The National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) has announced a 15% reduction in the service fees for accreditation of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) in Brazil. This measure aims to improve the quality and competitiveness of the productive sector, as well as to harmonize the distribution of CABs across the country.
Accreditation is a process that recognizes the technical competence and reliability of CABs, such as laboratories, certification and inspection bodies, that offer services to the market. These services include testing, certification and inspection of products, processes and services, according to the requirements of quality standards and regulations.
Inmetro is the national accreditation body in Brazil, and it operates under the General Coordination of Accreditation (Cgcre). Currently, there are 3,157 accredited CABs in the country, mostly concentrated in the southeast and south regions. The reduction of service fees is expected to benefit these CABs, as well as to encourage new ones to seek accreditation, especially in the north and northeast regions, where the demand for conformity assessment services is higher.
In addition to the fee reduction, Inmetro is also implementing other initiatives to optimize and modernize its accreditation processes, such as the digitalization of the system, the adoption of remote evaluations, and the alignment with international best practices.
The fee reduction and the process improvement are part of Inmetro’s management measures to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), and to support the program New Industry Brazil, which seeks to foster the development of the productive sector.
Inmetro is following the orientations of the MDIC, and with the focus on the program New Industry Brazil, it seeks to implement a series of management measures aiming at the development of the productive sector. This reduction of fees for the accredited companies is a significant number and will bring a positive impact on the management of the businesses, and consequently develop the sector as a whole.
