National Day Against Smuggling Archives

Smuggling causes loss of R $ 115 billion to the country, says association

Smuggling caused a loss of R $ 115 billion to Brazil in 2015. The volume is 15% higher than in the previous year. The calculation includes extinct jobs and loss of competitiveness. The balance is of the Association to Combat the Illegal Market (ACMI) that, to mark the National Day to Combat Smuggling, made today (3) demonstrations in Brasília, Rio, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu and Porto Alegre, demanding immediate actions from the federal government to prevent the entry of contraband products.

In Rio de Janeiro, the act took place on the corner of Rio Branco and Presidente Vargas avenues, next to the Candelária Church, in the city center. “The movement in Rio was very positive, bringing good results. We hope to have achieved our objective, both in the governmental and social aspects ”, said ACMI director, Roberto Lima.

In Brasília, the demonstration was organized by the National Movement for the Defense of the Brazilian Legal Market, with the participation of the Brazilian Institute of Competitive Ethics (Etco) and the National Forum Against Piracy and Illegality (FNCP), in addition to 70 business entities and organizations civil society.

A survey by the Datafolha Institute on smuggling in Brazil, carried out between 23 and 25 February this year, with 2.056 people heard in 130 small, medium and large cities, metropolitan regions and cities in the interior of the country, showed what the Brazilian thinks about smuggling and the government's lack of action to fight crime.

At work, Datafolha indicated some phrases. In the phrase “contraband products bring harm to Brazil and its industry”, according to the survey, 76% totally agree and 13% partially, 2% neither agree nor disagree and 7% disagree with the sentence, 5% totally disagree and 3% in part. They did not know how to answer 1%. When the phrase was “smuggled products encourage organized crime and the trafficking of drugs and arms”, 77% followed it completely and 11% in part, 1% did not part. They did not give a 9% opinion.

Roberto Lima defended the reinforcement of the actions of combat in the borders and the reduction of the taxes of products that suffer more contraband action, to make them cheaper, and less attractive for this type of crime.

“From my point of view, the most important measure is the effective work at the borders, in order to reduce the entry of these products in Brazil. Another measure is the existence of a sensible tax policy for companies that operate in the Brazilian legal market. The government has the false impression that if it increases the tax, it increases the collection, when it does not, in fact. It increases the tax and reduces the shift, because it encourages the entry of smuggling, ”he said.

For Roberto Lima, if there was a tax reduction, the effects would be felt in the short term. “If a project were made to reduce taxation, so that products would have lower and more accessible prices, certainly the sales and collection volume would increase, because companies are the ones who contribute to this. With illegality, nothing is collected, ”he said.

The director informed that cigarette smuggling is at the top of the list of products that entered Brazil illegally in 2015. Also on the list are appliances, clothing, glasses, computer items, watches, medicines and toys for babies, which can bring health problems to children, for containing chemicals. “Of the R $ 115 billion, there is R $ 702 million with cigarettes alone. They enter through Mato Grosso do Sul. They are cigarettes manufactured in Paraguay ”, he revealed.

According to Lima, the damage to the country has increased in recent years. In 2010, the estimate was R $ 80 billion. “Since then it has been growing, reaching R $ 115 billion in 2015, and from 2014 to 2015 it increased by 15%”.

Protest in Brasilia

In Brasília, the 150 or so protesters criticized, in front of the Planalto Palace, also for the excess of taxes collected by the Public Power.

Brasília - Protesters protest in front of the Planalto Palace against the crime of smuggling. The demonstration takes place on the National Day to Combat Smuggling (Antonio Cruz / Agência Brasil) — Protesters protest in front of the Planalto Palace against the crime of smuggling. The demonstration takes place on the National Day to Combat SmugglingAntonio Cruz / Agência Brasil

“We are here to say that smugglers have a lot to thank the government, which does not invest the necessary investments to combat this practice. The Federal Police and the IRS are barely able to control the borders, which harms, in terms of competitiveness, the national industry. At the same time, they impose excessive taxes on the sectors we represent ”, said the president of the National Forum Against Piracy and Illegality (FNCP), Edson Vismona.

The report sought the IRS to comment on the statements, but did not receive a response until the text was published.

Source: Agência Brasil (3/03)

National Day to Combat Smuggling has acts of protest

The National Day to Combat Smuggling had protests, demanding more government action.

In Brasília, in the rain, the protesters walked through the Esplanada dos Ministérios towards the Praça dos Três Poderes.

The group concentrated in front of the Planalto Palace. There was also a protest in São Paulo, in front of the Palácio dos Bandeirantes. The Brazilian Association to Combat Counterfeiting destroyed packages of smuggled cigarettes.

In Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, where last year the seizures reached more than R $ 350 million, smuggled goods were destroyed in the Federal Revenue yard.

The deposits in Ponta Porã, in Mato Grosso do Sul, are full of seizures. In cigarettes alone, there are more than R $ 20 million.

Source: Jornal Nacional, 3/03 edition

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For nine out of ten Brazilians, tax increases encourage smuggling

Survey shows that the majority of the population blames the government for the increase in Paraguayan products

Federal Revenue destroys 3.200 tons of products smuggled across the country, as part of the 14th National Mutirão of Destruction, to mark the National Day to Combat Piracy (IRS Disclosure) — Photo disclosure: IRS

Most Brazilians (87%) agree that "the increase in taxes in Brazil encourages people to bring smuggled products from Paraguay". The data were released on Thursday (3) and are from a survey by the Datafolha institute, commissioned by the Movement in Defense of the Brazilian Legal Market.

The survey shows that 80% of respondents say that the Brazilian government has responsibility for increasing the smuggling of Paraguayan products. Of this total, more than half (55%) affirm that the public power has “a lot of responsibility”.

Source: R7.com (3/03/16)

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Illegal goods inflows

Loss on trade in pirated products increases and Country loses billions Neither the economic crisis nor the increase in the value of the dollar against the real stopped the growth of illegal or non-tax goods entering the country.

According to a survey by the National Forum Against Piracy, an entity that brings together dozens of sectors affected by smuggling, the problem has become even greater in the sectors most affected. Blaming the lack of government action on border control and the increase in taxes by state governments, including São Paulo, business associations began an advertising campaign accusing the government of collaborating for a chain that generates unemployment in the country.

The expectation of these entities was that the high dollar and the reduction of consumption in Brazil could help to reduce the entry of products from outside prohibited or that do not pay taxes. But they point out that the lack of border controls and the increase in taxes on national products, has made this illegal market increase.

MOST AFFECTED

According to Edson Vismona, who coordinates the Forum, the cigarette and clothing industries, the most affected, made surveys in 2015 that revealed an increase in the share of smuggled products in their sectors.

According to the data, in the case of cigarettes, the illegal market already accounts for 32% of the official market (it was 30%). In clothing, it reached 14.2% (it was 12%). In these two sectors alone, illegal goods moved RS 33 billion in Brazil. Vismona points out that another 15 sectors of the economy, from medicines to auto parts. they still do not have data compiled for 2015 on the entry of illegal products, but they report that there was no change compared to previous years. Last year, the affected industries ran a major advertising campaign to ask the government to take action against piracy. In the calculations of these organizations, the government fails to earn RSl00 billion a year by allowing illegal goods to enter the country.

PARAGUAY

The organizations' efforts included the attempt to approve more funds for border control actions, especially with Paraguay, and with legislative measures to try to make the penalties for these crimes tougher.

TCU POINTS FAILURES

According to Evandro Guimarães, who directs the NGO ETCO, focused on actions by business sectors due to competitive ethics, there were no necessary measures to combat piracy in the country and this justifies the increase in the tone of advertisements against the government.
"We are realizing that there is a lack of an aggressive policy, which makes the fiscal adjustment through the fight against illegalities", said Guimarães.

In September 2015,0 Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) made a diagnosis about the performance of governmental agencies at the borders and found that the work was “improvised” and there was no law, resources, personnel or equipment to control the 17 thousand kilometers of the country's borders, where illegal products enter.

100 BILLION reais is how much the government fails to collect per year with piracy TCU APONTA FALH>> In September 2015,0 Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) made a diagnosis about the performance of government agencies at the borders and found that the work was “improvised” and there was no law, resources, personnel or equipment to control the 17 thousand kilometers of the country's borders, where illegal products enter.

Coordinated government actions are lacking

The diagnosis made by the Federal Court of Auditors last year pointed out that the main problem to stop the entry of illegal goods or that do not pay taxes in the country was the lack of coordination and, therefore, the court determined the Civil House of the Presidency of the It republishes an action plan to combat piracy, giving it six months to be presented.

According to TCU Minister Augusto Nardes, rapporteur of the process, separately, some entities that work in the sector would present their projects to him on how to act on the border, but the Civil House did not present the requested plan.

"We are concerned because there is a lack of integration between public policies in this stator," said Nardes. Sought, the ministries of the Civil House and justice did not comment on the matter. CIIVIRGAÇÀO / G0f Illegal cigarette sales already account for 32% of the official market in the country.

Source: Jornal de Brasília
Date: 03 / 03 / 2016

Smuggling has not declined despite high dollar and crisis, say companies

Even with the economic crisis and the increase in the value of the dollar against the real, the entry of illegal goods into the country has not decreased. According to a survey by the National Forum Against Piracy, an organization that gathers dozens of sectors affected by smuggling, the problem has even worsened.

According to Folha de S. Paulo, the fault would be the lack of action by the federal government in border control and the increase in taxes by state administrations, such as that of São Paulo. Business associations started an advertising campaign accusing the government of collaborating with a chain that generates unemployment in Brazil.

The entities were expecting that with the high dollar and the reduction of consumption in the country they could help in reducing the entry of foreign products that are banned or that do not pay taxes. However, they point out that the lack of border controls and the increase in taxes on national products has made this illegal market even bigger.

For Edson Vismona, who coordinates the Forum, the tobacco and clothing industries, the most affected, made surveys last year that revealed an increase in the share of contraband products in their sectors.

According to the data, in the case of cigarettes, the illegal market already accounts for 32% of the official market (it was 30%). In clothing, it reached 14,2% (it was 12%). In these two sectors alone, illegal products moved R $ 33 billion in the country.

In 2015, the affected industries ran a major advertising campaign to ask the government to take action against piracy. In the calculations of these organizations, the country stops earning R $ 100 billion per year with the permission for the entry of illegal goods into the national territory.

According to Evandro Guimarães, who directs the NGO Etco, which works in actions by business sectors for competitive ethics, there were no necessary measures to combat this type of deviation in the country and this justifies the increase in the tone of advertisements against the government. "We are realizing that there is a lack of an aggressive policy, which makes the fiscal adjustment through the fight against illegalities", said Guimarães.

According to TCU Minister Augusto Nardes, rapporteur of the process, separately, some entities that operate in the sector presented their projects to him on how to act on the border, but the Civil House did not present the requested plan. "We are concerned because there is a lack of integration between public policies", concluded Nardes.

Source: Mato Grosso News (3/03)

In an article published by the Correio Braziliense newspaper, ETCO's president warns of the serious problem of smuggling in the country and the negligence of the authorities.

Free Smuggling

By Evandro Guimarães, CEO of ETCO and Edson Vismona, President of FNCP

There are situations in which the Brazilian government seems to be an ally of smuggling and embezzlement. The lack of governmental action to effectively combat this crime, which has harmful effects on the Brazilian economy, is certainly the main competitive advantage that criminals have over the national industry. Feeling free to act, smugglers are advancing in sectors that simply are not able to compete against those who do not collect a penny of tax, do not employ any Brazilian worker and do not follow the safety and health standards required in the country.

Created in the second half of 2014 by the Instituto de Ética Concorrencial (Etco) and the National Forum Against Piracy and Illegality (FNCP), with more than 70 entities representing sectors affected by illegality in Brazil, the Movement in Defense of the Brazilian Legal Market it aims to combat various forms of illegalities that have been harming the national industry, including smuggling and embezzlement.

Throughout this period, we hold events, produce studies and hold meetings with various authorities involved directly and indirectly in the fight against smuggling. More than that, numerous proposals were put forward that could have been adopted by the government, and that would certainly have an extremely positive impact on the problem. The fight against smuggling could be adopted, for example, as one of the efficient ways to increase government revenue without, however, further penalizing the productive sector through new and higher taxes.

Although we were received in all spheres involved and, most importantly, recognized by everyone within the government, the seriousness, extent and effects of smuggling for the country and the population, nothing has progressed. On the contrary, cuts in the payment of per diems and investments have dismantled border control initiatives by federal agencies (IRS, Federal Police and Federal Highway). This is a perverse equation: taxes are raised and investments are cut.

In view of this sad scenario, it is possible to intuit that the Brazilian government grants great space for the action of Paraguayan smugglers. To reach this conclusion, just analyze some data: only in 2015, contraband and embezzlement caused losses of R $ 115 billion to the country, 15% more than in the previous year, a figure that includes the losses of the national industry, taxes that are no longer collected, without calculating public health and safety expenses, among others.

Several sectors are severely affected by smuggling in Brazil, such as clothing, medicines and toys. But the sector that suffers most is certainly tobacco. In 2015, about 30% of the national cigarette market was dominated by smuggled brands from Paraguay, a country that currently produces 10 times more cigarettes than it has the capacity to consume. Of the 10 best-selling brands in the country, two are manufactured in the neighboring country and cross borders illegally, accounting for 13,4% of all national consumption, more than the best-selling brand.

Only this sector recorded tax evasion of about R $ 4,9 billion in 2015, or R $ 15 billion in the accumulated for the last five years, money subtracted from the government and which could become hospitals, highways, schools and other benefits for the population. population. The lack of governmental action raises important questions. Would it be absurd to neglect contraband the reason for this immobility? It is inexplicable that, faced with reality, the authorities have remained passive in relation to a devastating scenario for the national economy. The constant search for greater collection, both at the federal and state levels, creates an unsustainable situation, in which the economic attractiveness of the smuggling and illegality increases day after day. Stimulated by high profit margins and low risk, smugglers occupy the space of companies legally constituted in Brazil, without any kind of constraint by the authorities.

On this March 3rd, on which we hold the National Day to Combat Smuggling, we make an appeal. We want a legal Brazil, free of contraband, with a strong industry, generating jobs, paying bearable taxes and always contributing to the development of an increasingly developed society. But for that, we need attitude and leadership from the Brazilian government.

Article published in the Correio Braziliense newspaper, 03/03/2016

Bill toughens punishment for smuggling

Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Smuggling

Brazil loses about R $ 100 billion every year to the crime of smuggling. In addition to the negative impact on the country's revenue, smuggling affects the stability of several economic sectors, the jobs of Brazilians, the health of the population and the security of citizens.
This is the case, for example, with toys, which do not undergo any type of quality control, and can seriously injure children. Cigarettes brought from Paraguay, which today represent more than 30% of the national market, do not follow the rules established by Anvisa. Currently, more than 1.200 websites illegally sell medicines in Brazil.

Parliamentary Front to Combat Smuggling and Counterfeiting

Faced with this serious problem of public interest and affecting national sovereignty, the Mixed Parliamentary Front to Combat Smuggling and Counterfeiting is being launched on Thursday (May 14). The new front, which already has the participation of about 220 deputies and senators, is chaired by federal deputy Efraim Filho (DEM / PB).
The objectives of the front are:

v Define and present legislation proposals that contribute to the effective fight against smuggling and counterfeiting;

v To demand from the public authorities, at the federal, state and municipal levels, the execution of firm and immediate actions to reduce the problem of smuggling, counterfeiting and its negative impacts on society;

v Take the discussion on smuggling and counterfeiting to the whole of society through debates and public hearings;

v Find out other ways that can be taken so that the country is no longer a victim of these crimes.

Bill of Law

As the first act of the Mixed Parliamentary Front, deputy Efraim Filho filed last Wednesday, May 13, the Bill 1530/15, which aims to harden the fight against smuggling. The main points are:

v Loss of driver's license for people caught in the act carrying smuggled goods;

v The obligation to display cigarettes and beverages at points of sale, in a visible place, with a warning with the following words: “It is a crime to sell contraband cigarettes and beverages. Report it".

v Loss of CNPJ for 5 years for companies that are convicted of transporting, distributing, storing or trading contraband products.

Movement in Defense of the Brazilian Legal Market

Created in September 2014, the Movement is led by the Brazilian Institute of Competition Ethics (ETCO) and by the National Forum Against Piracy and Illegality (FNCP) and already has more than 70 entities and associations from different productive sectors.

No Smuggling

The site www.noaocontrabando.com.br it has been available since last Thursday (15/05) so that there is a content hub on combating smuggling accessible to the entire population. There will be several news about laws and projects related to the theme, studies and statistics on smuggling in Brazil and the initiatives of the Brazilian Legal Market.

Smuggling causes loss of billions to Brazil

A survey released on Tuesday (3), National Day to Combat Smuggling, revealed that the loss in Brazil with these illegal products reaches R $ 100 billion.

In a symbolic action, the machine grinds the swag, reduces the main theme of a research that lasted 3 years to dust. The Institute of Economic and Social Development of Borders interviewed store owners in Brazil, Paraguay and even smugglers. The result is an x-ray of this crime that employs 15 people in the border region alone.

The goods leave Cidade do Leste and enter Brazil by Foz do Iguacu and by the lake of Itaipu. From there they almost always travel by land to various regions of the country, mainly São Paulo.

Source: Globo.com (03/03)

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