Brazil: Government, Public Sector

Brazil's Supreme Court has definitively upheld legal restrictions on foreign acquisition and lease of rural properties, including those imposed on Brazilian companies with majority foreign capital.

Declaração tem data-base em 31 de dezembro de 2025 e é aplicável a empresas com participação estrangeira e ativos a partir de R$ 100 mil...

Beginning in 2026, cross-border dividend payments from Brazil may become subject to a newly enacted 10% withholding income tax (WHT).

A recent decision by Brazil's Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region confirms that the Ministry of Agriculture holds final authority over agrochemical use decisions following environmental assessments by Ibama. This ruling addresses regulatory inconsistencies in the re-evaluation process of active ingredients, particularly regarding imidacloprid, and establishes that uniform treatment must apply to both registered products and new registration requests.

Regulatory authorities in Brazil have moved to restrict prediction markets before conducting thorough analysis of their nature and potential benefits. This reactive approach follows a familiar pattern in the country, where innovative business models face resistance and are often forced into pre-existing legal categories that don't fit, potentially causing Brazil to miss out on a rapidly growing global market worth billions of dollars.

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office has restructured its organizational framework, expanding its Patent Directorate from 20 to 26 specialized examination divisions while dissolving eight existing units. These administrative changes, implemented through a series of normative ordinances in 2026, represent a significant reorganization of how patent applications will be processed and managed across different technical areas.

Biocon Limited has partnered with Brazilian companies Bahiafarma and Bionovis to secure an exclusive ten-year supply contract for its pertuzumab biosimilar in Brazil's public healthcare market. The partnership aims to improve access to this HER2-positive breast cancer treatment while reducing costs and developing Brazil's domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities through phased localization.

The State of Espírito Santo has launched Parklog Sul Capixaba, a BRL 25 billion logistics ecosystem designed to transform southern Brazil into a major hub for foreign trade and industrial development. With strategic ports, railways, and export processing zones, the program combines federal and state tax incentives to attract private investment, while navigating Brazil's ongoing consumption tax reform that will fundamentally reshape regional competition for capital.

This weekly bulletin from Mayer Brown's Brasília litigation team highlights upcoming judicial proceedings and legislative matters across Brazil's highest courts and federal legislative bodies.

Brazil's Financial Activities Control Council imposed a R$ 7.4 million fine on an automotive company for anti-money laundering violations, while the US designation of PCC and CV as terrorist organizations creates new compliance challenges for Brazilian businesses. How are these developments reshaping corporate risk management and integrity frameworks across sectors?

The U.S. government's recent designation of Brazilian criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations is fundamentally reshaping compliance obligations and regulatory exposure for companies operating internationally. How will these expanded FTO designations impact routine business operations, supply chain management, and financial transactions for Brazilian and multinational corporations? This analysis explores the practical implications of heightened transnational enforcement and the critical ste

Brazil has built a comprehensive legal framework to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, anchored by Law #9,613/98 and strengthened by Central Bank Circular #3,978/2020. The Financial Activities Control Council (COAF) serves as the nation's intelligence hub, analyzing 87 distinct laundering typologies that span corporate structures, cryptocurrency transactions, real estate schemes, and cash-based operations. Understanding these regulatory mechanisms and criminal patterns is essential for financi