A mandatory step in any import process is verifying whether the goods to be imported require an import license (LI).

Currently, this information can be found through the "Consult General Administrative Treatment" function.

It is important to remember that the consultation must be carried out before the shipment of the goods, given that, as a rule, the import license (LI) must be approved (authorized) by the competent authority before the shipment of the goods (examples: ANEEL, ANVISA, IBAMA, ANP, INMETRO and MAPA).

According to SECEX Ordinance No. 23/2011, import licenses (LI's) have a deadline for approval and validity.

Imports subject to Automatic Licensing have their approval within up to 10 (ten) business days – Art. 22.

Imports subject to Non-Automatic Licensing have their approval granted within up to 60 (sixty) days – Art. 23.

Thus, both licenses will have a validity period of 90 (ninety) days (Art. 24), counted from the date of approval, for the purpose of shipping the goods abroad.

Great care must be taken with the issue of licenses, so that your operation is not harmed or even made unfeasible.

News commentary by Fabricio Norat, Lawyer, graduated in Law in 2014 from FMU/SP Faculdade Metropolitanas Unidas, specializing in Customs, Tax and Corporate Law. OAB/SP No. 431.023