After more than a decade of debate, a proposal that has been in the Brazilian Congress since 1999, will make it mandatory for all underwear sold in Brazil to carry warnings about cancer and advice on sexual practices.
The bill got final approval in the Chamber of Deputies’ Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ). As the bill has already been approved in the Senate, it will now go to president Dilma Rousseff to be signed into law.
The bill will require that all underwear for male adults carry a label alerting the user about the importance of prostate exams for men over the age of 40.
A label will be mandatory in panties for adult females recommending the use of condoms to prevent cervix uterus cancer and the importance of periodical exams to detect the disease in women who are sexually active.
Brassieres should also have labels recommending and explaining how to perform a breast self-exam.
The text of the approved bill also establishes penalties for companies that do not obey the new law and place the required labels on products. Punishment can vary from a warning to suspension of operating licenses.
