João Pessoa: Court strikes down pet cart law and mandates sewage controls

The Court of Justice of Paraíba (TJPB) has issued two significant rulings affecting the city of João Pessoa.

First, the court declared unconstitutional a municipal law that required supermarkets to adapt 5% of their shopping carts for transporting pets. The ruling, following a challenge by the Paraíba Supermarket Association (ASPB), determined that the municipality lacks the authority to legislate on this matter, as it involves sanitary protection and food safety. The rapporteur noted that the law contradicts federal and state standards set by Anvisa and Agevisa regarding the risk of contamination in food handling environments.

In a separate decision, the TJPB reinstated the requirement for proof of public sewage network capacity before authorizing large-scale constructions and new sewage connections along João Pessoa's coastline. This measure, requested by the Paraíba Public Prosecutor's Office (MPPB), covers areas including Cabo Branco, Tambaú, Manaíra, and Bessa. The goal is to prevent sewage system overload and mitigate coastal pollution in environmentally sensitive zones.