ABNT

ABNT, the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas, is the Brazilian national standards body responsible for developing, publishing, and disseminating technical standards in Brazil. It coordinates the Brazilian standardization system and serves as the authoritative reference for normative documents used across industry, construction, services, and public administration.

The organization develops NBR standards (Norma Brasileira) and related guidelines. Many ABNT standards reflect international norms and may be aligned with ISO and IEC standards. ABNT participates in international standardization activities and publishes standards that are harmonized with or derived from international specifications, including joint ISO-ABNT documents (NBR-ISO).

ABNT operates through technical committees composed of representatives from industry, academia, government, and consumer interests. The standards development process typically includes drafting, public consultation, and revision before publication. Most ABNT standards are voluntary, although some become mandatory when adopted by law, regulation, or public procurement rules.

In addition to publishing standards, ABNT provides normative references, guidance papers, and conformance information to support compliance. In Brazil, conformity assessment and product certification are typically conducted by accredited bodies such as Inmetro or independent certification entities, using ABNT norms as the basis for evaluation.

Headquartered in Rio de Janeiro with a nationwide network of departments and collaborators, ABNT serves a broad community of users and stakeholders and plays a central role in Brazilian quality infrastructure and market integration.