Science and Technology Commission approved the project on Wednesday (Nov. 27, 2024)) . PL 3,587/2023 now goes to vote in the Economic Affairs Committee
The CCT (Science and Technology Committee) of the Senate approved on Wednesday (Nov. 27, 2024) a project that creates the gold tracking management system (SIG-Ouro). PL 3,587/2023 now goes to vote at the CAE (Economic Affairs Commission). The matter originated from the Temporary Commission to monitor the situation of the Yanomami, which operated in the Senate in 2023. The rapporteur for the matter is Senator Carlos Viana (Podemos-MG), who presides over the CCT.
The proposal was processed in conjunction with PL 2,993/2023, by Senator Astronauta Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), which creates a national bank of gold information, with the aim of monitoring gold in circulation in Brazil. For Carlos Viana, however, PL 3,587/2023 is more complete because, in addition to creating a database on gold, it provides for other measures through the National Policy for the Development of Gold Mining.
The approved text modifies Law 7,766, of 1989, to adapt the issuance of invoices to the new guidelines proposed for the gold sector. Likewise, Law 12,844, of 2013, is amended to prevent the transport and sale of the mineral without the new registration created by the bill.
The main purpose of the measures is to inhibit the commercialization of gold extracted illegally, from indigenous lands or environmental reserves. According to data from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), presented by Carlos Viana, illegal mining has grown by 40% in the last five years.
“In addition to the illegality of mining and the environmental aspects specific to the activity, illegal mining, specifically in Yanomami territory, resulted in a humanitarian crisis with serious consequences for the indigenous population and international repercussions that required action from the Brazilian authorities”, states the rapporteur .
SIG-Ouro
The purpose of SIG-Ouro is to monitor the production and circulation of gold in the Brazilian financial market. Holders of mining rights must provide, at a minimum, a record of the image, date and geographic location of production, each transaction and transportation, through an electronic system.
Institutions of the National Financial System that acquire gold as a financial asset will need to maintain updated data in the GIS-Ouro, as well as inform public authorities about irregularities detected in the tracking of the metal. The system will be maintained by the Union and the information in it will be public.
Certificates
The approved project creates two certifications to certify the origin of the gold. The certificate of conformity and origin (CCO) guarantees that the extraction followed Brazilian mineral regularity standards, from origin to acquisition by institutions of the National Financial System. It will be issued, or regulated, by the public authorities.
The sustainable mining certificate (CLS-Ouro), complementary to the CCO, will be granted to artisanal mining enterprises that meet environmental, safety and good sustainability practice parameters in gold production. Mining companies must meet standards such as greenhouse gas emissions less than or equal to zero and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples.
The proposition prohibits the circulation, sale and possession of gold as a financial asset, that intended for the financial market or for the execution of the country’s exchange rate policy, if it is proven that it was extracted by mining or prospecting without registration with the SIG-Ouro and CCO. Irregular minerals will be seized by public authorities and, in these cases, the agents involved in commercial operations will be criminally liable.
Storage
According to the proposed law, the national forensic bank of gold profiles (Banpa) will be responsible for the storage, analysis and characterization of gold samples and gold profiles from Brazilian provinces, of gold imported or in circulation in Brazil. This data could be used to track irregular or illegal gold and in scientific research, for example.
With information from .
