Brazil's Anvisa faces rising demand for nicotine pouches amid soaring online searches

Google Trends data show that searches for nicotine sachets in Brazil have surged dramatically, rising more than 1,200% nationwide in the past year. In the southern states, Paraná recorded a 460% increase while Santa Catarina saw a 610% jump.

The surge coincides with Anvisa's recent closure of a public comment period on June 29, which will inform a forthcoming regulatory impact analysis on oral nicotine products. Currently, these products lack specific regulation, even though a study by the Escola de Segurança Multidimensional (USP) and Ipsos estimates that around 10 million Brazilians use them frequently.

Alexandro Lucian, president of the Diretório de Informações para Redução dos Danos do Tabagismo (Direta), warns that the regulatory gap leaves consumers exposed to an unregulated market. He cites Sweden’s experience, where regulated nicotine oral products have contributed to a drop in daily smoking rates to 3.7%, as a potential model for Brazil.