Subscribe to My Feed
Loading ...“Cereal Offenses” in LAC
Sunday, December 28th, 2008If you have kids and read the labels of foods you shop for or buy, you probably know well the struggle to avoid buying breakfast cereals that are not loaded with sugar and/or sodium (salt). Sometimes even when you avoid the obvious culprits (after all, if the name is “frosted,” most of us can guess!), […]
LAC Consumer Protection Agencies Agree to Increase Cooperation
Friday, December 26th, 2008When I wrote my Overview of Consumer Law in LAC and Overview of Consumer Authorities in LAC, I somehow overlooked any mention of regional efforts to get the consumer protection authorities (where they exist) to work together. Let me rectify that first with this post here, and then with appropriate amendments to those two standalone […]
LAC Consumer Groups Target “Junk Food”
Thursday, December 25th, 2008In my earlier post about the Mexican industry code on advertising of food and beverages directed to children, I discussed efforts in Latin America (here, here, here, here, here and here) to get high-calorie and/or high-fat and/or high-sugar and/or salty foods out of schools and the push by consumer groups, led by Consumer International (CI), […]
New Brazilian Rules on Pharmaceutical Marketing
Wednesday, December 24th, 2008Brazil’s Health Minister, José Gomes Temporão, and the head of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), Dirceu Raposo, recently announced new rules on pharmaceutical marketing in that country to replace less ambitious ones adopted in 2000. The new rules aim at substantially changing how medicines are promoted in Latin America’s largest pharma market, and may […]
A Mexican Code on Food/Beverage Advertising to Children
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008Recently the food and beverage industry in Mexico agreed on Code of Self-Regulation on the Advertising of Food and Beverages Directed at Children (Código de Autorregulación de Publicidad de Alimentos y Bebidas dirigida a Público Infantil – PABI). The code of conduct, signed by companies representing about 70% of advertising in Mexico in the sector […]
WHO: Electronic Cigarettes Not Legit Therapy / OMS: cigarrilos electrónicos no son tratamiento legítimo
Friday, September 26th, 2008From the World Health Organization (WHO): Marketers of electronic cigarettes should halt unproved therapy claims Contrary to what some marketers of the electronic cigarette imply in their advertisements, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider it to be a legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit. “The electronic cigarette is not a proven nicotine […]
An Alcohol Control Bill for Uruguay
Friday, September 12th, 2008Uruguay’s National Drug Board (Junta Nacional de Drogas – JND), Inter-sectoral Coordinator on Alcohol Policies (CIPA) and Ministry of Public Health (MSP) recently presented to the press and public an unusually tough (for a Latin American nation, at least) alcohol control bill that they are sending to the national legislature. A Law, Not a Decree […]
Chile contempla terminar incentivos económicos en venta de medicamentos con receta
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008Desde el Senado de Chile: Proponen terminar con los incentivos económicos en venta de medicamentos con receta Moción en tal sentido fue presentada por los senadores Soledad Alvear y Mariano Ruiz-Esquide quienes persigue que la gente no compre medicamentos que no necesita o que pueden dañar la salud por ser mal empleados Los senadores Soledad […]
Argentina Lurches Toward an Obesity Law…
Monday, August 11th, 2008By all accounts, Argentina’s Senate will pass an “obesity law” this coming week. If President Cristina Fernandez signs it, Argentina will become the first Latin American or Caribbean (LAC) country to adopt a national law or regulation directly addressing the issue. [Some Brazilian states have laws on aspects of the issue, and several nations currently […]
World No-Tobacco Day 2008 in LAC: PAHO Honors Those Making a Difference
Saturday, June 7th, 2008From the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): World No Tobacco Day 2008 Observed with Awards in the Americas World No Tobacco Day is being observed May 31 with a focus on tobacco marketing, and awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to tobacco control. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to protect the world’s […]