The Brazilian National Institute of Metrology (INMETRO), published earlier in June the ordinance #252 in the official gazette. The objective of this ordinance is to adjust and clarify some requirements of the previous ordinance #118 of March 6, 2015, which approved the General Requirements for Products Certification (RGCP). The changes are valid since June 3, 2016. This ordinance presents the last version of the RGCP in Brazil, which impacts the procedures of the Ordinance #170 of April 10, 2012 “requirements of compliance for informatics goods” and the Ordinance #407 of August 21, 2015 “adjustments to Ordinance #170 in relation with large scale equipment and test laboratories selection criteria”. Some of the principal adjustments included in the new ordinance are:
- In the item 6.2.4.3.1 the addition of two notes clarifying that the designation of the test laboratories could be, in exceptional instances, based on INMETRO criteria, through the publication of a specific ordinance in the official gazette. Also, a third part laboratory could, under the INMETRO’s authorization, subcontract other third part laboratories to conduct tests, in this case the certification body has to approve the use of the outsourced laboratory.
- The addition of the item 8.4.1 clarifying that is a legally formed organism, recognized by INMETRO, one that has staff with technical competence, established in Brazil, with physical structure, access to the certification process and legal documents asked in Brazil for the constitution of a company, like CNPJ and social contract.
- The exclusion of the item 14.6, which says that if a non conformity is found, considered by INMETRO, systemic or a potential risk for the human or environment health, then INMETRO could critically analyze each case deciding to inform to the justice ministry, who would analyze the need of a recall by the certificate holder.
