The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) published, last Monday (22), the prohibition of commercialization and advertising of all cannabis-based products from the Forest Medical brand. The measure was formalized after the finding that the items were being sold without the proper registration and that the manufacturer, Korasana, did not have authorization to operate in Brazil.

However, the companies involved claim that the information that supported the decision is outdated. According to the justification published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), the motivation was the "proof of the advertisement of the sale of cannabis-derived products without registration or authorization from Anvisa [...] at the website http://www.forestmedicalgroup.com/produtos", the page is no longer available on the Internet.

Contacted by the report, Thiago Jordano, a publicist and former partner of Forest Medical, disputes the justification. "Anvisa alleges that we advertised the products on the page, which had indeed been notified as irregular by Anvisa, but went offline shortly after that notification over a year ago", explains Jordano, who adds: "We produced a batch in 2023, operated in 2023 and 2024, and ceased operations".

Korasana Brasil, identified as the manufacturer, also distanced itself from the brand. "We have had no relationship with Forest Medical since 2023, when we produced a single batch of products for them. We will inform Anvisa that we have not produced any products for Forest since 2023", said Ricardo Delgado, CEO of the company.

In response to Portal Sechat, Anvisa clarified that the measure has a broader and preventive nature. According to the agency, "the prohibition applies to any existing batch preventively, as these products should not be circulating", as the company "does not have the necessary permissions in Brazil". The health surveillance agency also did not explain why the publication was made only now, since the notification of irregularities in the cannabis products occurred in 2023.

Irregularities and suspensions

Anvisa's inspection also reached a batch of the anesthetic Lidocaine Hydrochloride (20 mg/ml), manufactured by Hypofarma. Batch 24051093 had its commercialization, distribution, and use suspended after the presence of a "foreign body" in the product was confirmed, aiming to ensure patient safety.

The agency's action extended to a series of other products. The supplement Lipoless and all items from the Amazon brand (Amazon Belly Fat Burner, Amazon Intense, Amazon Slim Green, Amazon Slim Plus, Amazon Slim Detox, and Amazon Redufine), both from unidentified companies, were prohibited and their stocks will be seized.

Picot's Effervescent Powder, produced by Rb Salute México S.A. de C.V., was also the target of the same prohibition and seizure. According to Anvisa, both the supplements and the effervescent powder were being sold without registration and by companies without operating authorization in the country.