Brazil Vows to Phase Out Paper-Based Trade Operations by Year End

Officials from Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MDIC), the Brazilian Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX), the Brazilian Tax Agency (Receita Federal), the Brazilian Health Agency (ANVISA), the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment (MAPA) on 29 June confirmed that they intend to make all necessary internal adjustments so that the single window for trade operations is able to receive trade-related documents exclusively through electronic means by the end of the year, thereby phasing out the use of paper documents in customs and other administrative transactions related to international trade.

The elimination of paper-based trade operations is one of the objectives set out in the trade facilitation pillar of the new national export plan unveiled by the Brazilian government on 24 June. MDIC indicates that the Brazilian Tax Agency and SECEX adopted the new electronic model at the beginning of the year and since 1 July the Brazilian Tax Agency has been receiving documents exclusively via electronic means. ANVISA, MAPA and IBAMA have committed to complete their transition to an electronic document reception environment by the end of the year. Brazilian Tax Agency Secretary Jorge Rachid observed that the completion of this phase of the electronic single window will yield substantial productivity gains for both the public and private sectors.