With a high population following international online commerce, selling imported products in Brazil is an excellent opportunity to make money, whether you are a local or foreign seller. To be successful, however, it is necessary to pay attention to the restrictions of this market. There are many prohibited products in Brazil and it is necessary to know them to avoid legal complications and seizures of goods.
Continue reading to find out what cannot enter the country and what are the consequences of failing to comply with Brazilian legislation!
What happens when a product is banned from entering Brazil?
The importation of prohibited or irregular products into Brazil can be seen as a customs crime of smuggling, which involves two to five years in prison. The penalty can also be applied double if the crime is committed by air, sea or river transport.
Prohibited goods are those with absolute entry/exit restrictions from Brazil, such as:
- irregular cigarettes;
- air rifles;
- ammunition;
- medicines not registered with Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA);
- anabolic steroids;
- hookah tobacco.
Which products are banned in Brazil?
To circulate in Brazilian territory without complications, imported products must be 100% in accordance with local laws and the statements of inspection bodies, such as ANVISA and the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (INMETRO).
As indicated in the Technical Guide of Permitted and Prohibited Items of Correios, a federal public company responsible for distributing parcels throughout the national territory, there are many products that are prohibited from entering Brazil. Some examples, according to the document, are:
Animals and animal products
- Live animals, such as insects, pets, livestock, or marine mammals;
- Illegal products originating from wild animals;
- Fish or wild animals hunted, acquired, transported or sold in violation of the Fauna Protection Law;
- Food for pets not registered or licensed in accordance with law;
- Insects or other beings designated as “plant pests”;
- Parts or products, including fur and feathers, from threatened or endangered species;
Products containing animal ivory; - Vaccines (including human and veterinary vaccines), such as: Rabies, West Nile Virus, Distemper, Parvovirus, Lyme Vaccine;
- Products containing parts or ingredients derived from sharks, whales, dolphins or porpoises (except shark teeth).
Works of art for home decoration
- Unauthorized copies or reproductions of works of art that violate any copyright or trademark;
- Obsolete weapons or weapons for collection.
Automotive and powersports products
- Police lights;
- Products that do not meet Brazilian regulatory standards;
- Products designed to circumvent, avoid or interfere with law enforcement, road or vehicle safety devices;
- Used tires;
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plates;
- Airbags, airbag covers, airbag inflators and airbag components;
- Seat belts and vehicle safety components;
- Fuel.
Cosmetics and personal care products
- Products that require prescription, supervision or guidance from a medical professional for use;
- Products that are not registered with ANVISA;
- Products that have been suspended, banned or revoked by ANVISA;
- Products and ingredients that ANVISA or another Brazilian regulatory body has determined to pose a health risk
- Products intended for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases in humans or animals;
- Products that are past their expiration date or “use by” dates;
- Opened or used cosmetics, skin care or hair care products;
- Products that are not sealed in the original manufacturer’s packaging;
- Products that have had their packaging altered by removing, altering or hiding the identification code inserted by the manufacturer and distributor.
Food suplements
- Supplements with incorrect identification on the labels, which do not comply with ANVISA standards;
- Supplements resulting from a recall or health alert from ANVISA;
- Supplements prohibited by ANVISA;
- Supplements with ingredients prohibited by ANVISA, such as acacia rigidula, ephedra, pregnenolone, yohimbine and tribulus terrestres;
- Supplements with controlled or prohibited ingredients mentioned in Ordinance 344/1998, such as androstanolone, DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), oxandrolone, prasterone (DHEA) and testosterone;
- Supplements with substances considered doping by the World Anti-Doping Agency, such as 7-Keto-DHEA, androstenediol, epiandrosterone, and LGD-4033 (ligandrol);
- Expired supplements; without original manufacturer seal or seal;
- Supplements with broken, cracked, dented, bulging or open bottles;
- Supplements that are dirty or have strange odors;
- Supplements with faded, stained or missing labels;
- Supplements with labels in another language, without adequate translation into Portuguese;
- Supplements used;
- Supplements without regular registration with the competent authority, when applicable.
Medications, controlled and illegal substances
- All medicines, including non-prescription medicines and substances subject to special control;
- Plants that can be used to obtain narcotic or psychotropic substances, such as Cannabis sativa;
- Illegal substances such as Cocaine, Heroin and MDMA;
- Drug-related devices, that is, any equipment, products or materials whose use is intended for the manufacture, manipulation, production and preparation of illegal substances;
- Products intended to circumvent drug detection tests, such as urine additives and synthetic urine;
- Tablet press and/or molder, used to stamp a name or identification number on tablets.
Electronic products
- Lamps and lighting products that do not comply with applicable federal, state and municipal laws;
- Products intended to affect traffic signals;
- Products on which the serial number has been removed or altered;
- Products designed to intentionally jam and jam radio communications;
- Products that decode cable or satellite television, or that gain access to these devices, without permission, such as:
- Any product that circumvents copyright protections;
microcellular phones; - Cell phone unlocking devices;
- Cell phones without International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI);
- Any low voltage decorative product and/or festive lighting that is not compatible with INMETRO;
- Some streaming media players, voice devices, and related accessories;
- Electrical wires and cables up to 750 V not compatible with INMETRO;
- Cylindrical lithium ion batteries of the types: 14500, 16340, 18650, 20700, 21700 and 26650;
- Devices that are used primarily for the purposes of clandestine interception of wire, oral or electronic communications;
- Devices used to hack into, decode, or gain unauthorized access to wired, electronic, or other communications;
- Devices designed to facilitate the clandestine viewing or recording of individuals for sexual purposes;
- Electronic products with high power batteries (more than 160 Wh).
It is worth noting that this is only part of the products prohibited in Brazil for import. To have security in your international sales operation in the country, it is important to count on the help of experts in the sector.
Sinerlog, a technology company focused on cross border, brings together a series of solutions for the safe shipping and sale of foreign goods, serving different business profiles: national companies, international companies and sellers.
The NCM Scan & Validator, a system for classifying and validating the NCM (common classification of MERCOSUR) code of products, for example, already automatically identifies items in your catalog with some type of prohibition, preventing the sale of prohibited goods.
Furthermore, the feature facilitates compliance with customs rules for companies registered with the Brazilian Customs Remessa Conforme program, protecting their seal of compliance and added benefits. Browse the Sinerlog website and learn more about our solutions.
