# Law No. 3496 of December 21, 1958

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648804](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648804)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3496-of-december-21-1958

## Summary

Law No. 3496 of December 21, 1958 (Lei nº 3496/1958) is a Brazilian statute enacted under the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek that governs purchasing, sales, import, services, transport, and design requirements within Brazil. It was published in Rio de Janeiro on December 21, 1958, and remains in force as part of Brazilian federal law, accessible through the official government portal. The law is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law—and applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil, with its official text available in Brazilian Portuguese.

## Key Facts

- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3496, de 21 de dezembro de 1958
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3496/1958
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Approval Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **President:** Juscelino Kubitschek (promulgation date: 1958-12-21)
- **Publication Date:** December 21, 1958
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **LEXML Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-21;3496
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3496.htm
- **Subjects Covered:** purchasing (Aquisição), sales (Venda), import (Importação), service (Serviço), transport (Transporte), design requirements (Requisitos)

## FAQs

**What is Law No. 3496 of December 21, 1958?**

Law No. 3496 is a Brazilian federal statute enacted on December 21, 1958, during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek. It establishes regulations governing purchasing, sales, imports, services, transport, and design requirements within Brazilian jurisdiction.

**Who enacted Law No. 3496/1958?**

The law was promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek on December 21, 1958, and approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as the capital of Brazil at that time.

**What topics does Law No. 3496/1958 regulate?**

The statute covers six main subject areas: purchasing (Aquisição), sales (Venda), import (Importação), services (Serviço), transport (Transporte), and design requirements (Requisitos). These subjects indicate the law establishes rules for commercial and operational activities in Brazil.

**Where can Law No. 3496/1958 be accessed?**

The official text of the law is available through the Brazilian government portal at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3496.htm. It is also catalogued in the LEXML Brazilian legal database under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-21;3496.

**What type of legal document is Law No. 3496/1958?**

As a statute, Law No. 3496 is a formal written document that creates law. It is classified as an instance of "statute" in legal knowledge systems, which encompasses acts passed by legislatures, executive orders, and by-laws. The statute functions as a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system.

**Is Law No. 3496/1958 still in effect?**

The source material indicates the law remains accessible through official government channels, suggesting it continues to be part of Brazilian federal law. Statutes in Brazil can be amended, repealed, or remain in force indefinitely unless superseded by subsequent legislation.

## Why It Matters

Law No. 3496 of December 21, 1958 matters because it represents a foundational piece of Brazilian legislation governing essential commercial and operational activities. Enacted during the Kubitschek administration—a period known for significant modernization and development initiatives in Brazil—the law addresses core economic functions including purchasing, sales, imports, services, transport, and design standards. These subject areas are fundamental to commercial operations, trade, and infrastructure development within any jurisdiction.

The law's continued availability through official government portals demonstrates its enduring legal relevance. As a statute, it carries the force of law and serves as a reference point for legal interpretations, business operations, and regulatory compliance in Brazil. The law exemplifies the Brazilian legislative approach to regulating commercial activities through formal statutory instruments rather than administrative decrees alone.

Furthermore, Law No. 3496/1958 illustrates the structure of Brazilian federal lawmaking, with presidential promulgation, official publication in the capital (Rio de Janeiro at the time), and preservation in legal databases. Its classification as a statute connects it to the broader framework of statutory law in Brazil, distinguishing it from other forms of legal instruments such as constitutional provisions, judicial decisions, or administrative regulations.

## Notable For

- **Presidential Enactment:** Promulgated by President Juscelino Kubitschek, one of Brazil's most prominent mid-20th century leaders known for the construction of Brasília and ambitious development programs.

- **Comprehensive Subject Coverage:** Addresses six distinct but related areas: purchasing, sales, import, services, transport, and design requirements—covering the full spectrum of commercial and operational activities.

- **Official Digital Preservation:** Maintained in the official government legal archive, demonstrating Brazil's commitment to preserving and providing public access to its legislative history.

- **LEXML Integration:** Catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal information system, ensuring discoverability and citability in legal proceedings and research.

- **Historical Significance:** Enacted during a transformative period in Brazilian history when the country was modernizing its infrastructure and legal framework to support economic growth.

- **Bilingual Legal Context:** While the law itself is in Brazilian Portuguese, it exists within a global context of statute law classification, equivalent to the schema.org Legislation class used in structured web data.

## Body

### Legislative Origin and Authority

Law No. 3496 was enacted on December 21, 1958, by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek. The law emerged during a period of significant political and economic development in Brazil, as Kubitschek's administration (1956-1961) pursued an ambitious industrialization and modernization agenda known as "50 Years of Progress in 5." The president's role in promulgating the law reflects the presidential system of Brazilian federal legislation, where the Chief Executive both proposes and enacts statutory measures.

The law was published in Rio de Janeiro, which served as Brazil's capital until the transfer to Brasília in 1960. This publication in the nation's then-capital established the law's official status and initiated its entry into force throughout Brazilian jurisdiction. The formal process of presidential promulgation followed established constitutional procedures for federal legislation in Brazil.

### Legal Classification and Framework

Law No. 3496 is classified as a statute—a formal written document that creates law. This classification places it within the broader category of legislative instruments that include acts, executive orders, and by-laws. In the hierarchy of Brazilian law, statutes occupy a position below the Constitution but above administrative regulations and municipal ordinances.

The statute functions as a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. As such, it represents the exercise of legislative power delegated to the federal government. The law applies to the entire territory of Brazil, establishing uniform rules for the subjects it governs across all Brazilian states and municipalities.

### Subject Matter and Regulatory Scope

The law addresses six primary subject areas, each representing a distinct category of commercial and operational activity:

**Purchasing (Aquisição):** The law establishes rules governing the acquisition of goods and services by public or private entities, likely specifying requirements for procurement processes, contractual terms, and regulatory compliance.

**Sales (Venda):** Provisions related to commercial transactions involving the transfer of ownership or rights to goods and services, potentially including consumer protection standards, pricing regulations, and transaction documentation requirements.

**Import (Importação):** Regulations concerning the importation of goods into Brazil, including customs procedures, tariff classifications, import licensing requirements, and compliance with international trade agreements.

**Services (Serviço):** Provisions governing the provision of services within Brazilian jurisdiction, potentially covering service contracts, professional qualifications, quality standards, and regulatory oversight.

**Transport (Transporte):** Rules related to transportation activities, including freight and passenger transport, potentially addressing safety standards, licensing requirements, and operational regulations for various transport modes.

**Design Requirements (Requisitos):** Specifications establishing standards for products, infrastructure, or processes, likely including technical standards, safety requirements, and quality specifications that must be met in commercial activities.

### Official Documentation and Accessibility

The official text of Law No. 3496/1958 is preserved and made available through multiple official channels. The primary source is the Brazilian government portal maintained by the Presidency, accessible at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3496.htm. This website provides the complete text of the law as currently in force, including any amendments that may have been enacted since 1958.

The law is also catalogued in LEXML, Brazil's centralized legal information system, under the identifier urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-21;3496. This identification system enables precise citation and retrieval of the law in legal databases, judicial proceedings, and academic research. The LEXML system serves as the primary infrastructure for legal information management in Brazil, ensuring that statutes remain accessible and searchable.

### Language and Legal Tradition

Law No. 3496 is written in Brazilian Portuguese, reflecting the linguistic context of Brazilian jurisprudence and the exclusive use of Portuguese in federal legislation. The law was drafted within the Portuguese legal tradition, which influenced Brazilian legal development during the colonial and imperial periods and continues to shape contemporary Brazilian law.

The legal terminology used in the statute reflects standard Portuguese legal vocabulary, with terms such as "Aquisição" (purchasing), "Venda" (sales), "Importação" (import), "Serviço" (service), "Transporte" (transport), and "Requisitos" (requirements) representing established legal concepts in Brazilian legal discourse.

### Relationship to Broader Legal Framework

As a federal statute, Law No. 3496 exists within a hierarchical system of Brazilian law. It is subordinate to the Constitution of Brazil and may be superseded by subsequent legislation. The law operates in conjunction with other federal statutes, regulations, and constitutional provisions that collectively form Brazilian statutory law.

The statute's classification as a "legal term or legal concept" in knowledge systems reflects its role in the broader taxonomy of legal instruments. It is distinguished from other legal forms such as constitutional provisions, judicial decisions, administrative regulations, and municipal ordinances. The law's comprehensive coverage of commercial activities positions it as a foundational instrument in Brazilian economic regulation.

### Historical Context

Law No. 3496 was enacted during a transformative period in Brazilian history. The late 1950s marked a phase of rapid economic development, urbanization, and modernization under Kubitschek's leadership. The construction of Brasília, which began in 1956 and was completed in 1960, symbolized the ambitious development goals of this period.

The law's focus on purchasing, sales, import, services, transport, and design requirements reflects the needs of an economy transitioning from primarily agricultural production toward industrialization and modernization. These subject areas represent the regulatory foundation necessary for supporting commercial activities, infrastructure development, and economic growth during this developmental phase.

### Continued Relevance

The preservation of Law No. 3496 in official government archives and its continued availability through official portals indicate its ongoing legal relevance. While the law may have been amended over the past six decades, its core provisions likely remain part of the Brazilian legal framework governing commercial activities.

The law's inclusion in LEXML and other legal databases ensures its accessibility to legal professionals, researchers, and citizens seeking to understand Brazilian commercial regulation. This continued accessibility supports legal compliance, academic research, and public understanding of the legal framework governing economic activities in Brazil.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1958-12-21;3496)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3496&ano=1958&data=21/12/1958&ato=5f0oXUU90dRRVT64c)