Overview of Brazilian consumer product regulatory changes

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2012-05-22 15:31:38 - The Brazilian regulatory agency Inmetro has devoted a lot of attention in recent years to improving the evaluation requirements for the compliance of consumer products that are manufactured or imported in Brazil. Here we review some of the latest changes to Brazilian regulations.

Automotive Parts
Inmetro Ordinance 362/2011 postponed the effective date of the new requirements of Ordinance 445/2010 to January 1, 2013, thereby allowing manufacturers and importers until the end of 2012 to prepare for compliance. Only road wheels possessing the Inmetro Conformity Identification Mark may be sold in Brazil from January 1, 2015.

In addition, automobile parts that include shock absorbers, electric fuel

pumps for Otto cycle engines, horns and similar equipment for motor vehicles, aluminum alloy pistons, lock retention pins and rings, piston rings, bearings and lamps for motor vehicles, intended for the after-sales market, must comply with Ordinance 301/2011. Such products must be certified by July 21, 2014, after which only products with the Inmetro Conformity Identification Mark ( www.inmetro.gov.br/english/accreditation/marcas.asp) can be sold on the Brazilian national market.

Juvenile Products and Toys
Toys and other products for children are highly sensitive in Brazil and subject to strict regulation. The regulatory agencies have steadily tightened the requirements for imported toys and demand they conform to the same quality and safety requirements that the national industry are subject to. The products in this category include plush toys, dolls, ride-on toys, projectile toys, games, decorative collectibles, figurines, books, construction toys, battery operated toys, magnetic toys, creative art materials, puzzles and toys in food.

Certification ( www.sgs.com/~/media/Global/Documents/Brochures/SGS-SGS-Toy-Certi ..) generally involves system 5 (QMS assessment certification) and system 7 (batch certification), but for toys there is also an optional use of system 4 (type tests and maintenance tests) and these are conducted on samples taken from the shops and warehouses of retailers and distributors. Products must comply with Ordinance 369/2007 against the Brazilian and Mercosur countries’ standard NM-300 series, which covers a broad range of toys and creative materials for children. These testing requirements include physical and mechanical tests, flammability, toxic elements in experimental sets, chemical toy sets and electrical toy testing.

Ordinance 269/2011 demands compliance of infant cradles with ABNT NBR 15860 parts 1 and 2 (safety requirements and test methodology). It applies to both finished and ready to use products that are produced in the national market or imported, with the exception of hospital cradles.

The recently published Ordinance 90/2012 along with Ordinance 481/2010 define new due dates for the compulsory certification of products used in school. Such products include ink and ball pens, plastic folders, rulers, French curves, squares, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, pencil boxes, compasses, protractors, pencils and mechanical pencils, glues, liquid correctives, modeling and plastic clays, water paints, blunt-ended scissors and lunch boxes. All manufactured or imported products of this kind must comply with ABNT NBR 15236 from December 2012.

Hard Goods
Products in this category include mattresses produced nationally or imported and form part of the compulsory certification program legislated by the Brazilian government. Enacted by Ordinance 79/2011, ABNT NBR 13579 parts 1 and 2 are in force and this requires several tests be conducted on the foam and fabric coverings to ensure quality and product safety.

Wider product certification portfolio for SGS Brazil
SGS Brazil ( www.sgsgroup.com.br/en/) enjoys accreditation for a large number of products by Inmetro as a Product Certification Body (CB), in anticipation of the demands and potential of the Brazilian market. SGS technicians have participated on several technical committees to assist the Brazilian regulatory agency Inmetro in elaborating national compliance evaluation requirements together with other accredited certification bodies.

SGS Brazil is now authorized as a CB for steel cables, wires and bars, mattresses, automotive wheels, masks and helmets (PPE), tabletop games, toys and school supplies.

For further information about SGS services in Brazil please contact:

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Fabio Sianga
Sales Executive, Automotive Parts, Cradles & Mattresses

Aline Feltrin
Sales Executive Toys & School Supplies

t +55 11 3883 8897
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/pages/consumer-testing/sgs-consumer-goods-and-retail ..

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