Are You Ready for Brazil’s Upcoming Footwear Labelling Requirements?

This blog was originally posted on 8th May, 2026. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY ALEX LI, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST, AND SAMI ROMDHANI, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ANALYST, COMPLIANCE & RISKS

Key Insight

Brazil’s INMETRO has published Portaria No. 459, introducing mandatory labelling requirements for all footwear manufactured, imported, distributed, and sold in the country. Manufacturers and importers must comply by December 31, 2026, with distributors and retailers following by December 31, 2027, according to the Portaria and a subsequent notice updating the dates. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 1.5 million Brazilian reais and product seizures.

What Products Are Covered Under the New Regulation?
What Are the Key Requirements?
How Are the Labelling Requirements Going to Be Enforced?
What Are the Key Dates as They Stand Now?
How Should Footwear Manufacturers and Distributors Prepare?
Frequently Asked Questions

On 20 August 2025, the Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) published Portaria No. 459 approving the technical regulation for footwear labelling which entered into force on the same day. The regulation mandates that all footwear manufactured, imported, distributed and marketed in Brazil must comply with the prescribed labelling requirements and defines the permitted formats and contents of such labels. The INMETRO also published a notice on 16 March 2026 to extend the compliance deadline.

This blog aims to provide an overview of the regulation and explain specifically its scope, the requirements, and the key dates.

What Products Are Covered Under the New Regulation?

Brazil’s new footwear regulation applies to footwear manufactured, imported, distributed, and sold in the country. It covers footwear made of leather, textile, or other materials.

The rule also extends to the wider supply chain, meaning manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers all have responsibilities.

Certain products are excluded, including used footwear, toy footwear, safety and protective footwear, orthopedic footwear for deformity correction, and non-commercial samples.

What Are the Key Requirements?

First and foremost, all footwear covered must be labelled according to the conditions set out in the technical standard ABNT NBR 16679 on footwear composition labels. Standard ABNT NBR 16679, which was issued in 2018, will thus be made mandatory. The regulation also stipulates that manufacturers will have 18 months to comply with the updated ABNT NBR 16679 should it take place and additional 18 months will be given to distributors and retailers before they clear existing inventories.

Required Label Information

The technical regulation requires labels on footwear to show the following key product information:

The supplier;
Country of origin;
Composition of the predominant materials;
Size; and
A unique and unequivocal international identifier, such as GTIN or an equivalent code.

Other information not specified above may also be included on the label provided that it does not contradict existing information. The layout and format of labels are at the manufacturer’s discretion as long as it doesn’t violate the technical standard. The international identifier mentioned above must be affixed to the product itself if it is sold without retail packaging.

Consumer Protection Provisions

The regulation also establishes a consumer protection provision, prohibiting any deceptive commercial practices that may arise from the manufacture, import, distribution or marketing of footwear products.

How Are the Labelling Requirements Going to Be Enforced?

Under the new regulation, footwear is subject to market surveillance activities conducted across the entire national territory. These actions are carried out by Inmetro and other public legal entities linked to it through delegation agreements.

If your company is subject to a market surveillance inspection, you should be prepared for the following:

Information Requests: Suppliers must provide any information requested by Inmetro within a maximum period of 15 days.
Compliance Checks: Authorities will verify that the footwear and its packaging meet all labeling and identification requirements established in the Portaria.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: Any action or omission that contradicts the regulation is considered an infringement. Such violations can lead to the penalties established by Law No. 9.933/1999

What Are the Key Dates as They Stand Now?

Timely preparation is essential for maintaining compliance and securing your position in the Brazilian market. Based on the most recent official updates, here is the current regulatory schedule:

August 20, 2025: The regulation officially entered into force upon its publication in the Diário Oficial da União
December 31, 2026: This is the critical cutoff for manufacturers and importers. From this date forward, they must only supply footwear to the national market that fully complies with the new labeling standards. (Note: This date was officially extended from the original July 31 deadline via a formal rectification)
December 31, 2027: This is the deadline for distributors and retailers. After this date, all commercial establishments must sell only footwear that conforms to the new rules.
Ongoing Updates (The 18-Month Rule): If the technical standard ABNT NBR 16679 is revised in the future, manufacturers will have 18 months from the date the new version is published to adapt. Retailers and distributors will then receive an additional 18 months after that to clear any remaining stock of the previous version.

How Should Footwear Manufacturers and Distributors Prepare?

The new Brazil footwear labelling requirements shall encompass the entire production and supply chain, including both offline and online retailers and distributors. The extended deadline for manufacturers and importers gives a much-needed buffer for companies to adjust their activities, yet the signal for compliance is clear. As noncompliance may lead to fines up to 1.5 million Brazilian reais as well as product seizures, the stakes are extremely high. Regulatory compliance intelligence platforms like C2P can help you stay on top of enforcement dates and stay away from penalties to get ahead in the market with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brazil’s Portaria No. 459 and when did it come into force?
Portaria No. 459 is a technical regulation published by INMETRO on 20 August 2025, approving mandatory labelling requirements for footwear manufactured, imported, distributed, and marketed in Brazil. It entered into force on the same day it was published.
Which products are excluded from Brazil’s new footwear labelling regulation?
Certain products are excluded, including used footwear, toy footwear, safety and protective footwear, orthopedic footwear for deformity correction, and non-commercial samples.
What information must be included on footwear labels under the new regulation?
Labels must display the supplier, country of origin, composition of the predominant materials, size, and a unique and unequivocal international identifier such as a GTIN or equivalent code.
What are the compliance deadlines for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers?
Manufacturers and importers must comply by December 31, 2026. Distributors and retailers have until December 31, 2027 to ensure all footwear sold conforms to the new rules.
What penalties can companies face for non-compliance with Portaria No. 459?
Non-compliance may lead to fines of up to 1.5 million Brazilian reais as well as product seizures. Any action or omission that contradicts the regulation is considered an infringement under Law No. 9.933/1999.