Sir

We would like to provide some information to contest the statements about Eppendorf products made in your recent News story about the price of laboratory supplies in poorer countries (Nature 428, 453; 2004).

The Brazilian price stated for a centrifuge 5415D (US$3,110) is not the regular price for this item. The centrifuge 5415D is sold in local markets by our official dealers on average for $2,500. Some research institutes are able to import products directly in order to avoid taxes. In this case, the centrifuge would cost $2,100.

It should be noted that Brazil has a very high tax burden (14% import taxes, 8% manufactured taxes, 18% sales tax). These taxes occur in cascade and must be paid when the dealer receives the product (each tax is added on top of the previous tax). Depending on the product, these taxes amount to 50–60% of the final product price. There is currently no legislation to assist researchers buying scientific products, although clinical labs profit from a law granting certain tax benefits.

As Eppendorf is a European company, there is always some variation in price due to the exchange rates. Dealers buy products from Eppendorf in euros, whereas Brazilians are more used to US dollars or their own currency, the real (R$). So we should take into consideration a series of exchange rates: R$3.79 to the euro, R$3.17 to the dollar and US$1.20 to the euro. At present, this situation is extremely unfavourable for us.

Finally, there are non-authorized companies selling Eppendorf products in Brazil, whose prices we cannot control.