# Law No. 6583 of October 20, 1978

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105659605](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105659605)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6583-of-october-20-1978

## Summary
Law No. 6583 of October 20, 1978, is a Brazilian federal statute that establishes the Federal and Regional Councils of Nutritionists to regulate the profession. Enacted during the presidency of Ernesto Geisel, this law defines the legal framework for the exercise of nutrition, including registration requirements, financial resources, and professional competencies. It serves as the foundational legal instrument for the organization and oversight of nutritionists in Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 6583, de 20 de outubro de 1978.
- **Publication Date:** October 20, 1978.
- **Country of Origin:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to the territory of Brazil.
- **Legal Classification:** Statute (a formal written document creating law).
- **Primary Function:** Creates the Federal and Regional Councils of Nutritionists and regulates their operation.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Head of State at Enactment:** Ernesto Geisel (President of Brazil).
- **Official Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-10-20;6583.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6583/1978.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília.
- **Main Subjects Covered:** Registration, financial resources, professional activity, competency, public office, transgressions, members, headquarters, legal norms, fines, connections, legislation, design requirements, payment, regulation, content, creation, professional exercise, definitions, decisions, business, emission, and obligations.
- **Official Online Access:** Available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6583.htm.
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law.

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6583/1978?**
The law was enacted to create the Federal and Regional Councils of Nutritionists, establishing the institutional bodies responsible for overseeing the profession. It simultaneously regulates the functioning of these councils and provides other necessary legal provisions for the sector.

**Who was the President of Brazil when this law was approved?**
The law was approved and promulgated on October 20, 1978, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under the administration of President Ernesto Geisel.

**What specific aspects of the nutrition profession does this law regulate?**
It covers a comprehensive range of topics including the registration of professionals, the allocation of financial resources, the definition of professional activities and competencies, and the establishment of public offices within the councils. Additionally, it outlines rules regarding transgressions, fines, headquarters, and the emission of official documents.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed online?**
The full text is available on the official Planalto website at the URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6583.htm. It is also indexed in the LexML Brazil system under the unique identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-10-20;6583.

**Does this law apply to other countries besides Brazil?**
No, the statute applies strictly to the jurisdiction of Brazil. It is a federal law enacted by the Brazilian government to govern the practice of nutrition within its national borders.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6583/1978 is critical because it formalized the professional structure for nutritionists in Brazil, transitioning the field from an unregulated or loosely organized practice to a strictly monitored profession. By mandating the creation of Federal and Regional Councils, the law ensures that nutritionists operate under standardized ethical and technical guidelines, protecting public health. It solves the problem of professional ambiguity by clearly defining competencies, registration processes, and the legal consequences of transgressions. Furthermore, it establishes the financial and administrative backbone required for these councils to function effectively, ensuring that the profession has the necessary resources and legal authority to enforce standards. Without this legislation, there would be no unified national body to oversee the quality of nutritional care or to discipline practitioners who violate professional norms.

## Notable For
- **Institutional Creation:** It is the specific legal instrument that founded the Federal and Regional Councils of Nutritionists in Brazil.
- **Comprehensive Scope:** The law uniquely addresses a wide array of operational details, ranging from "design requirements" and "payment" structures to "emission" of documents and "business" regulations within the profession.
- **Historical Context:** It represents a key piece of legislation enacted during the military government era in Brazil, specifically under President Ernesto Geisel.
- **Digital Preservation:** The law is fully digitized and accessible via the LexML Brazil project, ensuring long-term public access to the legal text.
- **Professional Regulation:** It serves as the definitive source for defining "professional exercise" and "obligations" for nutritionists, distinguishing it from general health laws.
- **Enforcement Mechanisms:** The statute explicitly includes provisions for "fines" and "transgressions," providing the councils with the legal power to penalize non-compliance.

## Body

### Legislative Identity and Classification
Law No. 6583 is a federal statute, a formal written document that creates law within the Brazilian legal system. It is classified as an instance of a "statute" and falls under the broader category of Brazilian laws. The document was published on October 20, 1978, in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. Its official citation is "Lei nº 6583/1978," and it is identified in the LexML Brazil system by the unique URN: `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-10-20;6583`. The law is written in Brazilian Portuguese and applies exclusively to the jurisdiction of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

### Core Objectives and Institutional Creation
The primary mandate of this legislation is the creation of the Federal and Regional Councils of Nutritionists. These bodies were established to regulate the functioning of the profession and ensure adherence to legal and ethical standards. The law explicitly addresses the "creation" of these councils and defines their "content" and "composition." It further regulates the "connection" and "linkage" of these councils to the broader legislative framework. By establishing these councils, the law provides a structured mechanism for the oversight of nutritionists across the nation.

### Professional Regulation and Competencies
The statute details the specific scope of the nutrition profession. It defines the "exercise of professional activity" and outlines the "competency" required of practitioners. The law covers the "definition" of the profession and the "obligation" of professionals to adhere to these definitions. It addresses the "registration" of nutritionists, ensuring that only qualified individuals can practice. The text also includes provisions for "design requirements" and "regulation" of professional conduct. Furthermore, it governs the "business" aspects of the profession, including "emission" of credentials and "payment" structures related to council operations.

### Administrative and Financial Framework
To ensure the operational viability of the councils, the law regulates "financial resources" and "payment" mechanisms. It establishes the "headquarters" for these bodies and defines the "public office" structures within them. The legislation outlines the "members" who constitute the councils and their respective roles. It also addresses the "content" of the councils' operations, ensuring that their activities are transparent and legally sound. The law mandates the "legislation" necessary for the councils to function, creating a self-sustaining administrative ecosystem.

### Enforcement and Legal Norms
Law No. 6583 includes robust enforcement mechanisms to maintain professional standards. It defines "legal norms" that govern the behavior of nutritionists and the councils. The statute explicitly addresses "transgressions" and the corresponding "fines" or "penalties" for violations. It establishes the "fixation" of decisions regarding disciplinary actions. The law ensures that any "business" or professional activity conducted in violation of these norms is subject to legal consequences. This section of the law is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the profession and protecting the public.

### Digital Access and Metadata
The law is fully integrated into Brazil's digital legal infrastructure. It is accessible via the official Planalto website at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1970-1979/l6583.htm`. The LexML Brazil project provides a persistent identifier for the document, facilitating easy retrieval and citation. The law is described in Wikidata as a "Brazilian law" and is part of the WikiProject Brazilian Laws. Its metadata includes references to the specific date of promulgation and the authority responsible for its enactment. The document is also indexed with qualifiers such as "stated as" for various legal concepts, ensuring precise semantic mapping in knowledge graphs.

### Historical and Political Context
Enacted on October 20, 1978, this law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil during the tenure of President Ernesto Geisel. This period was characterized by the gradual opening of the Brazilian political system, yet the government maintained strict control over professional regulations. The law reflects the state's interest in formalizing health professions to ensure public safety and professional standardization. The "determination method" for the law's approval was "promulgation," a standard procedure for federal statutes in Brazil. The law remains a cornerstone of nutritional regulation in the country, having stood the test of time since its inception in the late 1970s.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1978-10-20;6583)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6583&ano=1978&data=20/10/1978&ato=cb1ATVU1UerRVT76f)
3. LexML Brasil