Our Environmental team has prepared an informational bulletin on Federal Decree No. 12,438/2025, published on 17 April 2025, which regulates exceptions to the prohibition of importing solid waste in Brazil, in accordance with the new wording of the National Solid Waste Policy (Federal Law No. 12,305/2010).
The Decree establishes strict criteria for the controlled importation of solid waste intended for the transformation of strategic materials and minerals in industrial processes — such as aluminum, copper, steel, and glass — always in compliance with environmental legislation.
The text also reiterates the prohibition of the entry of hazardous waste and rejects of any kind; prioritizes the use of waste available in the domestic market, with an emphasis on the role of cooperatives and waste pickers; and establishes monitoring and oversight of authorized activities.
The regulation reinforces the commitment to the circular economy and industrial sustainability, ensuring legal security for the sector.
Check out our full bulletin and understand the practical impacts of the new regulation (available only in Portuguese) here.
