For international brands
Your importer of record and B2B distributor in Brazil
Azhara Imports brings international beauty and personal care brands into Brazil under one company: Anvisa regularization, import, in-house warehousing and B2B distribution to retailers and aesthetics clinics.
largest beauty and personal care market in the world, behind only the United States and China
of all beauty and personal care consumption in Latin America happens in Brazil
largest fragrance market globally
Source: Euromonitor International, 2024 data, via ABIHPEC.
Why a local importer
Entering Brazil requires a Brazilian company holding the regulatory file
Under Anvisa rules, importing, storing and distributing cosmetics, fragrances and personal care products in Brazil requires a Brazilian company holding an operating authorization (AFE), and each product's notification or registration is filed in that company's name. International brands therefore enter the market through a local importer of record.
Azhara takes on that role end to end, so the brand deals with one counterpart for regulatory, operational and commercial matters.
Regulatory
Formula and INCI screening, risk-grade classification, Anvisa notification or registration, Portuguese labelling requirements.
Operations
Import licence, customs clearance, in-house warehousing with batch, expiry and traceability control, nationwide dispatch.
Commercial
B2B distribution to stores, retail chains and aesthetics clinics, with commercial support and trade marketing for retail partners.
Partnership models
Three ways to work with Azhara
The model is agreed with each brand according to its categories, its existing presence in Latin America and its commercial plan for Brazil.
Exclusive national distribution
Azhara imports, regularizes and distributes the brand across Brazil as its sole partner, under a jointly agreed commercial plan.
Non-exclusive distribution
Azhara carries the brand in its B2B channels alongside other routes the brand already operates or intends to open in Brazil.
Import, warehousing and dispatch for the brand
The brand keeps its own commercial relationships. Azhara acts as importer of record, holds the inventory and ships to the brand's B2B customers.
Commercial support and trade marketing with retail partners, and a single English-speaking counterpart for the brand.
Defined case by case with each brand and set out in the partnership agreement.
The path to market
From dossier to the shelf, in four stages
Azhara's own company authorization (AFE) and sanitary licence are in progress. Product filings begin once they are published; technical screening and the commercial agreement can start before.
Technical screening
Formula and INCI review against Anvisa's substance lists, classification by category and risk grade under RDC 949/2024, label review and Portuguese labelling plan.
Typical timingWeeks, once the complete dossier is received. Runs in parallel with the commercial agreement.
Anvisa regularization
Notification for products exempt from registration, which is most product groups, both Grade 1 and Grade 2. Registration for the nine groups listed in art. 34 of RDC 907/2024: sunscreens (adult and children's), insect repellents (adult and children's), tanning products, hand sanitiser gel, hair straighteners, hair straightening-and-dyeing products and perming products.
Typical timingNotification: days after filing. Registration: several months, varying with product complexity and Anvisa's requests.
Import and customs
Import licence with Anvisa consent, shipment by sea through the ports of Santos or Paranaguá, or by air through Guarulhos or Viracopos airports, customs clearance and receipt at our warehouse in Greater ABC, São Paulo.
Typical timingDepends on origin and mode of transport. Minimum remaining shelf life at clearance is agreed with the brand in advance.
Warehousing and distribution
Batch and expiry control with full traceability, nationwide dispatch to stores, retail chains and aesthetics clinics, and trade marketing with retail partners.
Typical timingContinuous. Replenishment planned with the brand from sell-out data.
Timings are indicative. Anvisa review times vary with product category, dossier completeness and the agency's queue at the time of filing.
Where we are
Greater ABC, São Paulo: between the port, the airport and the country's largest consumer market
Azhara is headquartered in São Bernardo do Campo, in the Greater ABC industrial region of São Paulo. Sea freight arrives through the Port of Santos, Latin America's largest port, or through the Port of Paranaguá; air freight through Guarulhos or Viracopos international airports, chosen shipment by shipment according to origin, cost and lead time. The team works in English and Portuguese on Brasília time (UTC−3), four to five hours behind Central Europe and one to two hours ahead of US Eastern Time, depending on daylight saving.
Contact
Tell us about your brand
Send a short note about your brand, categories and the markets you already serve. We reply in English, usually within two business days.