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Sunday, March 15th, 2009
Public Ministry Can Investigate
Saturday, March 14th, 2009Synopsis in English: Brazil’s Supreme Court has confirmed that under the 1988 Constitution, the Public Ministry has the power to conduct criminal investigations. The power had been challenged through a direct action of unconstitutionality (ação direta de inconstitucionalidade – ADIN). Desde o Ministério Público (MP) do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul: Ministério Público pode […]
EPC “Awards” Manipulative Food Advertising to Children
Thursday, March 12th, 2009As part of its efforts to get Mexican authorities to regulate the advertising of food and beverages to children, and to hold industry accountable to its commitments under its recently adopted national code of self-regulation on the issue, the consumer group The Power of the Consumer (EPC) recently released what it calls “awards” recognizing “the […]
ACODECO “Declares War on Junk Food”
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009To commemorate World Consumer Rights Day, Panama’s Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (ACODECO) hosted a forum on “No to the Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Targeted at Girls and Boys.” ACODECO’s Administrator, Pedro Meilán, opened the forum by noting the Authority’s role in protecting consumers in Panama and the alarming fact that Panama […]
PROCON: Firms Still Not Obeying Customer Service Rules
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009Recently Brazil’s Justice Ministry (MJ) warned firms that they better get fully into compliance with the customer service decree (“SAC Decree” or “call center decree”) and its related portarias. Now the consumer protection authority (PROCON) of Brazil’s economic powerhouse, São Paulo (SP), reports on where compliance stands after the Ministry warning and its efforts to […]
Argentina Deepens Restrictions on Alcohol
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009President Cristina Fernandez issued an implementing decree for the 12-year old Alcohol Act, deepening restrictions on alcohol beverage advertising and consumption and obliging social security services to treat the social consequences of its consumption. The signing ceremony was attended by the Ministers expected to implement the rules: Health, Graciela Ocaña; Labor, Carlos Tomada; Justice, Anibal […]
Federal Prosecutor Pressures Fast-Food Chains to Suspend Offering Toys with Meals
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in São Paulo (PRSP) yesterday called for the Burger King, McDonald’s and Bob’s fast food chains to suspend the sale of promotional toys in their restaurants. He gave the companies ten days to meet the “recommendation.” The MPF also called for the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) to take a […]
Public Ministry Opens Inquiry into Marketing of Breakfast Cereals
Thursday, February 12th, 2009Based on filings submitted by the Alana Institute, the consumer group PROTESTE and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), the Public Ministry (PM) of the State of São Paulo has opened an investigation into the marketing practices of Nestle and Kellogs regarding their breakfast cereals. Alana and PROTESTE tested 18 breakfast cereals of three […]
São Paulo Rejoins the National Consumer Information System
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009In a recent post on Brazil’s consumer agencies putting consumer complaints on the internet, I mentioned that the National System of Consumer Defense Information (Sistema Nacional de Informações de Defesa do Consumidor – SINDEC) behind the move is missing a few states, most notably São Paulo (SP), the state representing some 40% of the national […]
Justice Ministry to Service Firms: Improve Customer Service, or Else
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009Regulated service sectors are not complying with Brazil’s new rules on customer service, despite being given a (brief) grace period in order to bring their operations into line. So declared the Justice Ministry’s (MJ) Department of Protection of Consumer Rights (DPDC), which is now handing out fines, naming names, scrutinizing practices and issuing warnings. The […]