The Brazilian federal government launched the "Selo Verde Brasil" (Green Seal Brazil) Program to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The decree establishing the program was officially published on 18 June 2024, signalling Brazil's renewed commitment to responsible environmental practices.

Program Objectives

The Green Seal Brazil Program aims to certify products and services that meet pre-defined sustainability requirements. This certification will provide consumers and businesses with accurate and verifiable information, thus encouraging informed choices and promoting sustainable consumption. Another important objective is to strengthen sustainable public procurement processes in the country.

Implementation and Standards

According to the decree, the program will follow both national and international environmental certification standards, ensuring reciprocity and mutual recognition with similar global initiatives. This strategy aims to facilitate the acceptance of Green Seal Brazil in international markets, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Brazilian products.

Integration with Existing Initiatives

Green Seal Brazil will be integrated with existing certification programs and sustainability initiatives. It will be aligned with public policies that promote sustainable products and services and support the Ministry of Finance's Ecological Transformation Plan. This comprehensive integration is designed to strengthen the country's green economy and promote transparency, social inclusion and income generation.

Role of the Conformity Assessment Bodies

The certification process will be carried out by conformity assessment bodies accredited by the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro). These bodies will verify that products and services comply with the sustainability requirements set out in specific Brazilian technical standards.

Future Impact and Commitment

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the program, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services may enter into contracts, technical cooperation agreements or adjustments with public and private entities. The visual identity of the Green Seal Brazil will be established by an act of the Minister of State for Development, Industry, Commerce and Services.

Conclusion

The launch of the Green Seal Brazil represents a significant step forward in the promotion of a green economy in Brazil. It reaffirms the country's commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, aiming at a greener and more prosperous future. This decree will take effect on the date of its publication, marking a new era of sustainable and conscious practices in Brazil.

On 24 May 2024, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) updated the INCI Translation Panel with the translation of 1,016 International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) into Portuguese. Including another update published on 10 May, a total of 1,148 entries were added in May.

Mandatory INCI Name Translations

According to ANVISA Regulation RDC No. 773, which came into force on 1 November 2023, all personal care products, cosmetics, and perfumes sold in Brazil must have their chemical composition in Portuguese on the label. This regulation amends the previous regulation (RDC No. 646) to ensure transparency and accessibility for Brazilian consumers. The translation can be provided directly on the label or in a digital format accessible through a code on the packaging.

Ingredients Excluded from the Update

As a result of the update, all requests for inclusion received before 23 May were thoroughly reviewed. However, some ingredients were excluded from the panel for the following reasons:

1) The INCI provided by the user was not found in the European Cosmetic Ingredients (CosIng) database

2) The ingredient is prohibited for cosmetic products under the regulatory framework for personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and fragrances (RDC No. 529/2021).

Future Updates and Availability

Products manufactured until 31 October 2023 may be sold until their respective expiry dates, according to Art. 4^th of RDC No. 646 of 2022, as amended by RDC No. 773 of 2023.

Starting in 2025, translation will be added every two months (in odd months), while translation changes/corrections will be made every six months (in July and December).

The chemical composition in Portuguese can be displayed in print or digital format, preferably on a mobile device, and is preceded by the phrases "Composition (Portuguese):" or "Ingredients (Portuguese)".

ANVISA has made the entire database of the panel public via a spreadsheet, allowing users to download changes on the specified date. The update is scheduled for July 2024 and will include new additions and adjustments to translated ingredients to ensure traceability and prevent ANVISA from being held liable for obsolete translations.