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From January 1, 2026, refrigerators D, E, and F are banned in Brazil by the new Inmetro label, which eliminates the old A+, A++, and A+++ ratings and requires each model sold to conserve at least 17% more energy by 2028, preventing 5.7 million tons of CO₂ by 2030.
On January 1, 2026, the new Inmetro label for refrigerators came into effect in Brazil. The measure banned the manufacture and sale of models in classes D, E, and F.
According to the official Inmetro statement, all refrigerators manufactured or imported are now labeled with only three ratings. The valid classes are now A, B, and C.
The change ends the cycle of the old subclasses A+, A++, and A+++. According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the regulatory package had been under construction since 2021.
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For consumers, the direct effect is fewer options for cheap products and more assurance of efficiency. For the Brazilian electrical system, the policy acts as invisible generation.
As detailed by the MME, the expected savings reach 11.2 TWh of electricity. This volume is equivalent to avoiding 5.7 million tons of CO₂ by 2030.
What the new Inmetro label changed
The reformulation combines three movements. First, the reclassification of the ratings, which eliminates A+, A++, and A+++ and restricts the scale to A, B, and C.
Second, the tightening of technical criteria. The new requirement defines who is A, B, or C based on the maximum allowed consumption relative to a reference value.
Third, the direct prohibition. All models that would fall below the new standard were removed from the market by specific resolution.
According to IPEM-SP, store inspections began immediately in January. In São Paulo, the state agency issued guidelines for consumers and retailers.
According to Inmetro Ordinance No. 332 of 2021 and Ordinance No. 736 of December 2024, the transition had been planned for five years. Therefore, the industry already had prior knowledge.
Who decided the new Inmetro label
The governance of the measure involves several instances. At the top of the decision-making chain is the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which coordinates the energy efficiency policy in Brazil.
Through the Energy Efficiency Indicators and Levels Management Committee, the MME approved Resolution No. 2 in November 2023. This norm set consumption targets for refrigerators and freezers.
Inmetro, in turn, operationalized the Brazilian Labeling Program. This program translates targets into technical requirements and understandable labels for consumers.
According to the Procel blog of ENBPar/Eletrobras, the labeling is part of the National Energy Conservation Program. It is the broader umbrella of efficiency policies.
As warned in an interview by the Director of Conformity Assessment of Inmetro, Oswaldo Alves Ferreira Junior, the new classification was aligned with the IEC 62552 standard. The alignment facilitates comparisons with European markets.
Direct impact on the Brazilian pocket
Compared to the previous scenario, consumers have access to more economical appliances. According to the MME, the average efficiency increases by 17% by 2028.
In practice, this means a direct reduction in the monthly electricity bill. Official estimates indicate savings of up to R$ 200 to R$ 400 per year for an average family.
On the other hand, there is concern about the price of available models. As reported by Jornal Nacional in April, more efficient refrigerators tend to cost more at the time of purchase.
Similarly, manufacturers needed to invest in better motors and thermal insulation. These costs may be partially passed on to the final consumer.
Despite this, the life cycle calculation usually compensates. Over a ten-year cycle, the savings in electricity outweigh the initial overprice in several popular models.
The invisible generation for the electrical system
For the oil and gas sector, the measure has a strategic dimension. More efficient refrigerators reduce demand during peak hours, when the system usually dispatches fossil fuel thermal plants.
Compared to investments in new plants, labeling is cheaper per avoided MWh. It is one of the most cost-effective policies in the electrical sector.
As already documented by Click Petróleo e Gás in a previous report on the subject, the aggregate impact is equivalent to a medium-sized plant.
Similarly, according to CPG’s analysis on the weight of the Brazilian electricity bill, any structural consumption cut relieves families in energy poverty.
Therefore, the Ministry treated the publication as a transition act. Next, a new label for washing machines and air conditioners should follow.
How the industry reacted
The white goods industry had up to five years to prepare. Despite this, some manufacturers requested deadline extensions for popular models in 2025.
According to Eletros, an association of manufacturers, it was necessary to review the entire portfolio. About 30% of the models sold in 2024 did not meet the new standard.
Compared to Europe, Brazil reaches the new standard about five years late. The European Union adopted a unified A-G scale in 2021.
In turn, Inmetro highlighted that the Brazilian transition has a more gradual schedule. Subsequently, in 2028 and 2031, new targets will be applied to the next batches.
What comes next
Next, new rules should reach washing and drying machines. Procel is already working with the sector to standardize IEC 62552 tests.
Subsequently, the focus shifts to split and window air conditioners. These products account for a significant part of peak demand in Brazilian summers.
Similarly, industrial labeling is under study. The MME estimates that new policies for the industrial sector could generate up to R$ 10 billion in savings by 2050.
Despite this, there are still open points. Experts call for alignment with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement and the Ten-Year Energy Plan.
- Effective date: January 1, 2026
- Extinct ratings: A+, A++, A+++, D, E, and F
- Valid ratings: A, B, and C
- Base standard: Inmetro Ordinance No. 332/2021 and No. 736/2024
- MME Resolution: CGIEE No. 2 of November 2023
- Expected average efficiency by 2028: +17% over the current
- Projected savings by 2030: 11.2 TWh of electricity
- Emissions avoided: 5.7 million tons of CO₂
Caveats and what consumers should observe
According to the Instituto Escolhas, in a technical report on refrigerators in Brazil, there are still acceptance barriers. Despite this, Brazilian consumers tend to buy based on price, not the label.
As reported by the portal Olhar Alerta in January, educational actions will be decisive for adherence. Retailers need to train salespeople to explain the new scale.
Despite this, monitoring enforcement is still a challenge. However, it is worth noting that IPEM-SP communicated its intention to inspect sales points throughout the state of São Paulo.
Finally, the question remains: if the new Inmetro label indeed reduces 5.7 million tons of CO₂, should Brazil extend the measure to air conditioners by 2027?
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