New Anvisa directors move forward for Senate confirmation hearing
Social Affairs Committee confirms Safatle, Cerqueira, and Cardoso's names, in a moment of important reforms at the agency
Published on 08/13/2025
CAS holds confirmation hearings for nominees to director positions at Anvisa and ANS. The nominations include the director-presidents of both agencies. Table: Nominee Daniela Marreco Cerqueira; CAS president, Senator Marcelo Castro (MDB-PI); Nominee, Lean
The Social Affairs Committee (CAS) of the Federal Senate confirmed, this Wednesday (13), the names of Leandro Pinheiro Safatle, Daniela Marreco Cerqueira, and Thiago Lopes Cardoso as new members of the board of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). Now, the nominees move on to the Senate plenary for analysis.
Leandro Safatle was approved by 19 votes to 1, and another senator abstained—same vote given to Thiago Cardoso. Daniela Cerqueira received a favorable vote from all 20 senators present.
Safatle, who takes on the role of Anvisa's director-president, stated: "It is important for Anvisa to follow a path grounded in its integrated vision of regulation, health promotion, citizenship, and development".
Cardoso, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of working for public health, "It means deciding with technical firmness, acting based on science, facing dilemmas with courage, and adding qualified listening".
Cerqueira, in turn, highlighted the need for strong institutions. "Our country needs strong institutions that act ethically, transparently, and predictably, driving innovation, industrialization, and access to quality products and services".
The confirmation hearing for the new directors takes place at a time of strategic agendas at Anvisa, including the review of RDC 327/2019, which regulates medicinal cannabis products in Brazil, and RDC 660/2022, which establishes rules on the logistics and control of medications.