Access to the Brazilian Market

Entering Brazil begins with determining whether your product is on the INMETRO mandatory certification list. Tests are mostly conducted at accredited laboratories in Brazil, and the process is carried out through a local legal entity. ANATEL homologation is additionally required for telecommunications and radio equipment.

• Testing is as a rule carried out in authorised laboratories within the country; acceptance of foreign reports is very limited.
• The local deviations of national standards (supply network, plug and socket, climate) are not closed out by an international report.
• Factory inspection is mandatory for products within the scope of certification and cannot be substituted by a report.
• The radio and product safety sides are administered by separate authorities; neither satisfies the other.
• The Portuguese document and label requirement is met separately; the application is made through a party established in the country.

• Products on the INMETRO mandatory list cannot be imported without a certificate
• Tests are usually conducted at accredited laboratories in Brazil
• The process includes factory inspection and periodic market sampling
• The application is submitted through a legal entity resident in Brazil
• The applied standards are ABNT NBR standards
• Radio and telecom equipment is subject to ANATEL homologation

A legal entity resident in Brazil (an importer or local company) is MANDATORY: the INMETRO certificate and ANATEL homologation are issued in this party's name. This means that when the importer changes, transfer of the certificate or a new application may be required.

• INMETRO
• ANATEL

1. 01Scope DeterminationIt is determined which legislation and marking scope the product falls under in the target market. This step defines the entire process; getting it wrong wastes all subsequent work.
2. 02Determining Applicable StandardsThe standards accepted by the market and any national deviations are identified. The same IEC standard may apply with different deviations in different markets.
3. 03Establishing the Test PlanIt is assessed which part of existing test reports will be accepted; missing tests are planned. A CB Scheme report, if available, reduces retesting.
4. 04Local Party and RegistrationIf the market requires an established representative, importer or applicant, this party is designated and the necessary registrations are made.
5. 05Tests and Technical FileTests are conducted and the technical file is prepared. Some markets require testing to be performed within their own country.
6. 06Certification or DeclarationDepending on the market's regime, a manufacturer's declaration is drawn up or a certificate is obtained from the authorised body; a factory audit is carried out if required.
7. 07Marking and LabellingThe mark and label are applied according to the market's format and language rules. The language requirement is checked at customs in most markets.
8. 08Shipment and CustomsIf a pre-shipment document is required, it is obtained; the document set to be presented at customs is completed.

• The INMETRO conformity mark and registration number appear on the product
• A Portuguese-language label and user manual are required
• The homologation number is marked on products within ANATEL scope
• Document and product conformity are checked at customs
• Follow-up testing is carried out by taking samples during market surveillance

• Assuming foreign test reports will be accepted
• Starting the process without determining a local legal entity
• Realizing only afterwards that the certificate is issued in the importer's name
• Skipping ANATEL homologation
• Not preparing Portuguese-language documentation