 2003, the convention is one of the most widely adhered to treaties in the history of the United Nations, providing a public health framework to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses caused by tobacco, including price and tax measures to reduce demand, policies smoke-free to provide protection against exposure to smoke, advertising bans, tobacco sponsorship and promotion, restrictions on illicit trade, sales to youth and more.

In addition to its regional position, Brazil ranks 18th out of 180 countries in terms of overall treaty implementation, indicating great progress in combating the tobacco epidemic.

Based on data from the Progress Hub, 12.6% of the adult population in Brazil smokes, 7 percentage points less than the global average. Smoking is more prevalent among Brazilian men (15.9%) compared to Brazilian women (9.6%). At 5.4%, the prevalence of smoking among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years in Brazil is 5 percentage points lower than the global average, with a slightly higher prevalence among female adolescents (5.6%) than among male adolescents. male (5.3%).

attractive prices

Recent research by the National Cancer Institute (Inca) reinforces a fact observed by researchers a few years ago: the price of cigarettes manufactured in Brazil, as well as smuggled cigarettes, is low.

“Since 2017, there has been no readjustment, neither the tax on tobacco products nor the minimum price established by law. The price has been frozen since the end of 2016”, says researcher from the Population Research Division – Prevention and Surveillance Coordination (Conprev) at Inca, André Szklo, author of the study The Cigarette Market in Brazil: New Evidence on Illicit Practices Based on the 2019 National Health Survey.

Szklo claims that, with that, each year, the price is losing its real value and becomes more affordable for the population. Internally, the industry does not carry out a nominal increase in the price of the product.

“It’s a strategy that ends up marrying: there is no readjustment of the tax policy on tobacco products and the industry pressures for the price to stay low, to inhibit smuggling. And what we are already observing is a natural reflection in the proportion of smokers among young people and adolescents, especially girls”,

evaluated the researcher from Inca.

According to the Senior Coordinator of the Research Program and Regional Leader for Latin America at the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC), Graziele Grilo, Brazil has made important advances in terms of tobacco control, but it is still necessary to maintain a vigilant stance towards public health, as the tobacco industry is always innovating. This view specifically addresses electronic smoking devices such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products:

“The sale, advertising, distribution, manufacture and import of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are prohibited in Brazil. However, a growing body of evidence shows that advertising or marketing of these products persists even on social media, which may contribute to product popularization, appeal and initiation of use among young people.”

clarified Graziele. .

According to the IGTC, Brazil can reaffirm its leadership position in the fight against tobacco deaths and diseases with additional actions that lead to continued progress, including monitoring of advertising and e-commerce, regular inspections at points of sale of tobacco products, tobacco and establishing partnerships with border control agencies to prevent the smuggling of electronic smoking devices. “By redoubling its commitment as a leader in the region and the world, Brazil can also achieve a global victory in ending the tobacco epidemic.”

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