1. Certification Introduction

INMETRO is the abbreviation of the National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia) in Brazil, responsible for establishing Brazilian national standards.

INMETRO certification in Brazil is divided into mandatory and voluntary categories. Except for TELECOM products (which are regulated by ANATEL), other products listed in the mandatory certification catalog must bear the mandatory INMETRO mark and the mark of an INMETRO-recognized third-party agency on both the product and its packaging before they can enter the Brazilian market. Most Brazilian product testing standards are based on IEC and ISO standards.

2. Product Scope

(1) Mandatory certification products:

1) Household appliances under the IEC 60335 series

2) Medical products under the IEC 60601 series

3) Voltage stabilizers in the IT category

4) Inductive electronic ballasts in the lighting category, i.e., electronic stabilizers

5) Electrical accessories (plugs, sockets, converters, wall switches, circuit breakers, current fuses)

6) Automotive parts (glass, wheels, brake fluid, shock absorbers, gasoline engine fuel pumps, horns, pistons, piston rings, piston pins, bushings, bulbs, lead-acid batteries used in cars or motorcycles, suspension shock absorbers, electric fuel pumps, aluminum alloy pistons, memory locks and memory rings, automotive lights, automotive spare parts)

7) Motorcycle and bicycle parts (bicycle brake devices, motorcycle helmets, bicycle spokes, bicycle tires, bicycle cranks and pedals, bicycle cables, bicycle frames and forks, bicycle handlebars, tire inner tubes, bicycle rims)

8) Power tools (plastic sealers, desoldering guns, hot glue guns, soldering guns, pipe welding tools, foam cutters, electric paint removers, electric peelers)

(2) Voluntary certification products:

For voluntary certification products, only the certification mark of the issuing body may be applied; the INMETRO mark is not allowed.

1) All IT products except voltage stabilizers. Special note: If it is a mobile phone charger, ANATEL certification is required.

2) AV products

3) All lighting products except electronic ballasts and inductive ballasts

Whether mandatory or voluntary, certificates must be maintained annually to remain valid. For household appliances, IT, AV, and lighting products, maintenance is generally required once a year; for plugs, sockets, converters, and switches, it is generally twice a year. Maintenance includes sample testing and factory audits. Currently, Brazil does not have EMC requirements for INMETRO-certified products; however, EMC requirements apply to telecommunications products.

3. Certification Process

(1) Submit certification application

(2) Prepare documentation and samples

(3) Factory audit and sampling

(4) Send samples for testing

(5) Certification body reviews documents

(6) Issue certificate

(7) INMETRO registration