LEMMA AGRO - BRAZIL REGISTRATION SEMINAR shares professional experience to help Chinese companies enter Brazilian agrochemical market

Date:11-02-2023

On October 24, 2023, the ″BRAZIL REGISTRATION SEMINAR″ organized by Lemma Agro - the Brazil regulatory consultancy specialized in agribusiness, and co-organized by Chi-Chem Company Limited was successfully held in Shanghai. This event attracted participants from Chinese agrochemical companies, who are working in registration, marketing, and R&D fields.

The seminar was hosted by the Lemma Agro team, including the General Manager Joao Carlos Pontin, Deputy General Manager Victor Pontin, the company Director as well as the former President of the ANDAV (Brazilian National Association of Distributors of Agricultural and Veterinary Inputs) Henrique Mazotini. The key contents covered three main topics: introduction of Lemma Agro company, registration process of agrochemicals in Brazil and the pesticide market overview in Brazil. The seminar aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest registration and regulatory requirements for agrochemicals in Brazil, current market information on major crops, pests, and diseases in Brazil, and share professional experience in agrochemical registration, to facilitate Chinese companies in successfully completing registration and entering the Brazilian market.

Ⅰ. Lemma Agro has accumulated extensive experience in Brazilian agrochemical registration.

Founded in 2009, Lemma Agro is headquartered in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil. It is a regulatory consultancy specialized in agribusiness, focusing on providing registration consulting services for agrochemicals, fertilizers, and biologicals from conventional and organic agriculture in Brazil. 

The Lemma Agro brand takes inspiration from the aquatic plant Lemna gibba, used in Europe for assessing chemical contamination in aquatic bodies. The company has multidisciplinary team of around 20 professionals, with expertise spanning chemistry, toxicology, environmental ecotoxicology, agronomy and more. They have over 30 years of extensive experience across project areas including product registration, R&D, government relations etc.

Lemma Agro core services include: evaluating product registration feasibility in Brazil, preparing registration documents, providing supplementary data to address review deficiencies, registration acquisition due diligence and post-registration regulatory compliance management. Based on product characteristics, they assess applicable requirements across different Brazilian states and formulate targeted registration strategies. At the stage of document preparation, Lemma Agro offers end-to-end support covering label design, application material organization, data supplementation, etc. After the product is approved for market, Lemma Agro continuously monitors products to ensure alignment with all stipulated requirements.

Notably, Lemma Agro has garnered significant expertise in Brazilian agrochemical registration over the years. To date, they have aided over 100 different agrochemical products gain registration in Brazil without any deny, on behalf of clients from various countries globally, including reputed companies. This strongly demonstrates their specialized capabilities in enabling foreign enterprises enter the Brazilian market.

Ⅱ. Key aspects of the agrochemical registration process and requirements in Brazil

The seminar delved into the registration procedure and requirements for agrochemicals in Brazil, helping Chinese enterprises fully comprehend the regulatory scenario.

Pesticide registration in Brazil involves federal and state-level approvals. At the federal level, approvals from three official bodies are needed – Environment Agency (IBAMA), Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), and Health Agency (ANVISA). Additionally, individual registrations across Brazil's 27 states are mandatory, with each state having specific regulations. Lemma Agro can provide professional consulting services throughout the whole process.

In terms of GLP test reports, Brazil holds very strict requirements on five-batch analysis, physical-chemical tests, toxicology evaluations and other aspects. Lemma Agro thoroughly reviews the reports to ensure alignment with Brazilian registration guidelines. 

Lemma Agro indicated that the complex Brazilian registration process necessitates advance preparedness and understanding of requirements for foreign companies. With extensive hands-on expertise, Lemma Agro can deliver full-spectrum professional consulting to facilitate efficient registrations.

As mentioned by Mr. Pontin during the presentation ″There is no miracle for registration in Brazil. Many companies always tell us that they have heard something from someone about a given subject or another, but when we ask about the data, where was it officially published by authorities or who said that based on what, they never come back with the answer. We strictly follow the legislation, if it’s there we will do so.″

Ⅲ. Analysis of the current US$15 billion agrochemical market opportunities in Brazil

The seminar also featured an analysis of the current agrochemical market landscape in Brazil, to help Chinese players accurately grasp business prospects.

Brazil's major crop cultivation areas are widely distributed, with concentration of different crops across regions. The country faces several key crop pest issues including bollworms, caterpillar, aphids and over ten others. In 2022, the Brazilian agrochemical market size reached US$15 billion, with sturdy growth in herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide sales. Among various sales channels, dealers account for the maximum 42% share, representing an important entry point.

Mr. Pontin opined that the current Brazilian market offers multiple opportunities. And Chinese enterprises can make great progress by accurately targeting segments and developing differentiated and innovative products.

The seminar covered extensive and comprehensive contents with highly targeted. By spotlighting Lemma Agro specialized professions, while providing in-depth perspectives on Brazilian registration procedures and market landscape, it provided valuable insights for Chinese companies. This seminar has further reinforced Lemma Agro image as a proficient and reliable consulting partner to help Chinese players succeed in Brazil.