The Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) decided to extend the reduction of the import duty rate for frozen sardines for five months.
According to a resolution issued by the authority, depending on the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC), the reduction from 10 per cent to 2 per cent from the import tax rate applied to the product, which expired on 30 April, will continue in force until 30 September.
The measure, published in the Official Journal of the Union, provides for a fee of up to 23,000 tonnes to date.
The Government's objective is to maintain "the supply of frozen sardine in the domestic market during the fishing interruption period in the ban and recruitment seasons," the MDIC pointed out.
Last November, and for three and a half months, the Brazilian government banned sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) capture on the coast of the towns of Macaé, Quissamã, Carapebus and Rio das Ostras, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The ban, which was in force until 15 February, 2014, was intended to ensure the reproduction of the pelagic species.