Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) v. Philip Morris Brasil Ind. Com. Ltda.
The National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA) sought a review of the decision of a lower court finding Philip Morris in violation of a tobacco control regulation that required the tobacco company to place warnings on the packaging of the company's products on the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The defendant alleged that ANVISA's regulation went outside the scope of the agency's power to regulate tobacco products. The defendant also claimed that requiring tobacco companies to place grotesque images on their products would compromise their competition in sales in the market. The case was appealed and the higher court determined that the regulations issued by ANVISA complied with the articles of the Brazilian Constitution. Therefore, the Court ordered Philip Morris to immediately place warnings on the harms caused by the tobacco consumption on the packaging of its products.
