Source: Diário do Nordeste - Fortaleza / CE - 10/06/2010

São Paulo Beverage manufacturers that have Sicobe (Beverage Production Control System) installed or under installation at their units are not required to maintain flow meters on the production line.

These two systems were created by the IRS to control production and combat tax evasion in the sector. Each year, it is estimated that 12 billion liters of beer and 13 billion liters of soft drinks are manufactured in the country, according to the tax authorities.

The rules that change the obligation for companies to maintain the SMV (Flow Measurement System) - when they already have or are installing Sicobe- were changed in a rule published yesterday in the “Official Gazette”. With Sicobe, the Revenue maintains control, in real time, of the production of beverages by means of equipment that enables the recording, recording and transmission of information to its database. This mechanism was created in 2008 and provides for the payment to the Mint of R $ 0,03 per unit (bottle, pet or can) produced, which can be deducted from the payment of PIS and Cofins. Today, 161 establishments have Sicobe installed, controlling 99% of beer production and 90% of soft drink production. According to the tax authorities, the collection of federal taxes in the beverage sector increased 20% last year, after the installation of Sicobe in 108 factories.