Brazil. 2008 ‘Registration Systems.’ National Report of Brazil on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA) and the International Tracing Instrument, pp. 5-6. New York, NY: Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations. 14 July

Relevant contents

Registration Systems

Since 1997, the Brazilian Government maintains a National Arms Registry (Sistema Nacional de Armas, SINARM), initially created by Law No. 9437 (20/Feb/1997). After the entry into force of the Disarmament Statute, in 2003, SINARM has co-existed with the Military Firearms Management System (Sistema de Gerenciamento Militar de Armas, SIGMA). SINARM was instituted by the Ministry of Justice and has been operated by the Federal Police, while SIGMA was instituted by the Ministry of Defense and has been operated by the Army Command. Both registries have jurisdiction over the whole national territory and, at present, are mutually accessible.

These registration systems allow the Brazilian Government to identify the characteristics and owners of firearms, as they contain information regarding all firearms produced, imported and sold in Brazil. The records also include all authorizations to carry firearms and the renewals issued by the Federal Police, as well as all transfers of ownership, loss, theft, robbery and other events liable to alter the enrollment data. All firearms dealers operating in Brazil are registered, including authorized manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, exporters and importers of firearms, accessories and ammunitions. Another important data refers to firearms seizures, including those related to police and judicial proceedings…

The firearms registered under SINARM are:
i. institutional firearms of the Federal Police, the Federal Highway Police, the State Police and other public bodies whose officers may have the right to carry firearms;
ii. seized firearms not present in SINARM or SIGMA;
iii. firearms of restricted and permitted usage of public security officers, as allowed by current legislation;
iv. other firearms of restricted usage, except those of the Armed Forces, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency and the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency;
v. firearms acquired by citizens, as allowed by current legislation;
vi. firearms belonging to private security and transportation companies.

The firearms registered under SIGMA are:
i. institutional firearms of the Armed Forces, the Military Police, the Military Fire Brigades, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency and the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency;
ii. firearms of officers of the Armed Forces, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency and the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency;
iii. exported firearms, ammunition and other products controlled by the Army Command;
iv. imported firearms or firearms acquired by Brazil for testing and technical evaluation purposes;
v. obsolete firearms;
vi. firearms belonging to collectors, sport shooters, hunters, as well as diplomatic representations.

Last accessed at:
http://www.poa-iss.org/PoA/NationalReportList.aspx