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Mandatory footwear labelling deadline draws near in Brazil

Sep 3, 2026 Brazil

Brazilian footwear manufacturers and importers are approaching a key compliance deadline. New mandatory footwear labelling requirements are set to take effect at the start of 2027

Brazilian footwear manufacturers and importers have less than four months to comply with new mandatory labelling requirements, which are due to take effect on the 1^stof January 2027, under Inmetro Ordinance No. 459/2025. They were initially expected to comply with the requirements by the 31^stof July 2026, but the deadline was extended by five months.

Distributors and retailers will have an additional year to adapt, with the requirements becoming mandatory on the 31st of December 2027.

The regulation requires compliance with the Brazilian standard ABNT - NBR 16679:2018 and applies to all footwear, whether manufactured domestically or imported, sold in the Brazilian market. Companies that fail to meet the requirements may face penalties, including substantial fines and the seizure of non-compliant goods.

New Requirements

Under the new rules, all footwear placed on the Brazilian market will need to display a set of mandatory identification and product information.

This includes a unique, internationally recognised product identifier — the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) — as well as information on the brand or responsible company, the country of origin, the Brazilian footwear size, and the predominant materials used in the shoe's different components. Note that the brand or company identification, country of origin and footwear size must be permanently marked on the footwear itself.

The GTIN system was developed by GS1, a global standards organisation that provides unique product identification standards for use in retail, logistics, and e-commerce. These standards allow products to be identified and traced throughout the supply chain.

The new regulatory framework aims to enhance consumer information and product traceability, while providing additional tools to combat counterfeiting and illegal footwear trade activities. According to Abicalçados, Brazil’s footwear industry lost an estimated 15.8 billion Brazilian reais to the illegal market in 2025 alone.

Source: abicalcados.com.br

Image Credits: Samuel Costa Melo on Unsplash

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