Brazil enacts law authorizing pepper spray for women's self‑defense

On 24 July 2026 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned Law No. 15.474, which legalises the commercialisation, acquisition and possession of pepper‑spray aerosol devices for personal defence by adult women in Brazil. The law permits women aged 18 years or older, without a criminal conviction for a violent offence, to buy the spray after presenting a photo ID and proof of residence. Purchases must be recorded for five years in a federal database, and the devices are limited to containers of up to 50 ml, must be non‑lethal, individual and non‑transferable. Use is allowed only in situations of legitimate self‑defence, must be proportionate and stopped as soon as the threat ends. A training programme on responsible use and a national capacity‑building initiative are also mandated. The legislation does not replace protective mechanisms of the Maria da Penha Law or the broader network of services for women. The bill, authored by Deputy Gorete Pereira and reported in the Chamber by Deputy Gisela Simona, also saw vetoes that removed a provision allowing purchase by 16‑ to 17‑year‑olds. Regulatory details on composition, concentration and labelling will be set by the executive agencies, with oversight by the National Data Protection Authority.