I am beginning to wonder if the BEA formally asked to view the autopsies. I get the impression that the Brazilians are sticklers for procedure. The French may have asked informally relying on their formal status and been "rightly" rebuffed by the Brazilians. A formal request might have turned the trick.
Read between the lines, the BEA report does not give any statement about how or when a request to this effect has been issued. There may also be the attitude on the Brazil side that only an official channel (French embassy) can deal with such a request, whereas the BEA may have the attitude that they are the authorized communication partner.
SOPs are a good tool, however, they only work for the environment they are designed for. Two or more SOPs crashing into each other will most certainly contradict each other in several areas, a given fact we see in our job often enough if crew are changing employers....
"in my last company this was SOP, why is it not allowed here?"....