While an essential regulatory tool in assessing quality, safety and effectiveness, medicines licensing is a fundamental requirement for public procurement of medicines in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate federal purchases of unlicensed medicines in Brazil, from 2004 to 2013. Federal procurement data were obtained from the General Services Administration Comprehensive Database (SIASG). Purchased items with incomplete identification as to drugname (according to Brazilian Nonproprietary Name), dosage form and concentration, as well as radiopharmaceuticals, dynamized and compounded drugs, and medicines with license waivers were excluded. Each procured item was cross-referenced to its active license status in the Brazilian National Register (DOU). Mapping and characterization of purchases of medicines without active drug registration status in ANVISA were performed. Two cases of medicines with canceled licenses were examined for evidence of safety, efficacy and regulatory aspects. There were 614 purchases in the ten-year period, corresponding to 65 unlicensed medicines and to 48 different active substances.(AU)