Brazilian law on chemical safety
Brazilian law on chemical safety – Brazil began to act objectively in chemical safety with the publication of Federal Law No. 15,022, published on November 14, 2024, with the purpose of minimizing adverse impacts on health and the environment. Some substances used in additives for lubricating oils, such as some antioxidants, may be impacted.
The new Law is already being referred to by international organizations as the Brazilian REACH, making reference to the European Commission’s REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemical substances).
This established the National Inventory of Chemical Substances and the risk assessment and control of chemical substances used, produced or imported in the national territory. This inventory will be implemented, maintained and managed by the government
The National Registry of Chemical Substances was thus created with the aim of forming the National Inventory of Chemical Substances and consolidating an information base on chemical substances produced in the national territory or imported.
According to Article 6 of Law 15,022, chemical substances must be registered in the National Inventory of Chemical Substances, either as such or when used as ingredients in a mixture, if they individually reach a quantity equal to or greater than 1 (one) ton of production or import per year, considering the average of the last 3 (three) years.
The registration of a chemical substance in the National Inventory of Chemical Substances must include the following information, according to the regulations:
I – the identification data of the producer or importer of the chemical substance;
II – the range of annual production or import quantity of the chemical substance;
III – the exact identification of the chemical substance, including the registration number in the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) or the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), by their acronyms in English, when applicable;
IV – the hazard classification according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, in accordance with the current Brazilian standard;
V – the recommended uses of the chemical substance.
The deadline for including information in the National Registry of Chemical Substances, to form the National Inventory of Chemical Substances, will be 3 (three) years, counted from its availability, without prejudice to production, import and use activities.
After this deadline, those who begin production or import activities of chemical substances listed in the National Inventory of Chemical Substances in quantities equal to or greater than 1 (one) ton of production or import per year, or a quantity stipulated based on § 1º of art. 6th, are required to provide information in the National Registry of Chemical Substances by March 31 of the following year.
Finally, Law 15,022 brings Brazilian companies into line with global chemical regulations, potentially increasing their international competitiveness. Harmonization with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) simplifies trade and ensures access to markets with strict safety requirements.
