RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday approved the quality, safety and efficiency of the vaccines produced in Brazil, which means that the Brazilian vaccines are allowed to be sold to the United Nations.

    The WHO has evaluated several governmental agencies involved in the vaccine production since Monday and recommended the implementation of a program to capacitate health inspectors and supervisors, as well as a more articulated work between the local and the federal Sanitation Supervision agencies.

    Norberto Heck, assistant director of the National Sanitation Supervision Agency, appreciated the WHO's approval.

    "The fact that we have been approved by the WHO represents that Brazil has an adequate sanitation regulation structure, as well as proper procedures to assure the safety and efficiency of the vaccines and biological products available to the population," he said.

    With the approval, Brazil is also allowed to sell its vaccines to other international organizations which distribute medicine around the world and to participate in technology transfer programs aiming at improving the quality of vaccines produced in other countries.

    A WHO team will return to Brazil in January 2009 for a supervision visit when all its recommendations are required to be implemented.