Hello! How is life as an importer?
If you already import or are thinking about importing products to Brazil, you may have asked yourself: “What licenses do I need to avoid headaches at customs?” or “Does my product need certification to be sold legally?”. The good news is that we’re here to answer these questions and help you navigate this sea of regulations.
Importing involves much more than finding a supplier and agreeing on a good price. To avoid delays, extra costs and even seizure of the goods, it is essential to understand the requirements of regulatory agencies. Let's talk about the main ones!
1. INMETRO: Does Your Product Need Certification?
Have you ever stopped to think why some products need the INMETRO seal? It guarantees that items sold in Brazil meet quality and safety standards. If a product is banned for lack of this certification, it cannot be sold.
Which products need the seal?
- Toys: To ensure they are safe for children.
- Household appliances and portable appliances: Coffee makers, blenders, fans and the like.
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Helmets, gloves and other essential items for workplace safety.
- Electrical equipment: Lamps, chargers and any product that needs proven energy efficiency.
If your product falls into these categories, be careful! Without certification, it may get stuck in customs.
2. MAPA: Do your imports go through the Ministry of Agriculture?
If you deal with food, beverages, veterinary products or agricultural inputs, the answer is yes! MAPA regulates the import of everything that has an impact on animal and plant health in Brazil.
Products that require MAPA authorization:
- Food and drinks (meats, cheeses, wines, grains, seeds…)
- Veterinary products (rations, vaccines, supplements…)
- Fertilizers and agricultural inputs (any product aimed at agribusiness)
Have you ever imagined buying a batch of imported wines and discovering that the merchandise cannot be released? It is best to check beforehand!
3. ANATEL: Does your product use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GSM?
If so, get ready for approval! ANATEL regulates any product that transmits data wirelessly.
Products that require ANATEL certification:
- Cell phones, tablets, routers, smartwatches…
- Drones, IP security cameras, any device that communicates via radio signals.
This process ensures that the equipment does not interfere with other communication systems and follows international quality standards.
4. ANVISA: Does Your Merchandise Have an Impact on Health?
If you import products for health, hygiene or well-being, ANVISA needs to authorize their entry into Brazil.
Items that require ANVISA approval:
- Medicines and pharmaceutical supplies.
- Cosmetics and hygiene products, such as creams, perfumes and makeup.
- Sanitizing agents, such as disinfectants and cleaning products.
- Food supplements and functional foods.
There's no point in bringing a batch of supplements if they're not registered! Regularization can take a while, so it's worth planning ahead.
Licenses: Notification or Registration?
It's not just about having or not having a certification, but also understanding the level of complexity of the process.
- Notification: Simpler process, where the product only needs to be communicated to the regulatory body.
- Registration: It requires extensive documentation, technical analysis and can take months for approval.
Knowing where your product fits avoids unpleasant surprises and extra costs when importing!
Now that you have an overview of the requirements, the question is: Is your product ready to enter Brazil without any headaches? If you still have doubts, good planning makes all the difference.
At Peculiare, we help companies understand and meet all these requirements, ensuring that their imports are safe and efficient. Do you want support to avoid unpleasant surprises? Let's talk!