The president of the House of Representatives, Hugo Motta (Republicans), chose Deputy Kiko Celeguim (PT-SP) as rapporteur of the bill that makes a heinous crime the adulteration of drinks and food.
The announcement was made this Friday (3). In recent days, Motta had promised an “energetic and firm” response to recent cases of intoxication caused by methanol consumption in adulterated alcohol. He also pointed out that he would put the proposal in a vote “as soon as possible.”
Last Thursday (2), the House approved the urgent request for the text, which had been paralyzed in Congress for six years. The new proposal was attached to another 2007 project that dealt only with food. With the decision, the expectation is that a new text will be prepared including drinks, as well as direct redirect to the plenary, without the need to go through other committees.
Deputy Kiko Celeguim has worked as mayor of Franco da Rocha (SP). He was elected to head the municipality in 2012, being reelected in 2016 and currently holding the position of president of the PT of São Paulo. He was also one of the 12 petistas who voted in favor of the so -called Armage PEC, which was discarded after strong contrary mobilization of the population.
Increased cases of methanol poisoning
The Ministry of Health confirmed, on Friday (3), that 127 cases of methanol poisoning were recorded in Brazil, between confirmed and suspects.
Most records are in the state of São Paulo, with 101 cases (11 confirmed and 90 in investigation). Other states also recorded possible occurrences: Pernambuco, Bahia, Federal District, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul.
To date, 12 deaths have been reported, 1 already confirmed and 11 others still under analysis – 8 in São Paulo, 1 in Pernambuco, 1 in Bahia and 1 in Mato Grosso do Sul.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Ministry of Health has announced new measures to combat cases. In partnership with the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh), 4,300 pharmaceutical ethanol ampoules were acquired, an antidote used in this type of intoxication.
The government also seeks hunger, another antidote used in serious but difficult to access, as few countries produce the medicine. ANVISA was called to hold an international call involving the 10 largest regulatory agencies in the world, including the United States, European Union, Japan and China.
