• Certification

• What is certification

Products can obtain a certification mark duly identified if they fulfill national standards or specific technical requirements, as detailed in the Brazilian Conformity Evaluation System (SBAC).

The SBAC establishes all procedures, activities and training processes a certification institution should have in order to be authorized to test for certification. The SBAC also establishes two different kind of certification: a compulsory certificate and voluntary one. Brazilian Government requires that all products related to health and security of consumers and environment must have the compulsory certification mark. Technical specifications were used to create a conformity criteria. INT focuses its compulsory certification on products that conform to these criteria before they are traded.

• Why certify?

The compulsory certification is important for the manufacturer, the consumer and the Government.

- A manufacturer has more possibilities to increase the competitiveness of his business and to accede to international markets with a quality certified product.

- A consumer has more possibilities to choose a quality product, in conformity with standards and other technical requirements.

- The Government has an improved mechanism to control marketed products that may affect health and security of consumers and environment.

• Certification mark

The certification mark, issued according to the certification system requirements, assures that a product has an adequate level of trust and that it follows a specific norm or normative document.

The compulsory certification mark has two symbols: INMETRO´s one and another from the testing institution, INT in this case.

INT controls the use of the Mark in certified products. An incorrect or illegal use of the Mark may imply in actions such as corrective procedures, punishment, suspension, cancellation of the certification and, if necessary, further legal actions.

• INT and certification

INT has two testing laboratories, both with credentials from INMETRO and able to test for the compulsory certification mark:

- Polymeric Materials Laboratory - Lapol;

- Mechanical Tests Laboratory - Lamec;

INT is able to certify and confer the compulsory certification mark for the following products:

- male condoms;

- security matches;

- crash-helmet for motorcycle and similar vehicles occupants;

- five liters (maximum) plastic bottles for alcohol;

The Mechanical Tests Laboratory (Lamec) tests security matches, plastic bottles for alcohol and crash-helmets. The Polymeric Materials Laboratory (Lapol) tests male condoms.

• INT as a certification institution

INT is legally responsible for all its activities as a certification institution. As a public institution from the federal administration, INT is legally assisted by the Federal General Attorney (AGU).

The Institute takes actively part in many normalization forums (ABNT, Ministry of Health, Mercosul, ISO, etc) and contributes for the creation of national, regional and international norms of its interest and competence areas.

• How to obtain certification

Any manufacturer or importer may request to INT the certification test for its products, as long as they are in accordance with norms, criteria, and regulation applicable. INT does not adopt any procedure that may prevent or inhibit the access to certification services offered by the Institute.

· Certification phases
· Applicable regulation

Certification phases

The certification process has the following phases:

- certification service request;

- request analysis;

- technical-commercial proposal submission;

- contract signature;

- initial audit, if applicable;

- sample collect;

- tests;

- certification decision by the Technical Certification Commission;

- issuance of the license for conformity mark use;

Applicable regulation

· Male condoms
· Security matches
· Crash-helmet for motorcycle and similar vehicles occupants
· Five liters (maximum) plastic bottles for alcohol

Male condoms:

The regulation number 50 of INMETRO, from 28/03/02, and RDC 03 of ANVISA (National Agency of Sanitary Vigilance), from 08/01/02, establish the compulsory certification for male condoms.

Packages of latex male condoms traded in Brazil have to display the certification mark recognized by SBAC, in accordance with the Specific Regulation for Male Condom Certification/National Conformity Mark anexed to the Regulation nr. 50, put out by INMETRO.

Security matches:
The regulation number 118 of INMETRO, from 26/06/1998, based on the SBAC, establishes the compulsory certification for security matches traded in Brazil.

This product has to display the certification mark recognized by SBAC, in accordance with Brazilian Norm NBR 13725.

Crash-helmet for motorcycle and similar vehicles occupants:.
The regulation number 86 of INMETRO, from 24/04/2002, based on the SBAC, establishes the compulsory certification for crash-helmet for motorcycle and similar vehicles occupants traded in Brazil.

This product has to display the certification mark recognized by SBAC, in accordance with Brazilian Norm NBR 7471:2001and the Conformity Evaluation Regulation, annexed to Regulation nr. 86 of INMETRO.

Five liters (maximum) plastic bottles for alcohol:
The regulation number 15 of INMETRO, from 29/01/2001, based on the SBAC, establishes the compulsory certification for plastic bottles for alcohol traded in Brazil.

This product has to display the certification mark recognized by SBAC, in accordance with the Brazilian Norm NBR 5991:1997 (for performance requirements) and RDC nr. 46, from 20/02/2002, of ANVISA (for label requirements).

• Forms for certification request

• Contacts with INT