Brazil Establishes New Energy Efficiency Requirements for Refrigerators and Freezers

On July 31, 2018, the Brazilian Ministry of Energy and Mines adopted Portaria No. 1/2018. The document establishes the Target Program for the energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers.

This Regulation applies to refrigerators and freezers for domestic use, operating on alternating current of 60 Hz and nominal voltages of 127 V or 220 V, or voltage ranges that encompass the same, or direct current operation, which are manufactured, imported, commercialized and/or used in Brazil.

It sets out the maximum levels of consumption (C/Cp) for the following product categories, as classified by IEC-62552:2007:

Minibars

Refrigerators

Frost-free refrigerators

Combined

Combined frost-free

Side-by-side

Vertical freezers

Frost-free vertical freezers

Horizontal freezers

The compliance deadlines for manufacturing, import, and sell of products in line that do not comply with the foregoing provisions are:

Manufacturing and import — June 30, 2019

Marketing by manufacturers and importers — December 31, 2019

Marketing by wholesalers and retailers — June 30, 2020

The conformity assessment is guaranteed by Supplier’s Declaration. The maximum consumption levels are carried out in accordance with the Program of Targets that is used for labeling through the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO), through the Brazilian Labeling Program (PBE).

 Manufacturers, importers or their representatives must inform the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the INMETRO about the quantities related to production and commercialization of equipment every year by March 31 in line with the PBE classifications of the previous year.

The official document is available here.