Safran Identity & Security announced on Wednesday that it has been granted the highest certification for a identity document printing facility in Taubate, Brazil, potentially paving the way for the creation of secure biometric ID cards in the country.

Identity and security solution provider Safran was awarded ISO 14298 certification by Intergraf, a not-for-profit association that oversees the printing of identity documents in Europe, helping to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud.

The public ISO 14298 standard does not detail the specific measure companies must take, with this confidential approach helping to secure the production process.

Safran became the first company in the world certified by Integraf at its plant in the Netherlands in 2014. It was also the first company in the U.S. to achieve ISO 14298 requirements in 2016.
“This latest certification once again underscores our commitment to providing the highest level of security and ensuring privacy of data for our customers,” said Marcello Bellini Garcia, managing director at Morpho do Brasil, a Safran subsidiary. “This certification guarantees maximum security from development to deployment of their printed ID products.”

Safran has been open about its intent to bring biometric smart cards to market, and has been working with IDEX to establishing the world’s first global standard for smart cards with embedded fingerprint sensors.

As part of those efforts, it has been pushing biometric identification systems to governments and institutions around the globe. Just last week, it was revealed that Safran has partnered with the government of Oman, using biometrics to enhance public security and boost tourism.