Importing Toys to Brazil
In Brazil the steps for the importation of toys varies a little from regular products. Certification, analysis, tests and a non-automatic import license are the main differences for toys and other types of importations to the country.
In Brazil toys are classified in chapter 95 of the Harmonized Code System (HS), just like any other product imported or exported in Brazil. The products comprised by chapter 95 aren’t only toys, aeromodels, car or train models for example, are usually collectors items, but are classified by the Brazilian Government as toys as well.
That happens, because even collector items must be safe. Safety is the main demand from Brazilian Government to the importer of toys. But isn’t really easy to prove that a toy is safe or not, and for that reason a more profound analysis comprising all the possible risks that the products might present must be done.
The competency for this analysis is designated to Inmetro and it’s called Certificação Compulsória dos Produtos Importados - which in English means the Compulsory Certification of Imported Products. All toys imported to Brazil must be analyzed and without the homologation of Inmetro are forbidden to be commercialized in Brazilian territory. It’s also important to remember the manufacturing, sales, marketing or importing of toys that are replicas or similar to firearms is completely prohibited in Brazil.
Inmetro Compulsory Certification
The Compulsory Certification of Inmetro is performed by OCPs - Product Certification Organisms - which are laboratories accredited to the agency. The OCPs conduct all types of tests on the toys, analyzing them according to the Norm NM 300/2002 that establishes the parameters for safety toys. Once the approval of the product, the importer company receives report from OCP allowing or not the toy commercialization.
If the commercialization was approved, the importer will receive, together with the report, a Conformity Stamp, named as Selo de Identificação da Conformidade. This means that the company will be granted with a conformity certificate and a license for the use of the conformity brand. Both documents reveal to the consumer that the product purchased by him/her is in accordance with the safety legislation.
Are many OCPs accredited to Inmetro, like IFBQ (Falcão Bauer Institute of Quality), ICEPEX (Certification for Excellence on Conformity Institute), or INNAC (National Institute for Conformity Evaluation of Products) e o IQB (Brazilian Institute of Quality and Certification). Those aren’t the only laboratories accredited to Inmetro, the rest of the list can be found in the agency webpage.
Toys for Children up to 14 Years Old
The Compulsory Certification doesn’t actually need to be performed on all toys imported to Brazil. The ones designated for children up to 14 years old can request for the certification exemption. If the exemption was conceded to the company, it will receive conformity stamp, license and certification without the need of OCPs analysis.
To apply for an exemption, the importer must use an online tool named Sistema Orquestra, offered by Inmetro. The tool allows that companies apply for compulsory exemptions without the need of delivering papers and documents. The whole process is developed in a digital form.
Toys with Transmitters Equipments of Radiofrequency
The regulating and monitoring of the telecommunication sector in Brazil is subjected to Anatel, therefore,toys with transmitters equipments of radiofrequency imported to Brazil need to require certification and homologation from this agency before request the OCP certification. Only if the product was approved by both of regulatory agencies it can be commercialized in the country.
Steps for Toys Importation
The importation of toys in Brazil is classified in the regime of non automatic licensing, which means that the importer must request an import license (LI) for DECEX (Brazilian Department of Operations for Foreign Trade) instead of receiving an automatic license like many other goods imported to Brazil. The licensing must take place before the shipping of the import abroad.
The LI must be requested at least 15 days before the cargo's arrival in Brazil, in order for the importer to have enough time to request the OCP analysis or analysis exemption. The OCP certifications must be presented together with the LI in the customs clearance of the good.