On 3 October 2022 the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) published a new Technical Note 31/2022/SEI/GHCOS/DIRE3/ANVISA on the regularization of personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and perfumes which came into force directly.

On 19 September 2022, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency adopted Resolution 752/2022. It entered into force on 3 October 2022. Resolution 752/2022 requires labelling adaptations which demand the addition of customer service information, particular definitions for tanning products, hypoallergenic goods, personal hygiene products, and specific wrapping features.

Resolution 752/2022 is the result of adapting several directives of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR). Therefore, it is an effort of the Brazilian government to standardize regulations in the region and simplify the trade of those goods within the MERCOSUR region and towards it. 

In addition to technical requirements and regularization as well as labelling and packaging procedures, the new standard defines the parameters for the microbiological control of these products. In this regard the Technical Note 31/2022/SEI/GHCOS/DIRE3/ANVISA for contains guidance to meeting the mandatory requirements for microbiological specifications of the finished product, provided for in item III of Article 8 of Resolution 752/2022.This Note points out the technical requirements and procedures concerning microbiological control. In this regard, two possible options could occur:

• if a product is keen to pollute in a microbiological dimension, the product shall comply with several parameters set in Chapter V of Resolution 752/2022.
•  if a product is potentially not a harm in a microbiological dimension such condition should be demonstrated technically under ISO29621:2017.

Existing product registration  must be adapted before 3 October 2025 and new products have to comply with the novel regulation. For more information in Portuguese visit: https://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/assuntos/noticias-anvisa/2022/anvisa-divulga-orientacoes-sobre-controle-microbiologico-de-cosmeticos

On 5 September 2022, the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim) signed , in the Brazilian capital, Brasília, a protocol of intent with the Ministry of the Environment. This document intends to collaborate, among other issues, in the elaboration of the National Climate Change Mitigation Plan and chemical management.  

This happens in the context of draft bill 6.120/2019 which was approved on 6 December 2021 by the Environment Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. The intent of this is to set inventories, risk assessments, and authorization requirements for chemicals to protect human health and reduce environmental damage. This entails the production, importation, and use of chemicals in the Brazilian territory. If the protocol is approved in the parliament,  a database would be established in the country with all the industrial chemicals used in Brazil with a quantity of more than one tonne per year. 

In this context, Abiquim and the Ministry of Environment are advancing in the Brazilian management of chemical substances.  This is already in progress through Bill 6.120/2019 whose enactment was paused under Bolsonaro’s government. However, a representative of Abiquim expects that this bill will be approved and believes that its effects will be positive for the chemical industry in Brazil.  

The United Nations has funded a project with the cooperation of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, to monitor hazardous chemical substances in order to establish and create a national chemical inventory. It is estimated that this project will start in early 2023. Currently, the Bill is waiting to be approved by all committees of the Brazil National Congress, and after the final approval, it will be sent to the Brazilian senate.