UL Solutions in Brazil Offers Certification of PPE
UL Solutions in Brazil now offers certification of personal protective equipment (PPE) to help manufacturers provide safer and more effective products in the Brazilian market. Our certification services help you achieve compliance with regulations and confidently go to market in Brazil.
How PPE certification works under MTP Ordinance 672
On Feb. 2, 2023, the health and safety of PPE in Brazil became the responsibility of the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Pension (MTP), now governing EPI Ordinances in the country, with INMETRO no longer evaluating PPE. The MTP Ordinance 672 from Nov. 8, 2021, consolidated several previous ordinances.
Mandatory PPE certification categories in Brazil
Manufacturers and importers producing or selling products in the Brazilian market must comply with this mandatory certification. Below is the list of products for which you can rely on UL Solutions for certification:
- Safety Helmet (ABNT NBR 8221)
- Rubber Insulating Gloves (IEC 60903)
- Clothing with Protection against Thermal Agents (Heat and Flames) – Electric Arc (NBR IEC 61482-2 and NBR 15292)
- Clothing with Protection against Thermal Agents (Heat and Flames) – Flash Fire (ABNT NBR 16623)
- Clothing with Protection against Thermal Agents (Heat) – Heat and Flame (ABNT NBR ISO 11612)
- Clothing with Protection against Thermal Agents (Heat) – Welding and Allied Processes (ABNT NBR ISO 11611)
- Clothing with Protection against Cold Environments – Temperatures up to 5°C (EN 14058)
- Clothing with Protection against Thermal Rain (EN 343)
- Clothing with Protection against Chemical Agents (ISO 16602, EN 943-1 and EN 14594)
PPE is categorized into three categories:
- Category I – Low risk
- Category II – Medium risk
- Category III – High risk
For the products under MTP Ordinance 672, the categorizations are as follows:
| Product | Risk category | ||
| High | Medium | Low | |
| Clothing | X | X | X |
| Gloves | X | X | X |
| Helmet | X |
How to obtain your certificate of approval (CA) in Brazil for PPE
The manufacturer or importer must request a certificate of approval (CA) from the MTP. A certificate of conformity must be obtained from an accredited Product Certification Body (OCP). The OCP is responsible for technical analysis and the MTP is responsible for issuing the CA.
First, we at UL Solutions Brazil need to organize your product into one of four groups:
- Helmet, insulating glove, arc flash clothing and flash fire clothing – model 5
- Factory audit
- Laboratory standard testing
- Periodic maintenance of certification (Market Surveillance)
- Welding clothing, cold clothing and chemical clothing type 3, 4, 5 or 6 – model 4
- Laboratory testing
- Periodic maintenance of certification (Market Surveillance)
- Clothing for mechanical agents – model 1a
- Laboratory testing
- Chemical clothing type 1 and 2 – SPAE model
- Assessment of certification by foreign bodies
Then, the UL Solutions Brazil team will evaluate the category applied to each group to determine the tests needed.
Changes in the MTP Ordinance 672/2021
The changes to the process of obtaining and validating a CA are outlined in the chart below.
| Before MTP Ordinance 672/2021 | After MTP Ordinance 672/2021 |
| Manufacturer or importer requested the CA from the Ministry of Labor and Pensions (MTP) | Manufacturer or importer requests CA from the Ministry of Labor and Pensions (MTP) |
| Assays/tests carried out in laboratories designated by the MTP | Certificate of conformity must be obtained from an Accredited Product Certification Body (OCP) |
| MTP was responsible for the technical analysis presented for issuing the CA | OCP is responsible for technical analysis, and MTP is responsible for issuing the CA |
| Fixed at five years with renewal required through new tests | CA remains valid as long as the certification remains active |
Benefits of engaging UL Solutions in Brazil
As a full-service testing, inspection and certification provider, UL Solutions offers a broad portfolio of services to help manufacturers meet industry and regulatory requirements. We offer a wide range of auxiliary services to help PPE manufacturers achieve efficient time to market while reducing costs.
FAQs
- How do I obtain the certificate of approval (CA) for PPE in Brazil?
As the manufacturer or importer, you must request the CA from the Ministry of Labor and Pensions (MTP). Then you must obtain a certificate of conformity from an accredited Product Certification Body (OCP). The OCP is responsible for technical analysis and the MTP is responsible for issuing the CA.
- Why is third-party certification required or recommended for PPE in Brazil?
When you obtain third-party certification on a PPE product, you can be confident that the product meets Brazilian regulatory requirements and that the product operates in a manner that is safer and more effective than an untested PPE product and, as a result, may help the product achieve a larger market share.
- How can engaging UL Solutions streamline the PPE certification process in Brazil?
As a global safety science leader, UL Solutions leverages our decades of experience in testing and certifying PPE to help you efficiently and cost-effectively navigate regulatory compliance.
Get connected with our team
Get in touch today to learn more about how our occupational PPE certification and testing can help you meet product safety and performance requirements in Brazil.