Taxation and bureaucracy hinder production of mineral water, say industry representatives

The constant changes in legislation, the excessive tax burden and complexity of regulations and Government decrees threaten the exploitation of mineral water in the country. The alert was made on Tuesday (16) by industry representatives at a public hearing on the Permanent Subcommittee interactive monitoring of the mining industry.
Currently, the mineral water is more taxed the sodas and sugary drinks, which cause damage to health but pay less tax to the Government, said the President of the Brazilian Association of the industry of Mineral Waters (Abinam), Carlos Alberto Lancia.
It''s absurd that we need to fix. No sense we pay more tax soda and beer. We''re not cold drinks, we are food. The States charge up to 19% of GST. In Europe, the most spoken is 7%. We can''t keep paying higher taxes. Pay, in percentage terms, more than the oil. The natural mineral water may not pay tribute to drinks – said.
In relation to current legislation, Lancia defended the code of mineral waters and that this be incorporated into the new mining regulatory framework, under discussion in Congress. The President of Abinam pointed out that the mineral water sources, in addition to preserving existing Springs, favour the municipalities, which receive the most (65%) of financial compensation on mineral products (Cefem), paid by the producers, with a rate of 2%.
-Mineral water proportionally pay more royalties that oil. The DNPM [National Department of Mineral production] keep charging Cefem about packing. All that remains is the path of righteousness, that will prevail. No sense paying Cefem twice, it''s absurd that we need correct-stated.
Mineral resource
President of the Brazilian Association of Bahia Core Groundwater (Tabs), Zoltan Rodrigues explained that the mineral water is a mineral like gold and diamond, although present renewable characteristic, unlike the others. Zoltan reported that the major mines are concentrated in the southeast of the country, and criticized the excessive bureaucracy that is subject to the sector.
-From 1988, mineral waters were water resources. An Ordinance of 2009 the DNPM says that, in application of the standards, it is necessary to observe the code of Mineral Waters, the Mining Code, the collegiate Board resolutions and ordinances of the Anvisa [the national health surveillance agency] and the Ministry of health, and resolutions of the national water resources Council-said.
Zoltan says there''s room for the growth of mineral water in Brazil, as the largest quality control and increasing consumption. He observes that the Brazilian potential in mineral matter is still a "big unknown", although all current studies indicate potential higher than expected. Soon, said Zoltan, "the aquifers of the Amazon will have a name, and will be the largest in the world."
Vice-President of the Association Goiana Mineral water industries (Aginam), Celso Cordeiro de Rezende lamented that the bottled water industry is regulated by four ministries. He also pointed out the difficulties that hinder the business community to follow a strategic investment plan.
We have Ghana to invest, but we''re lost in this complexity of regulations, decrees, ministries and secretariats. It is necessary to simplify the everyday life of the entrepreneur, who is with Ghana to invest in the sector, which generates jobs in Brazil, which could become a major exporter of mineral water. There are 26 registered industries in the State of Goiás, in acting are 18. Some have already closed. Is a wonderful industry, does not contaminate, protect nature, generates jobs, but is lost with a series of laws. Costs are expensive, it''s a shame-he said.
Executive Officer of the Association of mining companies of the thermal waters of Goiás (Amat), Fábio Floriano Haesbaert pointed the productive potential of Paraná, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, among other Brazilian States. He also defended amendment by Mrs Magda Mofatto (PR-GO) to the new mining regulatory framework, that differentiates the mineral water from the water used for purposes the locker room.
Exploration
Chairman of the Subcommittee, Senator Wilder Morais (PP-GO) noted that the Government "has helped to disrupt" the entrepreneurs who act in the production of mineral water. He said there are more than 1000 lavras granted, and that the production of mineral water reaches seven billion liters annually, which puts Brazil among the large producers.
-Brazil is the fourth largest consumer of mineral water market on the planet, but the average per capita is relatively low. In 2013, the Brazilians took on average little more than 90 liters of bottled water per year, while in Mexico the consumption exceeds 250 litres per inhabitant. In Goiás, we have thermal waters in almost a third of 340,000 square kilometers of territory. More than 50 municipalities in Goiás, have hot water – said.
Senator Helio Jose (PMB-DF) defended the proper exploitation of mineral water. In the opinion of Senator Sergio Petecão (PSD-AC), the federal government acts in order to hinder investment. In turn, Mrs Magda Mofatto said that it is necessary to simplify the legislation not to hinder the exploitation and use of water. Messages forwarded by netizens raised the protection of watersheds and the recovery of areas damaged by improper operation. The Permanent Subcommittee of the mining works in the framework of the infrastructure Services Committee (IC).