Importing from China: Which Products Need INMETRO

What INMETRO is and why it controls imports

INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia) is the federal body responsible for setting and enforcing the minimum technical requirements a product has to meet to be sold in Brazil. Its remit covers electrical safety, mechanical strength, chemical composition, energy performance and other criteria that protect consumers from products liable to cause harm.

For importers, INMETRO shows up at two distinct moments:

At customs clearance: the Receita Federal can demand the INMETRO certificate of conformity as a condition for releasing the goods. Without the certificate, the shipment is held.
In the market: INMETRO carries out surveillance at distributors, retailers and e-commerce platforms. A product that is irregularly certified or uncertified at the point of sale draws a penalty and seizure of stock.

Important: not every product imported from China needs INMETRO. The requirement applies only to the categories covered by the Regulamentos Técnicos de Qualidade (RTQ) published by INMETRO. Products outside that list can be imported and sold without INMETRO certification, though they may face other regulatory requirements (ANVISA, MAPA, ANATEL).

Which products require INMETRO certification

The official list of products subject to compulsory certification is published on the INMETRO portal (inmetro.gov.br) and updated periodically. The main categories relevant to importers from China are:

Electrical and electronic

Product	INMETRO standard	Risk without certification
Power cords and extension leads	INMETRO Ordinance 553/2013	High: fire risk
Chargers and power supplies (USB, laptops)	INMETRO Ordinance 375/2019	High: shock risk
Sockets, plugs and adapters	NBR 14136 / Ordinance 553	High: electrical safety
Light fittings and LED lamps	INMETRO Ordinance 20/2019	Medium: energy efficiency
Household appliances (iron, blender, mixer)	Product-specific ordinance	High: electrical safety
Mobile phones, tablets and routers	ANATEL + INMETRO	High: dual regulation
Batteries and cells	INMETRO Ordinance 301/2012	Medium: chemical composition

Toys and baby articles

This is one of the most tightly policed categories. INMETRO requires compulsory certification for:

Toys in general (INMETRO Ordinance 563/2016 / NBR 11786)
Children's bicycles and tricycles
Child car seats
Cots, playpens and childcare equipment
Dummies and teethers
Children's helmets

Watch this one closely: toys with INMETRO require physical and chemical testing: mechanical strength, toxic substances, minimum part size to prevent choking. Chinese suppliers frequently produce CE certificates (the European standard), but CE does not replace INMETRO in Brazil. They are different standards with different requirements.

PPE and protective equipment

Product	Requirement
Motorcycle helmets	CA (Certificado de Aprovação) from the MTE + INMETRO
Cycling and sports helmets	INMETRO compulsory
Safety glasses and eye protection	MTE CA for occupational PPE
Gloves, boots and safety clothing	MTE CA for occupational PPE
Fire extinguishers	INMETRO compulsory + CBMSP

Other categories that need attention

Tyres and inner tubes: compulsory INMETRO certification
Construction materials (electrical cable, circuit breakers, switches): product-specific ordinance
LPG containers (gas cylinders): very tightly policed
Sports goods (balls, racquets): voluntary certification, but active market surveillance
Cosmetics and personal care: ANVISA (not INMETRO)
Food and supplements: ANVISA and MAPA (not INMETRO)
Electromedical equipment (aesthetic laser, RF, IPL and LED): INMETRO Ordinance 384/2020, a separate rule from the 148/2022 that covers appliances, and one that comes before ANVISA registration, not after. See the guide to importing health and aesthetic equipment from China

How the INMETRO certification process works

INMETRO certification is not requested from INMETRO directly: it runs through Product Certification Bodies (OCP) accredited by INMETRO. Those bodies carry out the necessary testing and audits and issue the certificate on INMETRO's behalf.

Choosing an accredited OCP. INMETRO keeps a list of accredited bodies by product category on its portal. Examples: IPT (Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas), CEPEL, UL do Brasil, Bureau Veritas, SGS Brasil. Each OCP has expertise in specific categories, and picking the right one speeds the process up.
Submitting the technical file. The importer (or the Chinese manufacturer) submits to the OCP: the product's technical specification, the user manual, the wiring diagram where applicable, any existing test reports (CE, UL, FCC) and physical samples of the product.
Laboratory testing. The OCP carries out or subcontracts the tests required by the Brazilian standard. If the product already holds reports from internationally recognised laboratories (IECEE, CB Scheme), part of the testing can be reused, cutting both time and cost.
Audit of the production process. For some products the OCP audits the Chinese factory to verify that the production process delivers a consistent certified product. This is where the relationship with the supplier and a local presence in China make the difference.
Issue of the certificate. Once testing and the audit are approved, the OCP issues the certificate with its registration number, the models covered and the expiry date. The certificate is recorded in the INMETRO system and is publicly searchable.
Labelling and use of the seal. The certified product has to display the INMETRO seal and the certificate number on the product itself or on the packaging. Missing the seal, even with a valid certificate, can draw a penalty in market surveillance.

Certification costs and lead times

Category	Typical lead time	Estimated cost (BRL)
Cables and extension leads	2–4 months	R$ 8,000–20,000
Chargers and USB power supplies	3–5 months	R$ 12,000–25,000
Light fittings and LED lamps	3–5 months	R$ 10,000–22,000
Toys (per model)	2–4 months	R$ 6,000–15,000
Portable household appliances	4–7 months	R$ 15,000–40,000
Helmets (motorcycle)	4–6 months	R$ 12,000–30,000
Mobile phones and tablets	5–9 months	R$ 30,000–80,000

These costs cover laboratory testing, the OCP's fees and the registration charge. They do not cover samples, freight to send them to the laboratory, or any changes the product may need in order to pass the tests.

The lead time can be cut when the product already holds valid reports under other international schemes (the IECEE CB Scheme, for instance), since laboratories accredited abroad can issue reports recognised under bilateral agreements, saving part of the local testing.

How to check whether the product from China already has INMETRO

Many Chinese factories, especially the larger ones focused on exporting to Brazil, have already obtained INMETRO certification for their products. If the supplier produces a certificate, do not assume it is valid without checking.

Searching the official portal

Go to inmetro.gov.br → "Consulta de Produtos Certificados". You can search by:

Product name or category
Name of the certified company
The certificate number supplied by the factory

The system shows: the company holding the certificate, the models covered, the issuing certification body, the issue and expiry dates, and the current status (valid, suspended or cancelled).

Common traps when checking

Certificate in another company's name. The certificate may be valid, but held by another importer or by the manufacturer, not by you. Confirm who the holder is and whether you are authorised to use the certificate.

Valid certificate, different model. The certificate covers model X, but you are buying model Y (with a slightly different technical specification). Each product variant may need its own certificate: check that the exact model you are importing is listed on it.

Expired or suspended certificate. INMETRO can suspend certificates for non-conformity found in market surveillance or for failure to renew. A certificate that existed 2 years ago may be cancelled today. Always search the portal before placing any order.

Practical tip: ask the supplier for the exact INMETRO certificate number and check it yourself on the portal before closing the order. If the supplier hesitates to hand over the number, that is a sign the certificate may not exist or may not be in order.

What happens if you import without INMETRO

The consequences vary with where the product is intercepted:

At customs

The Receita Federal can hold the goods until the certificate is produced. If the product is subject to INMETRO and no certificate arrives within the deadline, the shipment can be:

Returned to the country of origin at the importer's expense
Destroyed by order on sanitary or safety grounds
Held indefinitely pending regularisation, which is unworkable if the certificate does not yet exist

In market surveillance

INMETRO runs periodic operations at retailers, distributors and marketplaces. An uncertified product found on the market can result in:

Seizure of the entire stock, with no compensation
A fine imposed on the retailer and on the importer
Publication of the offender's name on the INMETRO portal
Administrative proceedings with a deadline to put things right

Civil and criminal liability: if a product without INMETRO certification harms a consumer, a fire caused by an electrical cable, an accident caused by a helmet without adequate protection, poisoning by a toy made with a banned material, the importer is liable in civil law and potentially in criminal law too. The missing certificate is an aggravating factor, because it evidences regulatory negligence.

Frequently asked questions about INMETRO when importing from China

Which products need INMETRO to be imported from China?

The main product groups with mandatory INMETRO certification when importing from China are: electrical and electronic equipment (cables, chargers, sockets, light fittings, household appliances), toys, baby and childcare articles, personal protective equipment (PPE), helmets, telecoms products (mobile phones, routers, modems), batteries and cells, and electrical construction materials. The full list is published on the INMETRO portal (inmetro.gov.br) under the heading Regulamentos Técnicos de Qualidade (RTQ).

What happens if I import products without INMETRO?

Importing products that require INMETRO without a valid certificate can result in: seizure of the goods at customs with no route to release, an administrative fine imposed by the Receita Federal or INMETRO, an outright ban on selling the product in the Brazilian market, and civil liability for harm caused to the consumer should the product be sold and cause an accident. Seized goods can be destroyed or returned to the country of origin at the importer's expense.

Is the Chinese factory's INMETRO certificate enough to import?

It depends. Some Chinese factories already hold INMETRO certification obtained directly from certification bodies accredited in Brazil. In that case the certificate can be valid for the importer, provided the imported product matches the certified model exactly (same model number, same technical specification). Before relying on the factory's certificate, check the certificate number on the INMETRO portal (inmetro.gov.br) and confirm that the specific model you are buying is covered.

How long does it take to certify a product with INMETRO?

Certification times vary widely by product and by the certification body you choose. For electrical and electronic products of medium complexity, the typical time is 3 to 6 months, covering technical documentation review, laboratory testing and a factory audit. Toys take 2 to 4 months. More complex products (industrial equipment, PPE) can take 6 to 12 months. The process can be shortened if the product already holds equivalent CE or UL certification, since some test results can be reused.

Can I sell products imported from China without INMETRO while I wait for certification?

No. Products that require INMETRO cannot be sold in Brazil until they are certified, whatever stage the certification process has reached. Selling an uncertified product exposes the importer to an INMETRO penalty, a fine, seizure of stock and civil liability. While you wait for certification, the product has to stay in blocked stock until the valid certificate is issued.

How do I check whether a product from China already holds a valid INMETRO certificate?

Go to the INMETRO portal (inmetro.gov.br), open 'Consulta de Produtos Certificados' and search by product name, brand or certificate number. The system shows the status of the certificate (valid, suspended or cancelled), the holding company, the models covered and the expiry date. If a Chinese supplier hands you a certificate, always validate the number on the official portal before assuming it is in order: fake or expired certificates are more common than you would think.