Brazil‘s National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) has recently taken the following actions of potential interest to Hong Kong and mainland Chinese exporters.

School Articles. Per Directive 2/2020, INMETRO is seeking public input by 12 March on a proposal to amend the mandatory technical requirements for school articles. Specifically, the proposal would require school articles that are exempt from toxicological testing in accordance with criteria established in standard ABNT NBR 15236 to have their toxicological safety confirmed through a self-declaration by the manufacturer. This would apply only to school articles that contain paints, glues, gouaches, watercolours or powder material in their composition.

Child Retention Systems. INMETRO is seeking public input by 14 April on a proposal to recognise as equivalent within the framework of the technical requirements for child retention systems laid out in INMETRO Directive 18/2014 any testing carried out in accordance with standard ECE R129 (for devices having I-size anchoring technology) and standard FMVSS 225 (for devices having latch anchoring technology).

Sensors and Heaters. Per Directive 536/2019, INMETRO has incorporated into the Brazilian legal framework the following Mercosur regulations: (1) GMC Resolution 4/18 setting forth technical requirements for sensor devices for the output of combustion products in devices for household use, (2) GMC Resolution 5/18 setting forth technical requirements for atmospheric sensors installed in devices for household use, and (3) GMC Resolution 6/18 setting forth technical requirements for gas-fuelled instantaneous water heaters for household use.

Air Conditioners. Per Directive 1/2020, INMETRO is seeking public input by 5 April on a proposal to amend the conformity assessment requirements for air conditioners, including through the establishment of a seasonal cooling performance index. Importers and domestic producers would have to comply with the new requirements by 30 June 2022.