Promulgation of the Arms Trade Treaty

Through Decree 11,173, of August 15th, 2022, the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which had been ratified by Brazil on August 14, 2018, was enacted. With the enactment, the ATT was incorporated into the Brazilian internal legal system.

The Arms Trade Treaty aims to regulate international trade of conventional weapons, their ammunition and components, establishing rules for the export, import, transit, transshipment and intermediation of eight categories of weapons: war tanks; armored fighting vehicles; large caliber artillery systems; combat aircraft; attack helicopters; warships; missiles and missile launchers; and small arms and light weapons.

Among the main provisions of the Treaty is the prohibition of transferring conventional weapons, their ammunition and components if the exporting country is aware at the time of authorization that the weapons will be used to commit international crimes or war crimes. The Treaty also establishes objective criteria for evaluating requests for authorization to export conventional weapons and procedures for international cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and the diversion of such weapons.

Brazil already has a consolidated system for controlling the export of conventional weapons, regulated through the National Policy for the Export and Import of Defense Products (PNEIPRODE), established by Decree 9607, of December 12, 2018, which allows the compliance of the provisions of the ATT by the Country.

The promulgation of the Arms Trade Treaty confirms Brazil's commitments to preventing and eradicating the illicit traffic of conventional weapons, with the aim of contributing to international peace and security, and to the fight against transnational organized crime.