The Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) was created in 1940, as a non-profit organization engaged in the preparation of national standards.

In 1962, Federal Law 4150 granted ABNT the status of Public Utility Organization. Later on, in 1973, another Federal Law 5966 created the National System of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality, sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. In this system, by a Governmental Resolution of 1992, ABNT was declared the only National Forum for Standardization, being responsible for the management of the Brazilian Standardization Process.

ABNT is a founding member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, since 1940, has been a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ABNT has also contributed to the foundation of the Pan-American Standards Commission (COPANT) and has taken part in the settlement of the MERCOSUL Association for Standardization (AMN), being responsible for its Executive Secretariat. ABNT is also a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN).

ABNT has been active in product certification since 1950, and it has developed different programmes aiming at meeting the needs of Brazilian companies. ABNT establishes and manages marks of conformity with standards applied in voluntary or compulsory product certification schemes. ABNT is an accredited registration body to certify quality systems, environmental management systems and several products.