Brazil's MPF recommends regulatory review of ayahuasca use

The Brazilian Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has recommended that the National Council on Drug Policy (Conad) and the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) review and improve the legal and regulatory framework for ayahuasca in Brazil. The recommendation focuses on the tea's religious, spiritual, and therapeutic uses.

While the substance Dimetyltryptamine (DMT) found in ayahuasca is currently prohibited by Anvisa as a psychotropic substance, the MPF notes that Brazilian drug laws allow for the exceptional use of plants containing prohibited substances for ritualistic and religious purposes.

The MPF suggests that Conad establish a working group for two years to gather information and consult with interested parties, particularly indigenous communities and ayahuasca-based religions. This group would produce technical reports to assist Anvisa in defining objective parameters for the production and circulation of the tea. Additionally, Anvisa is encouraged to form its own two-year working group to update the regulation of DMT for traditional and religious use, ensuring social participation and consultation with affected communities.