Brazil is the largest economy in South America and a strategic market for Italian exports. The country is actively developing its industry, healthcare, cosmetics, and energy sectors — opening great opportunities for Italian manufacturers of equipment, medical devices, and cosmetic products.
However, Brazilian law strictly regulates imports, and without local certification, products cannot be marketed.
The main certification authorities are:
• INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia) – responsible for technical and industrial standards.
• ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) – regulates cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and health-related products.

INMETRO Certification – for Equipment and Machinery 

What is INMETRO
INMETRO is Brazil’s national technical regulation system, similar to the European CE mark.
It certifies that equipment or electrical products comply with Brazilian standards of safety, energy efficiency, and quality.
Products subject to INMETRO certification:

• Electrical and industrial equipment
• Household appliances
• Laboratory instruments
• Automation and energy systems
• Elevators, pumps, cables, and components

Main stages of INMETRO certification: 

1. Appointment of a local representative (mandatory – a Brazilian resident company).
2. Submission of an application to an accredited certification body (OCP).
3. Provision of technical documentation – CE, ISO, drawings, and user manuals in Portuguese.
4. Product testing in an accredited Brazilian laboratory.
5. Issuance of the INMETRO certificate and registration in the national database.

Certificate validity: typically 3 years (with annual inspections). 

ANVISA Certification – for Cosmetics and Medical Products 

What is ANVISA
ANVISA is Brazil’s health surveillance agency, which controls the safety, composition, and labeling of:

• Cosmetics
• Dermatological products
• Medical devices
• Food supplements
• Pharmaceutical drugs

Main steps of ANVISA certification: 

1. Appointment of a local authorized representative (Legal Representative).
2. Submission of a technical dossier: formulations, MSDS, test reports, ISO 22716 (GMP).
3. Product evaluation and registration in the ANVISA database.
4. Issuance of the ANVISA registration number (Registro ANVISA).

Registration validity: 5 years, renewable. 

Key Points for Italian Exporters 

• An authorized local representative in Brazil is mandatory.
• All documents must be in Portuguese.
• ISO and CE certificates facilitate the process but do not replace INMETRO or ANVISA.
• Unregistered products may be held at customs or returned.
• Cosmetics must comply with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.

Conclusion 

INMETRO and ANVISA certification is mandatory but strategically important for Italian manufacturers of equipment and cosmetics.
These procedures ensure legal export and enhance the competitiveness of Italian products in Brazil — a market where consumers increasingly value quality, safety, and European style.
WorldWideBridge assists Italian manufacturers in obtaining INMETRO and ANVISA certification.
We handle every step — from document translation and appointment of a local representative to product registration and certification.
With WorldWideBridge, your export to Brazil is safe, legal, and efficient.