# Law No. 9010 of March 29, 1995

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647057](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647057)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-9010-of-march-29-1995

## Summary
**Law No. 9010 of March 29, 1995** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 9010, de 29 de março de 1995*) is a Brazilian federal statute that establishes official terminology requirements related to Hansen's disease (leprosy). Promulgated by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and published in Brasília, it mandates the use of specific terminology by federal, state, and district authorities throughout Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Full Title:** Lei nº 9010, de 29 de março de 1995
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 9010/1995
- **Publication Date:** March 29, 1995
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Instance Of:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Signatory:** Fernando Henrique Cardoso (President, via promulgation)
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **LexML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1995-03-29;9010
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9010.htm
- **Wikimedia Project:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Subject Matter:** Official terminology relating to Hansen's disease (Hanseníase) and related provisions

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 9010/1995?**
The law establishes official terminology requirements regarding Hansen's disease (known historically as leprosy) for use by Brazilian government entities. It mandates standardized language usage across federal, state, and Federal District jurisdictions.

**Who signed Law No. 9010/1995 into effect?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and promulgated by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on March 29, 1995.

**What government levels does this law apply to?**
The law applies to the Federal Government of Brazil (União Federal), the federative units (Estados), and the Federal District (Distrito Federal), establishing mandatory compliance with the prescribed terminology.

**Where can the full text of Law No. 9010/1995 be found?**
The official text is available through the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9010.htm and can be referenced via the LexML identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1995-03-29;9010.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 9010/1995 represents an important step in Brazilian public health policy by formally establishing official terminology related to Hansen's disease. The use of the term "Hanseníase" rather than historical terms carries significant social and medical weight—reducing stigma associated with the disease and aligning Brazil with international public health standards. By mandating consistent terminology across all levels of Brazilian government, the law ensures unified communication in healthcare documentation, public policy, and citizen-facing services. This standardization supports both medical accuracy and the dignity of affected individuals.

## Notable For
- **Public Health Terminology Standardization:** Establishes mandatory official language for Hansen's disease across all Brazilian governmental entities
- **Stigma Reduction:** Part of broader global efforts to move away from historically stigmatizing disease terminology
- **Federal Mandate:** Applies uniformly to the Union, all Brazilian states, and the Federal District
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the first year of Fernando Henrique Cardoso's presidency (1995-2002), a period of significant administrative modernization in Brazil

## Body

### Legal Classification and Status

Law No. 9010 of March 29, 1995 is classified as a **statute**—a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it represents a manifestation of statutory law and contains legal norms as its constituent parts. The law was created through the legislative process and constitutes an official legal enactment of the Brazilian federal government.

The statute bears the legal citation **Lei nº 9010/1995** and is registered in Brazil's LexML system under the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1995-03-29;9010`. It is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of Brazil.

### Subject Matter and Scope

The law's digest states: *"DISPÕE SOBRE A TERMINOLOGIA OFICIAL RELATIVA A HANSENIASE E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS"* (Provides for official terminology relating to Hansen's disease and establishes other provisions).

The statute addresses the following main subjects as defined in its text:
- **Federal Government of Brazil** (União Federal)
- **Federative Units** (Estados) — the 26 states of Brazil
- **Federal District** (Distrito Federal - DF)
- **Legal Norms** (Normas)
- **Obligations** (Obrigatoriedade)
- **Use/Utilization** (Utilização)
- **Decisions/Fixations** (Fixação)
- **Hypotheses** (Hipótese)

### Promulgation and Authority

The law was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil** and promulgated on **March 29, 1995** by President **Fernando Henrique Cardoso**, who served as Brazil's president from 1995 to 2002. The promulgation occurred in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil since 1960.

### Jurisdiction and Application

The statute's jurisdiction encompasses the entire **Federative Republic of Brazil**, applying to:
- The federal government (União Federal)
- All 26 federative units (states)
- The Federal District (Distrito Federal)

This tri-level application ensures consistent terminology usage across all governmental jurisdictions within Brazilian territory.

### Access and Reference

The official text of Law No. 9010/1995 is publicly accessible through the **Planalto Presidential Palace website** at:
`https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9010.htm`

This accessibility aligns with the principle that statutes are public domain documents—official legal texts that, under doctrines such as the "edict of government doctrine," are not subject to copyright restrictions and must remain freely accessible to citizens.

### Context Within Brazilian Law

Law No. 9010/1995 exists within Brazil's broader legal framework governed by the **Constitution of Brazil** (effective October 5, 1988). As a federal statute, it was enacted through Brazil's legislative process and represents binding law within its subject matter scope. The law is tracked and maintained as part of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its recognition within structured knowledge systems dedicated to Brazilian legal documentation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1995-03-29;9010)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=9010&ano=1995&data=29/03/1995&ato=d17gXQU5UeJpWT609)
3. LexML Brasil