G/LIC/N/3/BRA/10
22 October 2014
(14-6093)  Page: 1/3
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English
 
 AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
BRAZIL 
 
The following communication, dated 20 October 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Brazil. 
 
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Outline of system 
1.  As a rule, the Brazilian importation regime does not require licensing. For some products, 
automatic import licensing and non-automatic import licensing are managed through the Foreign 
Trade Integrated System (SISCOMEX), Brazil’s new single window initiative to which all other import related procedures are converging. All import licenses must be required through 
SISCOMEX. The administrative procedures are electronic-based, so as to make the process more 
efficient and fast.  Purpose and coverage of licensing  
2.  The products subject to automatic licensing are listed in SISCOMEX and can also be found on 
the web page of the Ministry of Deve lopment, Industry and Foreign Trade 
(http://www.mdic.gov.br/sitio/). Prod ucts under the special customs regime of drawback are also 
subject to automatic licensing. Products subject to non-automatic licensing are listed in the 
Administrative Treatment of SISCOMEX and can also  be found on the web page of MDIC. In their 
majority, they are products which may cause damage to human, plant or animal health; products 
capable of causing environmental damage; products classified as weapons or made for warlike 
purpose; products subject to tariff quotas; and products subject to trade defence measures established in accordance with the WTO agreements.  
3.  Licensing is applied to all origins, without distinction. 
 4.  The purpose of automatic licensing is mainly to collect statistics. 
 
5.  The Brazilian import licensing regime is based on the following legislation:  
-  Decreto nº 660, of 25 September 1992, institut ing Brazil's Foreign Trade Integrated System 
(SISCOMEX); 
-  Portaria Interministerial MF/MICT nº 291, of 12 December 1996, on processing import 
operations within SISCOMEX; 
-  Portaria SECEX nº 23, of 14 July 2011, consolidating regulations on foreign trade 
operations; 
-  Portaria DECEX nº 8, of 13 May 1991, on importation of used goods. 
 
All rules, as well as their further updates, are available online at SISCOMEX website (http://www.portalsiscomex. gov.br/legislacao).  G/LIC/N/3/BRA/10 
 
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  Most import licensing is statutorily required. For most goods mentioned in the relevant legislative 
texts, legal coverage is defined within and is not subjected to administrative discretion. Statutorily required licensing cannot be abolished without legislative approval. Other products are left to administrative discretion. The list of products subjected to licensing is available at the Ministry of 
Development, Industry and Foreign Tr ade's website: http ://www.mdic.gov.br/. 
 Procedures 
6.  Brazil does not maintain import quantitative restrictions. 
 7.  (a)  In cases of non-automatic licensing, importers are advised to obtain the license before the 
departure of the products. As for the automati c license, the requirement shall be made at 
any time before the beginning of the customs clearance. 
 
(b)  Periods for processing and issuing licenses are in accordance with dispositions laid down in 
articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. 
 
(c)  According to the new single window initiative, all import licenses shall be required online, 
through SISCOMEX. A list of bodies in charge of import licensing in Brazil, as well as their scope and legal framework, is available at the Ministry of Development, Industry and 
Foreign Trade's website:  http://www.mdic.gov.br/. 
 
(d)  Once the new single window is fully operational, the application will be effected online by the 
competent administrative authority, and will no t need to be passed on to other authorities. 
For most goods, the application shall be effected towards a single competent authority, and 
the applicant needs not to be passed on to other authorities for visa, note or approval. The importer has to approach only SISCOMEX.  
 
8.  Requests of license may be refused if they do not fulfil the requirements of the applicable 
legislation, as in the case of imports which may threat human or animal health or cause environmental risks. Refusals may be, however, challenged by the applicant. 
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for license  
9.  Any person, enterprise or institution may request import licensing. The only requirement is the 
registration in SISCOMEX.  
 Documents and other requirements for application for license 
10.  Information on documents and other requirements for application for license is available on 
SISCOMEX’s website. As a rule, presentation of documents is not required unless in specific situations established by the Brazilian legi slation (Ministerial Act SECEX No 23/2011). 
 
11.  There is no need for the importer to present the import license in order to conclude the 
customs procedures. The importer must present only the documents concerning the customs procedures. 
 
12.  There are no fees for licensing or administrative expenses. The importer may request licensing through SISCOMEX directly from its institution, once registered, or through institutions 
registered for that end. 
 13.  Deposits of advanced payments or guarantees concerning the issuance of licenses are not necessary. 
 
Conditions of licensing  
14.  Validity for both automatic and non-automa tic licenses expires within 90 days after their 
issuance. In case it is necessary to extend their validity under exceptional circumstances, the 
importer shall present to the competent bodies a request justifying its/their extension before its 
expiration date. 
 G/LIC/N/3/BRA/10 
 
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  15.  In case of non-utilisation of the licenses, or partial utilisation, there are no penalties. 
 16.  The ownership of the issued licenses shall not be transferred.  
17.  In both cases, there are no other conditions to be observed for the issuance of licenses other 
than those related to the goals of automatic and non-automatic licensing.  
Other procedural requirements 
18.  The importer is required to obtain an authorization from the Federal Revenue of Brazil in order 
to operate within SISCOMEX.  
19.  There is no relation between the licensin g regime and foreign currency exchange regime.  
 
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