Avoid paying fines! According to the Customs Regulations, there are certain instances where fines apply as a result of errors, faults or discrepancies in import documents and cargo.
Make sure that the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM) is properly categorized, according to your product. A fine will be applied in case of incorrect classification, with repercussions on the amount of taxes. These are adjusted to the new product category. Classifying products correctly also allows, in some cases, to save on taxes and facilitate clearance in Brazilian customs.
Not all products can be freely imported into Brazil. Several of them require an Import License (LI) before the shipment leaves its origin. It is necessary to request this electronic document on the SISCOMEX portal (carried out by the customs broker) and include all information about the freight and the transportation process. You will need to provide the description of the product, the origin, the destination and names of all parties involved in the operation. Shipping cargo to Brazil without this license causes importers to pay fines, extra fees and incur in high expenses at the port and can even lead to complete loss of the goods.
In Brazil, there are three mandatory shipping documents: Commercial Invoice, Packing List and Bill of Lading (issued by the freight forwarder). The Packing List consists of a detailed list of all components inside the packages, while the Bill of Lading is the main document, which is used to transport cargo internationally. Make sure that all of these documents have been issued properly and that there are no discrepancies between them. It is important that all information is coherent throughout all documents.
Remember that there are several patented brands, which do not allow the import and resale of their products in Brazil or worldwide. Therefore, consult the information provided by the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property), so that fines are not applied to imported goods.
Free time is the number of free days the container (in case of FCL – Full Container Load) or the cargo (in case of LCL – Less than Container Load) will have at the destination port, negotiated in the import quote. Keep in mind that there are high daily costs associated with extending this term. In Brazil, due to legal requirements, the average cargo dispatch time usually takes 10-15 days
(Asia 30 days), but consider that this period can be extended, due to delays in the process.
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