SAO PAULO (Reuters) - The final version of the Brazilian tax reform sanctioned on Thursday by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is slightly higher than the one approved by the lower house before it went to the senate, special secretary for tax reform Bernard Appy said.

The final tax rate keeps the essence of the text approved by congress, he said, adding that all vetoes were justified by technical adjustment or a constitutionality question.

Estimates from the Ministry of Finance indicate that the standard rate of the new consumption tax will be around 28%, he added.