For Chinese export manufacturers deepening their presence in the Brazilian market, INMETRO certification remains an insurmountable legal market access threshold. From late 2024 to early 2025, INMETRO has issued a series of new regulations, centered on three core directions: "expanded scope, upgraded standards, and stricter supervision". While these updates clarify market compliance standards, they also place higher demands on enterprises’ advance planning capabilities.
1. Expanded Mandatory Certification Catalog: New Categories Cover High-Potential Sectors
INMETRO’s 2025 mandatory certification catalog (Lista de Produtos com Certificação Compulsória) has undergone significant updates, with key additions including photovoltaic inverters, energy storage devices, smart home appliance control systems, and new energy vehicle charging piles. This means that certain new energy products previously allowed into the Brazilian market without certification now require INMETRO certification for customs clearance and sales. According to industry feedback, many photovoltaic enterprises failed to timely monitor catalog updates, resulting in detained goods upon arrival—facing daily fines of 0.5% of the goods value and missing the peak season window in Brazil’s photovoltaic market.
Recommendation: Enterprises should first visit INMETRO’s official website (www.gov.br/inmetro), navigate to the "Certificação" section, and check the latest mandatory certification product list to confirm if their products fall under regulatory scope. Notably, "control systems" for smart home appliances are individually regulated—even if the main unit is certified, supporting smart modules require separate compliance certificates.
2. Comprehensive Standard Upgrades: Core Indicators Align with Latest International Versions
The most critical adjustment in these new regulations is the full update of the mandatory certification product standard system to the latest international versions—with the most far-reaching impact on the home appliance sector. All mandatory certified home appliances must comply with IEC 60335-1:2016 (converted to Brazilian standard NBR 16157-1), replacing the long-standing old version. This change is not a simple version iteration but a comprehensive tightening of product safety, energy efficiency, and environmental protection indicators.
Practical Case: A rice cooker manufacturer’s existing test report based on the old standard became invalid after the new regulations took effect. During re-testing, the product’s noise level failed to meet the "kitchen appliance noise limit ≤65dB(A)" requirement in IEC 60704-1:2016. Rectifying the air duct design alone took 2 months, with additional testing and modification costs of USD 32,000. Beyond home appliances, the automotive parts sector has added special safety tests for new energy vehicle batteries—expanding test items from 8 to 12, with enhanced focus on thermal runaway protection and cycle life indicators.
3. Process Optimization with Stricter Supervision: More Rigorous Audits & Predictable Timelines
In terms of process, the new regulations have shortened the factory audit cycle for the highest-risk product conformity assessment scheme (commonly referred to as Scheme 5 in INMETRO’s system, applicable to high-risk categories such as home appliances and automotive parts) from 3 months to 1-2 months, improving certification efficiency. However, audit depth has been significantly enhanced: Auditors no longer only verify quality management system documents but also randomly check component traceability records on the production line, original finished product inspection data, and even conduct on-site interviews with frontline workers to ensure consistency between actual production and certification standards.
More stringent requirements apply to annual surveillance audits: Previously scheduled in advance, these audits are now unannounced, with the frequency for home appliance enterprises increased from once to 1-2 times per year. An air conditioner manufacturer was found to have replaced unreported compressor components during production during a surprise audit—resulting in immediate certificate suspension, a 4-month rectification period, and over USD 1 million in losses from being unable to supply the Brazilian market.
II. Enterprise Compliance Implementation for INMETRO Product Certification
1. Product Design Phase: Proactively Align with Brazilian Localization Requirements
The core of compliance lies in "advance adaptation" rather than post-facto rectification. During the initial product design phase, enterprises must focus on Brazilian localization standards:
·Voltage & Frequency: Must be compatible with Brazil’s dual-voltage standard (AC 127V/220V, 60Hz) to avoid safety test failures due to voltage mismatches.
·Plug Standards: Strictly comply with ABNT NBR NM 60884-1:2004, using Brazil-accredited three-pin plugs (with circular ground pins and specified hole/pin diameters).
·Smart Function Adaptation: Smart home appliances must comply with Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD) for privacy protection. Control systems must include data encryption functions, with relevant technical documents detailing encryption logic in Portuguese.
Rectifying these details during the testing phase will double costs (e.g., replacing plug molds requires an additional USD 10,000-20,000) and delay the certification timeline.
2. Testing Phase: Clarify the Boundaries Between "Local Testing" and "Mutually Recognized Reports"
The new regulations adopt a category-specific approach to testing institutions—not a one-size-fits-all rule. Not all products require testing in Brazilian local laboratories: For high-risk new categories such as photovoltaic inverters and new energy vehicle batteries, core safety and performance tests must be completed in Brazil-accredited local laboratories. For other categories, ILAC mutually recognized laboratory reports are accepted but require special review by Brazilian official accreditation bodies (e.g., CGCRE)—unreviewed reports cannot serve as certification basis.
Practical Recommendation: Prioritize collaborating with INMETRO-accredited local laboratories (e.g., Brazil’s local INLAC laboratory or Brazilian branches of SGS, TUV) to design testing plans. These institutions are familiar with "special requirements" in local standards (e.g., Brazil’s stricter accuracy requirements for home appliance energy efficiency labels) and offer pre-testing services—identifying non-compliance issues in advance to avoid repeated rectifications during formal testing. A photovoltaic enterprise discovered through pre-testing that its product’s EMC indicators failed to meet Brazilian standard NBR 14136, adjusting the circuit design in advance and saving 3 months of certification time.
3. Local Representative Selection: Prioritize "Practical Capabilities" Over "Formal Compliance"
INMETRO’s new regulations clearly state that Brazilian local representatives (Representante Legal) must meet the core requirements of "legal registration in Brazil and ability to assume corresponding legal liabilities"—there is no official "special certification service qualification". However, industry practice shows that selecting a professional agency with practical INMETRO certification experience is key to avoiding process bottlenecks.
III. INMETRO Product Certification Certificate Maintenance
Under the new regulations, INMETRO certificates remain valid for 3-5 years (typically 3 years for home appliances). However, renewal no longer involves simple extension—enterprises must submit updated product test reports to ensure ongoing compliance with current standards. Recommendation: Initiate the renewal process 6 months before expiration, especially for categories with frequent standard updates (e.g., new energy, smart home appliances), allowing at least 3 months for testing and rectification.
Additionally, establish a dedicated INMETRO compliance file, focusing on archiving the following documents:
1.Product test reports (including pre-testing and formal testing);
2.Factory audit reports and rectification records issued by the certification body;
3.Qualifications of critical component suppliers, procurement contracts, and change records (prior notification to the OCP and provision of compliance certificates are required for component replacements);
4.Annual surveillance audit records and rectification documents.
These documents not only facilitate quick retrieval during surveillance audits but also serve as strong evidence of compliance in case of product compliance disputes.
INMETRO regulations are subject to frequent updates. This article is summarized based on 2025 early industry practices and official decrees, serving only as a compliance guide. Before initiating certification projects, enterprises must review the latest Portaria decrees on INMETRO’s official website or contact INMETRO-accredited Certification Bodies (OCPs) for tailored advice. BLUEASIA Technology: +86 13534225140, will provide professional certification consulting services.
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