WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/LIC/N/1/BRA/1
G/LIC/N/2/BRA/1
19 June 1998
(98-2493)
Committee on Import Licensing Original:  English
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Articles 5, 1.4(a) and 8.2(b) of the Agreement
BRAZIL
The following communication, dated 24 April 1998, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Brazil.
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Notification under Article 5
(a) List of products subject to licensing procedures
All imports are subject to licensing through the Integrated Foreign Trade System
(SISCOMEX).  Licensing can be automatic fo r the majority of imports, or non-automatic.
(b) Contact point for information on eligibility
The Department of Foreign Trade Operations (DECEX) of the Foreign Trade Secretariat
(SECEX) of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (MICT).  The address is:
Praça Pio X, number 54, Ri o de Janeiro, R.J., Brazil.
Information can also be obtained directly through access to the SISCOMEX, which is
operated by the Foreign Trade Secretariat.
(c) Administrative bodies for submission of applications
The Department of Foreign Trade Operations of the Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry
of Industry, Trade and Tourism.  Starting on 1 January 1997, with the functioning of SISCOMEX -
import unit, which was developed on a computerized framework, the importer can access the licences
registry system directly from his firm, through banks, through bill-broker societies orfirms/individuals which deal with customs clearance.
(d) Date and name of publication where licensing procedures are published
- Interministerial Order No. 291 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Tourism, dated 12 December 1996;  and
- Order No. 21 of the Foreign Trade Secretariat of MICT, dated 12 December 1996.G/LIC/N/1/BRA/1
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(e) Indication of whether the licensing procedure is automatic or non-automatic according to
definitions contained in Articles 2 and 3
The system utilizes both types of procedures.
(f) In the case of automatic import licensing procedures, indication of the measure being
implemented through the licensing procedure
The data that is collected through the Brazilian automatic licensing system is utilized for
statistical purposes and provides information on the trade balance situation and on trade flows.
(g) In the case of non-automatic import licensing procedures, indication of the measure being
implemented through the licensing procedure
In accordance with the legislation cited in the notification under Articles 1.4(a) and 8.2(b), the
following are examples of types of imports subject to control by government agencies:
- products which may cause harm to human, animal and plant health;
- products which may cause environmental damage;
- products classified as being weapons or for purposes of war;
- products subject to tariff quotas;  and- products imported under the drawback regime.
(h) Expected duration of the licensing procedure if this can be estimated with some probability,
and if not, reason why this information cannot be provided
There is no expected duration of the licensing system for the reasons mentioned in (f).
Notification under Articles 1.4(a) and 8.2(b)
Please find attached copies of the following legislation1 and a summary of their content (see
Annex):
- Decree No. 660, dated 25 September 1992;
- Interministerial Order No. 291 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Tourism, dated 12 November 1996;
- Order No. 370 of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, dated 28 November 1994;
- Order No. 21 of the Foreign Trade Secretariat of MICT, dated 12 December 1996;- Articles 19-27 and 29-32 of Order No. 8 of the DECEX, dated 13 May 1991;
- Normative Instruction No. 69/96 of the Federal Revenue Secretariat, dated
10 December 1996;
- Normative Instruction No. 11/97 of the Federal Revenue Secretariat, dated 29 January 1997;
- Communiqué No. 2 of the DECEX, dated 23 January 1997;- Communiqué No. 4 of the DECEX, dated 13 March 1997;
- Communiqué No. 7 of the DECEX, dated 10 April 1997;  and
- Communiqué No. 12 of the DECEX, dated 6 May 1997.
                                                     
1 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (Portuguese only).G/LIC/N/1/BRA/1
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ANNEX
Summary of cited legislation
1. Decree No. 660, dated 25 September 1992:  creates the Integrated Foreign Trade System
(Siscomex).
2. Interministerial Order No. 291 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Trade
and Tourism, dated 12 November 1996:  lists the information to be provided by the importer using the
Siscomex, including cases subject to licensing requirements.
3. Order No. 370 of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, dated 28 November 1994:
modifies Articles 22-27 of Order No. 8 of the DECEX, dated 13 May 1991, simplifying the
administrative procedures for the importation of used goods.
4. Order No. 21 of the Foreign Trade Secretariat of MICT, dated 12 December 1996:
establishes the new system of importation and the necessary procedures related to foreign trade
operations.
5. Articles 19-27 and 29-32 of Order No. 8 of the DECEX, dated 13 May 1991:  contain the
administrative procedures for the following:  (a)  the importation of special products, subject to priorauthorization, licences issued jointly with an Export Register document;  (b)  leasing;
(c)  international agreements;  (d)  fiscal incentives, used goods and temporary importation.
6. Normative Instruction No. 69/96 of the Federal Revenue Secretariat, dated 10
December 1996:  establishes rules and procedures for the customs clearance of imports and providesdetailed information regarding the simplified import document.
7. Normative Instruction No. 11/97 of the Federal Revenue Secretariat, dated 29 January 1997:
modifies Article 55 of Normative Instruction No. 69/96, to include temporary importation of certain
goods.
8. Communiqué No. 2 of the DECEX, dated 23 January 1997:  establishes the administrative
procedures for importation subject to non-automatic licensing.
9. Communiqué No. 4 of the DECEX, dated 13 March 1997:  establishes that non-automatic
licences must be issued prior to shipment of prod ucts subject to a reduced import tariff (0 per cent)
and products subject to prior authorization from the National Council for Scientific and TechnologicalDevelopment (CNPq).
10. Communiqué No. 7 of the DECEX, dated 10 April 1997:  creates the buying certificate
(CCO), in order to guarantee import licences based on a contract and on specified conditions.
11. Communiqué No. 12 of the DECEX, dated 6 May 1997:  consolidates and lists special
operations/products that require non-automatic import licences and products that require special
procedures in the automatic licensing system.
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