Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) formally published Act No. 18086 on 25 November 2025, making important updates to the conformity assessment and import rules for telecom products. The new rules apply from 25 May 2026 and mainly concern imports of samples for certification testing and commercial imports of approved products.

Clearer rules for importing certification test samples

Under the new act, importers may bring product samples into Brazil for certification testing, but quantities must be strictly limited to what testing requires. After testing, remaining samples must be held by customs until the product obtains its final certificate of conformity. Importers must sign a formal service agreement with an ANATEL-designated certification body or authorised laboratory, specifying the product model, manufacturer and the exact quantity to be assessed. All samples, including those entering by post or courier, are subject to compliance checks by ANATEL and the Brazilian Federal Revenue.

Approved products must follow marking and declaration rules

For telecom products already approved for commercialisation, only the certificate holder or its legal representative may import them into Brazil. Every imported unit must carry the certification mark in accordance with ANATEL marking procedures. When completing import formalities, the product certificate number must be clearly stated in the additional information field of the documentation to ensure smooth customs clearance and regulatory compliance.

The changes are intended to further strengthen market access management for telecom products in Brazil and improve compliance transparency and regulatory efficiency. Companies should prepare in advance for the new import process.