Virtual trial runs until October 24th and discusses TCU’s decision on Sicobe, suspended by the Federal Revenue in 2016
The 1st Panel of the (Supreme Federal Court) began this Friday (17.Oct.2025) the virtual trial of an action that discusses the reactivation of Sicobe (Beverage Production Control System). The process (security warrant) will be analyzed until October 24th, under the report of minister Cristiano Zanin.
The action was filed by the Union against the TCU (Federal Audit Court). The Court had ordered the resumption of Sicobe, deactivated by the Federal Revenue Service in 2016.
In April of this year, Zanin temporarily suspended the TCU’s decision upon understanding that the body had exceeded its competences by interfering in Tax Authorities’ duties. According to the minister, the Court of Auditors could not impose on the public administration the reimplantation of a specific inspection system.
Sicobe was created in 2008 to monitor beverage production through unique codes applied to packaging seals, electronically tracked by equipment installed on the filling lines. The system was developed by Casa da Moeda in partnership with the Swiss company Sicpa.
The program ended in 2016 through . At the time, the Federal Revenue stated that the system was high cost and low in efficiency.
In a note dated September 2025, the body reiterated that it maintains other forms of control, based on data crossing and digital inspection, and declared that “any eventual reactivation of Sicobe will depend on technical and budgetary assessment”.
The document also highlighted that Sicobe never had a quality control function for beverages, nor did it cover spirits — the focus was on beers, soft drinks and packaged waters. The tax authorities also stated that the sector’s revenue increased even after the system was deactivated, going from R$9.2 billion in 2016 to R$13.4 billion in 2024.
The case returned to the agenda after recent poisonings caused by drinks adulterated with methanol in several states. According to an investigation mentioned by ABCF (Brazilian Association to Combat Counterfeiting), part of the methanol used in these products was imported irregularly by criminal groups, such as the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital). The IRS says the allegation is false.
In June, the entity published that Brazil lost at least R$88 billion in tax revenue in 2024 due to the absence of a stricter tax control system over beverages.
In the STF’s report, Sicpa asked to join the process as an interested party, stating that the decision on Sicobe could affect its contracts with Casa da Moeda. The request was denied by Zanin, who kept the judgment restricted to the Union and the TCU.
