INMETRO CERTIFICATION: CORE PROCEDURE

THE BASIC PROCESS FOR INMETRO CERTIFICATION

Per regulatory requirements, enterprises manufacturing complementary automotive wheel products shall comply with INMETRO Ordinance 501/2021 to complete the certification procedure.

INMETRO certification focuses on production‑process control, inspection and testing capability, equipment calibration management, raw‑material control and product‑consistency management.

The INMETRO certification process is divided into five phases:

1.Before the enterprise officially submits the application, it shall classify products by product structure, material type, production process and dimensional specification range.

2.Confirm the Brazilian responsible entity and submit the application.

Pursuant to Brazilian certification rules, overseas manufacturers shall normally submit certification applications via a local Brazilian responsible entity (such as an importer or authorized representative. Relevant technical documents shall be submitted to the Certification Body (OCP), and the scope of product certification shall be confirmed in the application.

3.Factory audit and product sampling

The Certification Body will assign auditors to conduct an on‑site audit of the manufacturer. Key audit items cover production‑process control, inspection and testing capability, equipment calibration management, raw‑material control and product‑consistency management.

4.Product testing and technical assessment

Wheel products shall be tested in accordance with applicable Brazilian ABNT NBR standards. Typical test items include:

‑ Rotating‑bending fatigue test

‑ Radial‑load fatigue test

‑ Impact test

‑ Material and performance verification

Upon successful completion of testing, the OCP will carry out a technical assessment and issue the certification documents.

5.INMETRO registration and ongoing surveillance

After obtaining the certification certificate, the enterprise shall complete INMETRO system registration (Registro de Objeto). Products are permitted for sale on the Brazilian market only when the registration status becomes “Ativo” (Active). Meanwhile, per certification requirements, the enterprise is subject to ongoing surveillance activities, including annual factory audits, product‑consistency checks, and surveillance sampling testing when necessary.