Electronics & Electricals

Brazil’s National Institute of Technology, Normalisation and Industrial Quality (INMETRO) issued on 30 December 2011 a directive (INMETRO Directive 497/2011) that establishes new certification standards for microwave ovens. The directive requires suppliers of microwave ovens to certify their products using certification systems 5 or 7 to ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements. “System 5” is based on an evaluation of the manufacturer’s quality management system and the testing of samples taken from the production line while System 7 requires every imported lot to be tested to ensure regulatory compliance. Microwave ovens will be required to carry a national energy efficiency label (ENCE) in order to be commercialised in Brazil.Subject merchandise imported or manufactured domestically must comply with these certification requirements by 30 December 2012, importers and manufacturers will not be allowed to sell non-compliant merchandise from 30 June 2013, and retailers and other parties will be barred from selling non-compliant merchandise from 30 June 2014.