Editor’s Note: The following is from CRE Brazil.
On Thursday, the 26th, the local government of the city of Campo Grande in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul approved a law that punishes businesses selling illegal cigarettes or cigarettes with substitute ingredients or ingredients in addition to tobacco. Since it is on the border with Paraguay, where most of the contraband cigarettes are traded in Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the states where some of the largest numbers of seizures of illegal products occurs.
In accordance with the approved law, businesses that are caught will have to pay a fine of R$5,000 (US$3,108), and the amount doubles in case of recurrence. If the problem continues, the license for permitting the business to function will be revoked.
