BMWK delegation visits Brazil: Strengthening trade and quality infrastructure cooperation

During the four-day visit, the delegation engaged with key Brazilian institutions, including the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro), the Institute of Weights and Measures of São Paulo (IPEM-SP), as well as German and Brazilian companies in São Paulo. The visit focused on strengthening cooperation in quality infrastructure. Key topics included Brazil’s National Strategy on QI, product safety, digitalisation of QI processes, and the use of quality infrastructure to support the decarbonisation of value chains.

Visit to MDIC and CNI

The BMWK delegation kicked off their visit in Brasília, where they met with representatives from MDIC and CNI. Discussions centred on Brazil's ongoing efforts to develop a National Strategy on Quality Infrastructure, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of the country’s industries while ensuring the safety and quality of products in both domestic and international markets.

A key discussion point was the challenge of improving market surveillance, particularly in the context of e-commerce, which is rapidly expanding globally and poses new risks in ensuring product safety and compliance.

Workshops in São Paulo

In São Paulo, the BMWK delegation co-chaired two workshops. The first, organised in partnership with the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), focused on the “role of standardisation to promote safe and human-centred AI systems”. The second, held in collaboration with CNI, was titled “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure and Market Surveillance: Towards a Closer Cooperation for Safer, Higher-Quality Products”.

These workshops convened experts and industry stakeholders to explore current debates, including the hand-in-hand of technical standards and AI regulation in order to safeguard the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, as well as how to modernise market surveillance strategies for the digital economy. Both sides also exchanged insights on how innovation and QI can advance sustainability and contribute to the decarbonisation of value chains.

Visit to IPEM-SP

During a visit of the Institute of Weights and Measures of São Paulo (IPEM-SP), the delegation was presented with several initiatives in support of market surveillance activities at state level. The presentations exemplified how IPEM-SP plans to use emerging technologies, such as AI and mobile application for auditors and users, to overcome a shortfall in capacities and reach. Successful pilots might serve as role models for modernization efforts in other Brazilian states as well as abroad.

Visit to Inmetro in Rio de Janeiro

The delegation concluded their trip with a visit to Inmetro, Brazil's primary institution for metrology, accreditation and market surveillance. At Inmetro’s office in the Central Bank building in Rio de Janeiro, discussions centred on Brazil’s efforts to align its quality infrastructure with international standards, including the digitalisation of processes and modernising its market surveillance strategies.

The delegation also explored how quality infrastructure could be leveraged to support efforts to ensure that products meet sustainability criteria, contributing to the decarbonisation of key industries.

Shared Goals and Future Collaboration

Both Germany and Brazil emphasised their shared commitment to advancing quality infrastructure. The discussions also highlighted the critical role of quality infrastructure in the global supply chain, especially in the context of e-commerce and the digital economy. There was a strong consensus on the importance of close cooperation in establishing frameworks that support both economic growth and sustainability.