Brazil to Build Tobacco Testing Lab for Latin America / Brasil vai construir laboratório
Monday, September 21st, 2009Brazil’s National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (Anvisa) announced today that in 2010 it will construct a Control Laboratory for Tobacco-Derived Products on Ilha do Fundão, the artifical island home to “University City” and the Federal University of RJ (UFRJ) in the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro. The R$8 million Laboratory will be the reference center for […]
Brazil Bans Electronic Cigarettes
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009It looks like Brazilian authorities have concluded that the World Health Organization (WHO) is right about this product and its promotion. The National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) just announced a ban on the trade within, and import into, Brazil of electronic smoking devices, sometimes called e-cigarettes, e-ciggy and e-cigar, among other monikers. The ban particularly […]
Ceará Limits Public Smoking
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Today Ceará (CE) became the latest Brazilian state (after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) to severely restrict smoking in public areas. The governor signed a law that prohibits smoking any product, whether derived from tobacco or not, in “collective enclosures” except in segregated areas that have a physical barrier separating them from nonsmokers with […]
A Smokeless Rio?
Monday, August 17th, 2009If you’ve ever been to Rio de Janeiro (RJ), you know that it’s not exactly a nonsmoker’s paradise. Despite all the health warnings and studies issued over the years, quite a bit of smoking still occurs in public places within the state. Not for much longer. Or at least that’s the stated legislative intent of […]
MERCOSUR Tackles Tobacco Advertising
Saturday, June 20th, 2009At their Ministerial concluded today, the Health Ministers of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) nations (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, plus Venezuela once Brazil and Paraguay ratify the Protocol of Adhesion regarding its membership) plus MERCOSUR associate member Chile reached an agreement [MERCOSUR/RMS/Acuerdo No. 01/09] committing themselves to cooperating toward the elimination of […]
World No Tobacco Day 09: Brazilian Research Shows Pictorial Warnings Work
Thursday, May 28th, 2009The World Health Organization (WHO) chose the theme for the 2009 celebration of World No-Tobacco Day on 31 May as “Show the Truth. Picture Warnings Save Lives.” How is Brazil celebrating the day? The National Cancer Institute (INCA) released the preliminary results of a study they say shows that picture warnings on cigarette packs are […]
SP Anti-Smoking Law Survives Its First Court Challenge
Thursday, May 14th, 2009What a week for tobacco control in São Paulo state! Last week Governor Serra signed a tough anti-smoking law he requested from the state assembly just nine months ago. Within days the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel) filed in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) a direct challenge to the law’s constitutionality, together with […]
Smoking Falling Among Brazilian Youth
Thursday, April 9th, 2009The consumption of cigarettes among Brazilian youth has fallen more than half in the last 20 years. In 2008, according to the Health Ministry’s (MS) Surveillance of Risk Factors and Protection from Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigilãncia do Fatores de Risco e Proteção Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico – VIGITEL), 14.8% of youths between […]
Latins Recognized for Tobacco Control Efforts
Thursday, March 12th, 2009At the 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (WCTOH) held this week in Mumbai, India, two sets of awards were given this week in international recognition of exemplary tobacco control efforts. In both sets Latin Americans figured prominently. The first set, announced on 09 March, were the Bloomberg Awards for Global Tobacco Control given […]
São Paulo Study Shows Passive Smokers with Elevated CO Levels
Friday, February 20th, 2009A recent study conducted by São Paulo State (SP) Secretary of Health (SES) found that 35.9% of non-smokers regularly exposed to tobacco smoke have carbon monoxide levels in them comparable to those found in smokers. The study looked at 1,310 persons during smoking prevention actions promoted by SES during 2008 in open-air environments, such as […]
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