For enterprises expanding into the Brazilian market, the core of INMETRO certification lies not just in obtaining a certificate, but in mastering the alignment between standards and products. Under 2025 new regulations, standard thresholds keep rising and product supervision scope continues to refine—matching your product to the right standards avoids costly detours. Combining the latest official decrees, laboratory practical data, and enterprise export cases, this guide breaks down practical certification insights from three aspects: core standard trends, product-specific requirements, and key compliance reminders to help enterprises align with Brazilian regulations accurately.
INMETRO’s standard system centers on local Brazilian needs, with 2025 updates focusing on international alignment + local adaptation—three key trends demand attention:
1.1 Safety Standards Fully Updated to the Latest International Versions
Safety standards for all mandatory certified products have been synchronized. The biggest impact is on home appliances: old standards are fully replaced by IEC 60335-1:2016 (adopted in Brazil as NBR 16157-1). This is not just a version update, but substantive tightening of test items: e.g., home appliances add "humid environment insulation testing" (simulating Brazil’s tropical rainy season 90% humidity; some products require retesting after 48-hour damp treatment); leakage current limits for Class I appliances are tightened from 1mA to 0.75mA, and 0.25mA for Class II; power tools enhance mechanical strength testing, with drop test height increased from 0.8m to 1m for durability in high-frequency handling at Brazilian construction sites.
1.2 Energy Efficiency (PBE) Standards Raised Again
Requirements for the mandatory Energy Efficiency Labeling Program (PBE) continue to strengthen, with 2025 adding "dynamic energy efficiency assessment": major appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators must meet static APF/EEI indicators (air conditioner APF ≥4.5, refrigerator EEI ≤60%), and high-efficiency grades (e.g., Procel Grade A) need 1,000-hour continuous operation stability testing to prevent efficiency degradation. LED lamps must comply with Portaria No. 389, with luminous efficacy limits up 15% and new photobiological safety testing (RG0 or RG1 required; RG2+ rejected, RG0 preferred for children’s use).
1.3 New Special Standards for New Energy Products
For energy storage devices, PV inverters, and NEV chargers newly added to the mandatory list in 2025, INMETRO launched exclusive standards: PV inverters must comply with dual standards NBR 16692 (safety, IEC 62109 equivalent) and NBR 14136 (EMC, IEC 61000 equivalent), with key tests on grid connection stability and surge protection; energy storage devices add thermal runaway protection testing (battery packs must prevent thermal spread for ≥30 minutes in extreme conditions like puncture or short circuit to allow personnel evacuation); charger standards NBR 16702 (safety) and NBR 16703 (communication) are officially implemented and fully mandatory in 2025.
2. INMETRO Standards for Key Product Categories
Standards vary significantly by product. Below are 2025’s most high-profile categories, with core requirements explained via practical cases:
2.1 Home Appliances: Safety + Energy Efficiency Dual Compliance is Key
Home appliances are the core INMETRO category, with compliance difficulty rising sharply under 2025 updates:
-Major appliances (refrigerators, ACs, washing machines): Comply with NBR 16157-1 safety standards + PBE energy efficiency certification. ACs must additionally follow SEER/SCOP calculation rules in Portaria 323/2023, with testing simulating 24℃-43℃ ambient temperatures and weighted efficiency calculation based on local climate data; 2025 Grade A threshold rises to SEER ≥6.1. Voltage fluctuation adaptability testing (efficiency stability under 127V/220V switching) is mandatory—one AC enterprise failed initial testing with 8% efficiency degradation due to ignoring Brazilian grid fluctuations, taking 1.5 months to rectify circuit design.
-Small appliances (rice cookers, electric kettles, hair dryers): Focus on special scenario testing. Rice cookers need voltage dip testing (simulating unstable rural voltage), with actual power within +5%/-10% of rated value, and dry-burn protection verified at 60Hz (vs. 50Hz in China). One enterprise reused domestic test reports, failing certification due to frequency incompatibility and incurring $20,000 re-test costs.
-Smart appliances (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-enabled): Require INMETRO safety/energy efficiency certification + ANATEL wireless communication certification; control systems must comply with Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD), with data transmission encryption detailed in Portuguese technical documents.
2.2 Auto Parts: Stricter Standards for Safety-Critical Components
INMETRO auto parts certification centers on safety, with 2025 adding new special tests:
-Tires (passenger/ truck/motorcycle): Comply with NBR 6066 (passenger), NBR 15618 (truck), adopting UNECE R117 concepts with new wet grip and high-speed durability testing (4-hour continuous operation at 130km/h without anomalies). One tire enterprise failed wet grip testing, taking 3 months to adjust tread pattern design.
-Safety systems (seatbelts, child seats, safety glass): Seatbelts pass NBR 14036 dynamic load testing with 20% higher tensile strength; child seats reference UNECE R129 with new side impact protection (head protection index ≤600, previously only frontal impact required).
-NEV batteries: Test items increased from 8 to 12, including cycle life (≥1,500 cycles), thermal runaway protection, low-temperature discharge (-10℃ capacity ≥80%), complying with NBR IEC 62660-1/2.
2.3 New Energy Products: Compliance Tips for New Categories
2025’s newly mandatory new energy products have targeted standards requiring multiple compliance checks:
-PV inverters: Core tests include NBR IEC 62109 (safety), NBR IEC 61000-3-11/3-12 (harmonic control), low voltage ride-through (LVRT) (maintain grid connection for ≥0.5s when voltage drops to 20%). One enterprise failed initial testing due to ignoring Brazilian grid harmonic limits, spending $18,000 to rectify filter circuits.
-Energy storage devices: Beyond battery safety testing, pass EMC testing (avoid interference to surrounding equipment) and communication protocol compatibility (support remote grid monitoring protocols). Brazil is optimizing grid connection rules for energy storage projects, simplifying approval and reducing transmission fees in 2025.
-NEV chargers: Must meet triple compliance—INMETRO NBR 16702/16703 (safety/communication), ANATEL certification (communication module), ONS grid connection protocol (grid adaptability). Key tests on anti-misplug and overload protection, with 127V/220V dual-voltage compatibility.
2.4 Other Key Categories: Don’t Overlook Standard Details
-Lighting equipment: LED lamps comply with NBR 15140 (safety) and PBE (luminous efficacy ≥55lm/W, power factor ≥0.7/0.9 per power class); desk lamps add illuminance uniformity testing (≤3:1) to avoid eye damage from glare; emergency lights pass 90-minute continuous operation testing and auto-activate within 0.5s of power failure.
-Medical devices (thermometers, blood pressure monitors, syringes): Comply with NBR 13960 series; active devices (e.g., ECG machines) need extra electrical safety testing; disposables like syringes require biocompatibility testing (cytotoxicity ≤Grade 1).
-PPE (safety helmets, gloves, shoes): Helmets pass NBR 7092 impact absorption testing; gloves meet Class 00 insulation (for <500V); safety shoes withstand 200J impact for anti-crush performance.
3. 2025 Key Compliance Reminders
-Don’t ignore local standard differences: INMETRO standards are based on IEC/ISO but have exclusive requirements—e.g., plugs comply with ABNT NBR NM 60884-1:2004 (3-pin round grounded), dual 127V/220V voltage compatibility, and higher withstand voltage testing (basic insulation: 1000V + 2×rated voltage). Overlooking these causes direct test failure.
-Choose testing labs carefully: High-risk products (energy storage, auto batteries, chargers) require core testing in Brazilian OCP partner labs; others use ILAC reports but need CGCRE review—unreviewed reports are invalid.
-Certificate maintenance must keep up with standard updates: INMETRO implements a transition period; if standards are revised (e.g., NBR 16157-1 replaces old home appliance standards), enterprises must retest and renew certificates within the official timeframe, or face automatic invalidation.
2025 INMETRO certification’s core logic is "precise standard alignment + product compliance implementation". Enterprises need not blindly conduct all tests—focus on matching product-specific clauses and optimize design for Brazilian climate, grid, and policies. First check the mandatory product catalog and corresponding standards on INMETRO’s official website (www.gov.br/inmetro), then conduct pre-testing with professional bodies to identify risks early. For professional certification consulting, contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140.
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