Source: Global Research - SP - 17/11/2009

BEVERAGE SECTOR ATTACKS “SURVEILLANCE RATE”

The Brazilian Beverage Manufacturers Association (Afrebras) goes to court to ask that
members stop paying Casa da Moeda R $ 0,03 per unit produced,
as provided by Sicobe (Beverage Production Control System).

Established in Law 11.827 of 2008, Sicobe allows the Federal Revenue Service
control in real time the production of beverages in the country using equipment
that allow the registration, recording and transmission of information to its database. For the tax authorities, the system is yet another instrument to combat
tax evasion in the sector, as well as the Flow Measurement System, already installed
in factories.

About XNUMX soft drink and mineral water manufacturers approved this week
passed, in assembly, forwarding a request to the Justice to be free
payment of R $ 0,03 per unit.

When the equipment is installed in all factories in the country, the Casa da Moeda do Brasil should receive around R $ 1,3 billion per year, according to
association calculations. The estimate was made by Afrebras considering the volume
soft drinks, mineral water, beer and other beverages (isotonic,
energy).

“Small manufacturers of soft drinks and mineral water cannot afford
that cost. Furthermore, we do not consider it right for the industry to have to pay
government to be inspected ”, says Fernando Bairros, president of Afrebras.
Manufacturers have tried, since the beginning of the year, to discuss with representatives of
Federal Revenue the cost of Sicobe. "Without an answer, we are going to court," he says.
OR $ 0,03 paid by manufacturers per unit produced (collected by
And transferred to the Casa da Moeda) can be offset in the payment of PIS and Cofins. But, even making this discount, according to Afrebras, there are
credits that cannot be offset.

“There are flaws in the compensation system. For each payment of R $ 0,03 per unit, we were able to offset R $ 0,02 of PIS and Cofins. The rest [R $ 0,01] cannot be offset. Adding this amount to another R $ 0,05 per unit related to credits obtained in the purchase of raw materials [juice, aroma, lid, label], which also cannot be compensated, there is a loss of R $ 0,06 per unit . ”

For Afrebras, there is also a diversion of funds with a destination defined by law. "O
reimbursement occurs with PIS and Cofins, which have the purpose of financing the
social security and FAT (Workers' Assistance Fund). That is, the
reimbursement diverts workers' money, ”says Bairros.

Afrebras disputes the fact that Sicobe is being implemented by employees
outsourced, and not by inspectors of the Federal Revenue. “Casa da Moeda hired a company, which in turn subcontracted others. It is at least strange that
employee, who presents himself as an outsourced employee of the Revenue, spend all day
inside the factories, ”he says.

At Arco Íris, a soft drink factory in São José do Rio Preto (SP), two
Sicobe's outsourced employees currently monitor production during the day at the company, according to Folha found out.

Fábio Macedo, Afrebras' financial director, says that manufacturers “are not afraid of inspection. But the factories have industrial secrets, which are being shared with unknown people and with free access to production, ”he says.

“In addition, we have not even heard that there was a bid for the hiring of
company that makes and installs the equipment ”, says Bairros.

Cervejaria Petrópolis even obtained an injunction for the Teresópolis plant
(RJ) would be outside Sicobe's control, but the Attorney General's Office
Nacional managed to suspend the injunction.

Petrópolis informs that it is in favor of the production control system, but
questions the legality in the form of “reimbursement” to the Casa da Moeda do Brasil,
with subsequent tax compensation in the payment of PIS and Cofins.
AmBev informs that it has already completed the installation of Sicobe in the 28 plants it owns
in Brazil and has 100% of its production controlled by the new tax system. THE
company informs that it supports the system and invested R $ 6 million to install 166
counters in factories. By December 31, all beverage manufacturers in the
country must install the system.
Source: FOLHA DE SÃO PAULO