Mining company loses legal battle over asbestos exports

At the end of June, Sama Minerações, a subsidiary of Eternit (leader in the roofing market), was defeated in a legal incursion against the Public Ministry of Labor and the Federal Government in the TRF-3 Court to try to circumvent obstacles to asbestos exports in Brazil. Considered highly carcinogenic by the World Health Organization, the ore entered Brazil’s Supreme Court sights in 2017, and since then, its production and sale have been prohibited.

Despite the prohibition, Same kept selling the product to other countries based on a law enacted by the government of Goiás sanctioned by governor Ronaldo Caiado, which opened a breach and challenged the Supreme Court’s ruling. However, the company transported the items extracted on the soil of Goiás through other states. Public Ministry inspectors then began to halt the process.

In São Paulo, on the route to the Port of Santos, prosecutors, complying with local legislation from 2007, had been acting to contain the cargo since last year. The move motivated Sama to seek support from the TRF-3 to maintain the activity through a writ of mandamus but was unsuccessful.

On June 20, judge Alessandra Aranha highlighted that the laws of Goiás “act within the geographic limits of the state” without extension to SP and other states. Thus, although she did not prohibit asbestos exports by Sama in opposition to Caiado, the magistrate made it challenging to maintain the company’s business with ore.

Source: O Globo

To read the full original article, please go to: https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/lauro-jardim/post/mineradora-sofre-derrota-judicial-contra-exportacoes-de-amianto-minerio-cancerigeno.html

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