Compliance
INMETRO Certification for Brazil
Conformity assessment requirements for electronics, toys, PPE, construction materials, and other regulated products.
Updated May 2026
INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia) is Brazil's conformity assessment body. If your product is electrical, a toy, PPE, an automotive part, or any of dozens of other regulated categories, it needs INMETRO certification before it can be imported or sold in Brazil. Think of it as CE marking for Brazil — but with some critical differences.
Does your product need INMETRO?
INMETRO maintains a list of products subject to mandatory conformity assessment (avaliação da conformidade compulsória). Key categories:
Electrical & electronic
- Plugs and outlets (NBR 14136 standard)
- Power cables and extension cords
- LED lamps and lighting
- Switches and circuit breakers
- Transformers and adapters
- Batteries (portable and automotive)
Toys & children's products
- All toys for children under 14
- Children's furniture (cribs, highchairs)
- Bicycle helmets for children
- Baby walkers, strollers
PPE & safety
- Safety helmets (construction, industrial)
- Safety boots and shoes
- Work gloves, goggles, masks
- Fall protection equipment
- Fire extinguishers
Automotive
- Tires (new passenger and truck)
- Brake pads and discs
- Wheels and rims
- Child car seats
- Safety glass
Construction materials
- Cement (Portland)
- Steel rebar
- PVC pipes and fittings
- Electrical cables and wiring
- Ceramic tiles
Gas & appliances
- Gas stoves and cooktops
- Gas water heaters
- Pressure regulators and hoses
- Gas cylinders
The certification process
- Identify the applicable regulation (Portaria)
Each product category has a specific INMETRO Portaria defining the applicable standards (NBR or international equivalents), test requirements, and conformity assessment model.
- Choose an OCP (Organismo de Certificação de Produto)
Testing and certification must be performed by an INMETRO-accredited OCP. There are OCPs in Brazil and internationally — some European testing labs (TÜV, SGS, Bureau Veritas) have INMETRO accreditation for certain product categories.
- Submit samples for testing
The OCP tests your product against the applicable NBR or international standard. For electrical products, this includes safety testing (IEC 60335 equivalents), EMC, and energy efficiency where applicable.
- Factory audit (if required)
For some certification models, the OCP audits your manufacturing facility to verify quality management. This is similar to the ISO 9001 audit process.
- Certification issued
The OCP issues the INMETRO certificate. The product can now display the INMETRO seal and be imported into Brazil.
- Ongoing surveillance
INMETRO conducts periodic market surveillance — testing products pulled from the market to verify continued compliance. Non-compliant products are recalled and the certificate is suspended.
Conformity assessment models
INMETRO uses different assessment models depending on the product and risk level:
| Model | What it involves | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Model 1 | Type testing only | Low-risk products |
| Model 4 | Type testing + batch testing | Fire extinguishers, some PPE |
| Model 5 | Type testing + factory audit + surveillance | Most electrical products, toys |
| Model 7 | Batch testing (each lot) | Specific products per Portaria |
Costs and timelines
| Product type | Typical cost | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical accessories (plugs, cables) | R$ 8,000-20,000 | 2-4 months |
| LED lighting | R$ 15,000-40,000 | 3-6 months |
| Toys | R$ 10,000-25,000 | 2-4 months |
| PPE (helmets, boots) | R$ 15,000-35,000 | 3-5 months |
| Automotive parts (tires) | R$ 30,000-80,000 | 4-8 months |
Costs include testing, OCP fees, and factory audit (if applicable). International shipping of test samples is extra.
The Brazil plug: NBR 14136
Brazil uses a unique plug standard — NBR 14136 — that is different from both EU and US standards. If your product has a power plug:
- It must use the NBR 14136 plug (3 round pins in a specific configuration)
- Brazil operates on both 127V and 220V depending on the city — your product must handle the destination voltage
- Selling products with EU (Schuko) or US (NEMA) plugs is not allowed, even with an adapter in the box
CE marking and INMETRO: not equivalent
A common misconception: CE marking does not replace INMETRO certification. While many of the underlying test standards overlap (IEC 60335, IEC 62368, etc.), the certification process, accreditation, and marking requirements are separate.
However, having CE marking helps because:
- Many test reports for CE can be reused for INMETRO (if the standards align)
- The factory audit for CE (e.g., ISO 9001) may satisfy part of the INMETRO factory audit
- Some international OCPs (TÜV, SGS) can conduct both assessments simultaneously
?What is a CNPJ?
CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica) is Brazil's national business registry number — equivalent to an EIN (US), Company Number (UK), or Handelsregisternummer (Germany). Every company that imports into Brazil must have a CNPJ.
CNPJ registration guide?What is an NCM code?
NCM (Nomenclatura Comum do Mercosul) is Brazil's 8-digit tariff classification code. The first 6 digits match the international HS (Harmonized System) code — the remaining 2 are Mercosur-specific. Every import tax rate in Brazil is determined by the NCM code.
HS → NCM lookup tool?What is RADAR?
RADAR (Registro e Rastreamento da Atuação dos Intervenientes Aduaneiros) is Receita Federal's mandatory import/export authorization. Your Brazilian buyer needs active RADAR before any goods can clear customs. It comes in three modalities with different value limits.
RADAR & customs clearance guideCommon mistakes
- Assuming international certifications are accepted
UL, CE, CSA, CCC — none of these replace INMETRO. Each has its own scope and testing requirements. Budget for INMETRO certification as a separate cost.
- Not using the INMETRO seal correctly
The INMETRO conformity seal must be visible on the product and/or packaging. The seal format, size, and placement are defined by INMETRO Portaria 274. Using the seal incorrectly — or not using it at all — is a violation even if the product is certified.
- Letting the certificate expire
INMETRO certificates have specific validity periods. If the certificate expires before renewal, all products already in Brazil can continue to be sold, but new imports are blocked until the certificate is renewed.
- Ignoring the energy efficiency label (ENCE)
Some products (air conditioners, refrigerators, motors, transformers) require ENCE — the Brazilian energy efficiency label — in addition to INMETRO safety certification. These are two separate processes.