Brazil: New INMETRO regulation for low voltage equipment

 

Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) is gathering public comments on the new version of the amended Ordinance No. 497, 13 December 2021, which approves the Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Devices.

The update adds several new references to the existing regulation:

Inmetro Ordinance No. 382, ​​of September 28, 2010	Mercosul Technical Regulation on Essential Safety Requirements for Low Voltage Electrical Products, approved by Resolution of the Common Market Group – GMC nº 35, of November 28, 2008.
ABNT NBR NM IEC 60335-1:2010	Safety of Household Appliances.
ABNT NBR IEC 60061:1998	Lamp bases, lamp holders as well as templates for interchangeability and safety control – Part 1: Lamp bases.
ABNT NBR IEC 60998-1:2004	Connection devices for low voltage circuits for domestic and similar use – Part 1: General requirements

Moreover, several new package marking requirements will be introduced:

3.1 Low voltage electrical devices must have the respective mandatory information, set out in Table 1 of the Regulation, in Portuguese, on the body of the product.

3.1.1 The packaging must contain, in addition to the mandatory information required for each product, in a place that is easy to see, in a clear, indelible and permanent manner, the company name, address, National Register of Legal Entities – CNPJ/Cadastro of Individuals – CPF of the supplier, cartoner or assembler.

3.1.2 When the packaging is transparent, allowing the mandatory information printed on the product to be read, the recording of this information will not be required, only the information described in the previous item will be required.

3.1.3 The packaging and body of the product must contain the standardized voltages in Brazil, and the indication of a voltage range that includes the standardized voltage is accepted.

3.2 Connectors, wires, cables, flexible cords and any other low voltage electrical devices that can be sold in fractions, sold by wholesalers and retailers, must keep the product packaging, with its markings/information, available at the establishment.

3.3 Low voltage electrical devices must additionally have the mandatory information as per Table 1 of the Regulation.

To find out more about product compliance in Brazil and requirements for low voltage devices, please contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.