On January 27, 2026, Brazil and the European Union issued reciprocal adequacy decisions on personal data protection, formally confirming that their respective legal frameworks provide equivalent levels of data protection. The implementation of these decisions represents a significant legal milestone for international personal data transfers between the two regions, strengthening legal certainty across economic activities, service provision, scientific research, institutional cooperation, and the operation of digital platforms with cross-border activities.
As a result, organizations operating between Brazil and the European Union may now transfer personal data on a direct and ongoing basis, without the need for supplementary legal mechanisms, such as standard contractual clauses. The recognition authorizes transfers to all European Union Member States as well as to the three European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries that are part of the European Economic Area: Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
The measure is expected to substantially reduce compliance costs and structural legal uncertainties that have historically affected international digital trade, while creating a safer, more predictable, and more efficient environment for data flows among the countries involved.
In addition, the decision reinforces regulatory cooperation between Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) and European data protection authorities, strengthening Brazil’s position in the global data governance landscape and creating opportunities for future partnerships with other jurisdictions that adopt high standards of data protection.