Tania Cavalcante
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, BRAZIL
Tania Cavalcante, who leads Brazil’s commission for WHO FCTC implementation as part of the National Cancer Institute, led her organisation’s efforts to uphold a national ban on flavours and additives in tobacco products. This ground-breaking regulation – which was a world first – came under a five-year legal attack from the tobacco industry, as it reduces the appeal of tobacco products to young people and first-time users.
“Thanks to support from The Union and collaborative work with the attorney general and colleagues at ANVISA and ACT Brazil, we were delighted that in January 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of public health, and threw out the tobacco industry challenge.”