The historic approval of Brazil’s tax reform marks a turning point for public health by institutionalizing an “Excise Tax” on harmful products such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and sugary drinks. Beyond simplifying the fiscal system, the measure directly addresses the staggering economic and social burden of noncommunicable diseases, which cost the country billions annually. By zero-rating essential healthy foods and resisting intense industrial lobbying, Brazil’s new fiscal model aligns economic policy with Sustainable Development Goals, serving as a global benchmark for using taxation as a vital tool for equity, sustainability, and population well-being.

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