Measure was regulated after the scandal involving the methanol mixture in beverages, which resulted in several serious poisoning recorded in Brazil
The City Hall has sanctioned a law authorizing the municipality to oversee alcohol -producing units in the capital. The measure was regulated after the scandal involving the methanol mixture in beverages, which resulted in several serious poisoning recorded in Brazil.
According to the City Hall, the municipality currently has 67 beverage factories, 17 breweries and five distilleries. The inspection will cover beers, wines, distillates and other types of drinks. The Municipal Administration is awaiting only one authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) to start inspections.
The decision occurs amid the intensification of the food security debate and falsification of beverage in the country. In 2020, the Rio de Janeiro police closed a clandestine beer factory in the west of Rio, allegedly linked to a paramilitary group. Already this year, a Tijuca drink distributor was banned after consumers report malaise after ingesting products provided by the site.
While Congress discusses more severe punishments – including equalization of adulteration of beverages with heinous crime – experts highlight the absence of a consistent national policy for prevention and inspection. According to recent data, one in five drinks sold in Brazil can be falsified. It is expected that, with the new law, the municipality intensifies control and reduces risks to the health of the population in the face of the advancement of illegal practices in the sector.
