Overview

• The Supreme Federal Court’s First Panel will hold a virtual session from Oct. 17 to 24 to decide whether to reinstate Sicobe.
• An April injunction by Minister Cristiano Zanin remains in force and suspended the TCU’s order to restore the system on fiscal-responsibility grounds.
• The federal government argues the Revenue Service had authority to discontinue Sicobe and estimates reinstatement would cost R$1.8 billion in PIS/Cofins tax credits, a sum it says could fund roughly 4,300 tax auditors.
• Sicobe tracked production volumes, brands and product types for beers, soft drinks and bottled water via equipment installed by Casa da Moeda, but the Revenue Service ended the system in 2016 after high costs and contract issues.
• Health authorities report 24 confirmed methanol poisonings (20 in São Paulo, 3 in Paraná, 1 in Rio Grande do Sul), 235 suspected cases under investigation and five deaths in São Paulo, intensifying calls from supporters who say stronger traceability could deter adulterated beverages.