Overview
Importing pet food into Brazil requires dual registration — both establishment/plant registration with MAPA and product label registration through the applicable system — before any commercial shipment can be released. The requirements are governed primarily by Decreto nº 12.031/2024 (Decree 12031/2024) and further operationalized by DIPOA Circular 21/2025.
Core Requirement: Dual Registration Before Shipment
> "Products cannot be shipped until confirmation of both plant and label registration is received from the Government of Brazil." (BR2026-0001, p. 1)
This is a firm enforcer rule: goods shipped in advance of confirmed registrations risk detention by VIGIAGRO (Vigilância Agropecuária Internacional / International Agricultural Surveillance), MAPA's border inspection body.
Registration Tracks
| Actor | Action | System |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign manufacturer (via its country's competent authority) | Nominate establishment for MAPA registration | Government-to-government channel → MAPA/DIPOA |
| USDA FAS Brasília | Assist with plant registration | — |
| Foreign manufacturer or its Brazilian importer | Register product labels | PGA-SIGSIF (or SIPEAGRO until 2030) |
| Brazilian importer | Internalize cargo at Brazilian port | VIGIAGRO verification |
Transition Timeline
From July 8, 2025 to July 8, 2030 — the transition period — importers must present:
- Importing plant registration (SIPEAGRO) or foreign plant registration (PGA-SIGSIF)
- Product registration or enrollment performed by importer (SIPEAGRO) or by foreign producer plant (PGA-SIGSIF)
- Remanding documents per Art. 26 of Instrução Normativa 29 of September 14, 2010 (IN 29/2010)
From July 8, 2030 onwards: Only registrations performed in PGA-SIGSIF will be acceptable. All SIPEAGRO registrations will become invalid.
Product Label Requirements
All product labels must comply with Brazilian legislation, including:
- Portuguese language labeling
- Ingredient and additive compliance with MAPA rules
- GMO labeling: products containing >1% genetically modified ingredients must carry the black "T" transgenic symbol (per Decreto nº 4.680/2003)
- Registration number on label
The company (exporter or importer) is responsible for being aware of applicable rules before shipping.
Cargo Arrival: VIGIAGRO Checkpoints
All import documents are evaluated by VIGIAGRO prior to market entry. Divergences in:
- Plant name, address, or registration number
- Importer registration status in comparison to the import license
...can result in product detention. Non-commercial shipments (laboratory analysis, research) fall under Art. 16–18 of IN 29/2010.
Source: USDA GAIN report BR2026-0001 (January 6, 2026); Circular nº 21/2025/DIPOA/SDA/MAPA; Decreto nº 12.031/2024; Decreto nº 4.680/2003.