How to Import Dairy Products to Brazil
Despite Brazil’s dairy industry being one of the largest in the world, there has been a recent growth in imports of dairy to the country. In this article, we will learn how to import dairy products to Brazil.
Overview
Brazil possesses one of the largest dairy industries in the world, with revenue of BRL 62 billion in 2013, fourth place worldwide. This sector presents an impressive growth rate over the last few years: from 2009 to 2013, this sector’s revenue grew 61%, according to a report by Euromonitor.
However, imports of dairy products have risen since the beginning of 2015. According to Sindilat, the Syndicate of the Industry of Dairy and its By-Products of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil imported 313 million liters of dairy products in the first trimester of 2015, whereas in the first trimester of 2014, 236 millions of liters were imported.
Camex, which is the Chamber of Foreign Trade, raised the Import Duty rate on 11 dairy products from 14% and 16% to 28% initially until the 1st January 2015, however this was extended until June and it is likely to be extended again in order to protect the national industry. Camex hopes that it will provide the dairy industry a favourable environment to develop itself in view of the growth in imported dairy products.
Involved Entities
The involved entities responsible for the fiscalization and supervision of the import of dairy products to Brazil are:
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, MAPA. MAPA aims to prevent the entry and spread of pests that could be a threat to national agriculture, ensuring the health of products and the quality of imported and exported agricultural inputs
- Vigiagro, which is the International Agricultural Surveillance System, who are responsible for inspecting and supervising the international traffic of animals and plants, their products and by-products
- The National Health Surveillance Agency, ANVISA. ANVISA works in order to make sure that imported products are compliant with Brazilian sanitary requirements
Necessary Documentation and Procedures
Before importing any product to Brazil, the importer needs to be registered with Siscomex, which is the Brazilian Foreign Trade Integrated System, where all foreign trade operations are registered and tracked by the Receita Federal, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service.
An Import Declaration is to be registered with Siscomex before the imported products are loaded abroad. In order to get an Import Declaration, the following documents need to be presented:
- Original bill of lading
- Original commercial invoice signed by the exporter
- Packing list where applicable
Dairy products are under section VI of MAPA’s import procedures and are classified as: edible animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey and its by-products, natural packages and ready meals - containing any ingredient or product that derives from animal origin).
Certification of Exporting Company
In order to export animal products to Brazil, prior recognition of equivalent sanitary inspection services is necessary between the importing and the exporting countries. If necessary, a representative of MAPA will proceed to inspect the facilities of the exporting company. DIPOA holds a registry of all foreign companies that export animal products to Brazil. It can be reached here.
When a country already exports such products to Brazil, it is still necessary for a foreign authority from the exporting country to confirm that the producer complies with Brazilian sanitary requirements and is able to export such products to Brazil. This official statement should be sent in Portuguese to the embassy in the country of the exporting company in Brazil or directly to MAPA’s Department of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs of the Secretariat of International Relations.
Product Registration with MAPA
When exporting edible animal products to Brazil, it is necessary that exporting companies register both the exported products and their labels with MAPA. This registration is valid for 10 years, and the following documents must be presented in order to apply for registration:
- Application form, downloadable here, preferably completed in Portuguese, although forms completed in Spanish are also accepted
- Sketches of the products’ labels that will be exposed to consumers in their original format and colors
These documents should to be mailed to the following address:
Departamento de Inspeção de Produtos de Origem Animal
Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco D, Anexo A
CEP 70043-900 Brasília - DF Brasil
Import License
Dairy products are subject to special import authorization by the Brazilian Government prior to loading abroad. Thus, the importer needs to request an Import License from Siscomex. The Import License will then be analysed by MAPA and ANVISA, which will either authorize or deny the request to import the products. Both entities have up to 60 days to analyse whether to accept or to decline the request for the Import License.
Once the products arrive in Brazil, they must be destined to facilities within the jurisdiction of the Serviço de Inspeção Federal, Portuguese for Federal Inspection Service, SIF, in order to be inspected. It is only after being inspected by SIF that the products are awarded a sanitary certificate, issued by a DIPOA server. DIPOA is the Department for Inspection of Animal Products, of the Secretary of Agricultural Defense, SDA.
The necessary documents for the import of dairy products to Brazil are:
- Requerimento para Fiscalização de Produtos Agropecuários - Formulário V, which is Portuguese for Application for Supervision of Agricultural Products - Form V
- Prior import authorization with requirements and guidance on procedures to be adopted, with shipment authorized by DIPOA
- Copy of Certificate of Origin, duly sworn translated
- Import License Extract or Simplified Import License Extract
In addition to these, an International Health Certificate, issued by the Official Veterinary Service in the country of origin containing the following information needs to be provided:
- Country of origin
- Name and address of shipper
- Name and address of recipient
- Quantity
- Nature of the goods
- Type of packaging
Should the International Health Certificate not be in Portuguese, a sworn translation will be necessary.