ANVISA SUSPENDS SALE OF LIQUID ALCOHOL FOR CLEANING

The national health surveillance agency (Anvisa) determined the suspension of the sale of the liquid alcohol used mainly for cleaning and lighting of barbecues, with degree greater than 54 GL/46.3° INPM. Published in the Official Gazette of the Union last week, the measure affects all companies related to the Brazilian Association of alcohol producers and Packers (Abraspea), which is contesting the decision in court.
Anvisa attempts to prevent the sale of liquid alcohol in the country for 11 years. A 2002 resolution prohibited the marketing of the product in its concentration more flammable. But shortly after the publication of the decision, the representative of the entity sector obtained a court decision which allowed its members to continue selling alcohol. Since then, the case has dragged on in court.
The main objective of Anvisa's measure is to reduce the number of accidents and burns generated by high power liquid flammable alcohol. According to the Agency, the main victims are children who engage in domestic accidents. In 2010, there were 152 2,761 deaths and hospitalizations in the range of 0 to 14 years by exposure to smoke, fire or flames caused by flammable substance, according to information from the Ministry of health. There is no official data on burns caused by liquid alcohol.
According to Anvisa, the recent suspension "is a result of the decision of the Federal Court (TRF) of the 1st region, which in 2012 was manifested by the legality of the 2002 standard". The decision of the FEDERAL COURT of APPEAL was published in August, and Anvisa granted period of 180 days to the adequacy of the productive sector.
Abraspea spokesman, Ary Alcantara, upgraded the suspension of "arbitrary", stating that she is "outside of the law". "Common sense would expect the question is made absolute," said Alcantara. According to him, the supermarkets are buying the product for fear of fines imposed by Anvisa. Alcantara also criticized what he called the "inconsistency" of numbers on victims of burns caused by flammable products. "We have more hospitalizations in the country by fall skating than for burns caused by flammable liquids."
The producers ' spokesperson claims that the ban will not solve the problem and argues that there is more prevention campaigns on using. "With the ban, people will no longer have a product packed according to rigid rules to buy alcohol in bottles in gas stations." Entities such as the NGO child safe and the Brazilian society of Burns launched a campaign to warn about the risks of alcohol use liquid for domestic purposes and stimulate the complaint of establishments that are still selling the product. Companies that do not withdraw the liquid alcohol circulation shall be subject to penalties that can range from $ 2,000 to $ 1.5 million.