Subscribe to My Feed




Tell a Friend




  • Polls

    How Is My Site? / ¿Cómo es mi sitio web?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
  • Recent Comments:

  • « Previous Entries

    Brazil Bans Electronic Cigarettes

    Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

    It 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 […]

    Share

    Colombia’s Surprising New Tobacco Control Law

    Friday, July 24th, 2009

    Colombia has just passed a law on tobacco that is, well, surprising, given the language of the original bill and how strongly the industry lobby fought against against any amendments to toughen it. Among other things, the new law: bans sales to minors of any tobacco product, and requires vendors to check for proof of […]

    Share

    MERCOSUR Tackles Tobacco Advertising

    Saturday, June 20th, 2009

    At 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 […]

    Share

    New Pharmaceutical Labeling Rules Proposed in Brazil

    Friday, April 10th, 2009

    Brazil’s National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA) is proposing changes in package labeling rules for pharmaceuticals sold in that country (as set out in ANVISA Resolution RDC 333/03) with a view to making pack labels more informative to consumers.  For example, the proposals released for public consultation (until 11 May) would make medicines with a sedative […]

    Share

    Taking the Campaign on Advertising to Kids to the Streets of Santiago

    Sunday, March 15th, 2009
    Share

    EPC “Awards” Manipulative Food Advertising to Children

    Thursday, March 12th, 2009

    As 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 […]

    Share

    Argentina Deepens Restrictions on Alcohol

    Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

    President 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 […]

    Share

    Public Ministry Opens Inquiry into Marketing of Breakfast Cereals

    Thursday, February 12th, 2009

    Based 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 […]

    Share

    WHO Takes Aim at Alcohol

    Saturday, January 24th, 2009

    The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB), meeting in Geneva this week, gave the WHO Secretariat the green light to prepare a global strategy on alcohol consumption. The EB is, as the name implies, WHO’s executive arm, giving direction to the Organization between its annual governing body meetings, the World Health Assembly (WHA) held […]

    Share

    MERCOSUR Adopts Guidelines on Promotion, Advertising & Marketing of Pharmaceuticals

    Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

    I’ve said here many times that Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations tend to take seriously the recommendations, guidelines and other soft norms of the World Health Organization (WHO) on any issue involving public health and/or the environment, and I’ve tried to provide a few examples where WHO work has translated into national laws and […]

    Share
    « Previous Entries