When selling products in multiple markets, manufacturers must comply with each market’s regulations: from designing and testing the product to the specific standards to following each country’s customs and shipment rules.

This quarterly column provides an update on the major regulatory news for a range of countries to help manufacturers stay informed.

Argentina

The recently created telecommunications regulation authority in Argentina, the Federal Authority for Information Technology & Communications (AFTIC – Autoridad Federal de las Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Comunicaciones), elected a signatory and has begun to officially issue certificates. Delays are expected as the backlog of certificates are processed through signature. Labeling procedures in Argentina will remain unchanged until new regulations are released.

Brazil

LED Lamps

TÜV Rheinland Brazil has been appointed a product certification body for INMETRO ordinance 144 /2015 & 389/2014 for LED lamps.

Mobile Devices

Beginning in January 2016, ANATEL in Brazil will require new functional tests for the IPv6 Internet Protocol, affecting most 2G/3G/4G devices. Most mobile network devices will be subject to this requirement.

ANATEL recently released a new version of the test requirements– if you are an OEM who may be affected by this rule change, please contact an NRTL.

Chile

The regulatory authority of Chile, the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC – Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles), has granted a resolution to TÜV Rheinland as the only global independent certification body authorized to test and approve electrical products prior to sale on the Chilean market.

The SEC will recognize the test reports of electrical products inspected at TÜV Rheinland laboratories worldwide as complying with Chilean trade, safety, and operability standards. Authorized TÜV Rheinland laboratories include: Italy, Germany (Nurnberg and Cologne), Japan (Yokohama), USA (Pleasanton, Calif., Newtown, Conn., and Boxborough, Mass.), South Korea (Seoul and Gyeosangnam) and Thailand.

Colombia

In Colombia, Resolution 4507 is now in effect. This resolution expands the scope of products subject to homologation. This list now includes any voice/data product with an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI), such as: Mobile Terminal Equipment (MTE or ETM), meaning any device with an IMEI or an identifier that fulfills an equivalent function and whereby mobile communication networks are accessed for the provision of the voice and/or data communication services. Previously, under Resolution 087 dated 1997, products subject to homologation only included analog telephones, cellular phones, and certain types of satellite terminals.

Costa Rica

The Ministry of Economy Industry and Commerce (MEIC) recently announced the new regulation for domestically produced and commercially imported extension cords and electrical wiring products (www.meic.go.cr). The translated title for this regulation is RTCR No 475:2015 “Electrical products, electrical conductors and extension cords: specifications.” This document applies to products classified under ICS code 29.060 and contains technical requirements for this product, marking and labeling criteria.

Gulf States (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen)

The Standardization Organization for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSO) has recently expanded the G Marking requirement to include electrical and other products.

Similar to the European CE Marking system, and following the new approach principals, the G mark requires a higher degree of third party intervention from Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and Notified Bodies (NBs). The main purpose of this mark is to reduce technical barriers and facilitate the movement of products across borders within GSO member states.

The initial G marking requirements were focused on toys, and those marking and approvasl became mandatory on January 1st 2011.

The enforcement of G marking for electrical products will be fully mandated on July 1st 2016. For more information, go to: http://www.gso.org.sa/

Honduras

Honduras has recently issued NR 007-15, which includes Updated WIFI, R-LAN and SRD radio Standards.

India

Deity/BIS had announced and published a notification for extension of dates for compliance with the “Electronics and IT Goods Order, 2012.” The previous deadline of August 13, 2015 is now being extended until December 1, 2015.

The following products are provided with extended dates:

Malaysia

As of October 1, 2015, Malaysia now requires a Certificate of Approval (CoA), issued by SIRIM (Standards & Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia) for all Information Technology Equipment. For a list of equipment and HS Codes of products required to have a CoA, please refer to document MYS58 (English). For all wireless products, SIRIM Approval certificates will still be required prior to securing an import permit for custom import clearance. The cost will be based on the product’s RF technology and operating frequency.

For non-wireless products, manufacturers can apply for SIRIM approval directly for import permits, without the need for a CoA.

Mexico

NOM-121-SCT1-2009 will be no longer valid after October 20, 2015. It will be replaced by anew regulation, which will be published before the end of October.

Certificates already issued for NOM-121 (including those issued up to an including October 19, 2015) will remain valid for one year.

The new regulation will be separated into two documents published by the Mexican government: A Technical Disposition issued by IFETEL, and a NOM standard issued by the Ministry of Economy.

Watch this column for further details about the updated regulation in the coming months.

Paraguay

CONATEL confirmed that, according to the National Frequency Plan, the 915-928 MHz band is no longer available for spread spectrum devices. Note that any previous certifications in this band were accidental, and will remain valid until the certificate expiration date.

South Africa

SABS Update

As of September 30, 2015, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is still suspended and is not currently issuing EMC Certificate of Conformity approvals due to an internal investigation. We will keep you updated about this situation.

VC9008

In the meantime, the Department of Energy (DoE) of South Africa has issued a draft version of the Guidelines for Energy Efficiency Labelling. These guidelines provide more detailed information on the label, which had not been included in the local standards and in the Compulsory Specification VC 9008 (Regulation).

Compulsory Specification for Energy Efficiency and Labeling of Electrical and Electronic Apparatus

• Phase 1: audio, video and related equipment—after May 28, 2015
• Phase 2: electric ovens, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, tumble dryers, washer-dryer combinations and washing machines—after August 28, 2015 (notice of six-month postponement to be announced soon)
• Phase 3: air conditioners and heat pumps—after May 28, 2016

For further information about the new Energy Efficiency Labelling guidelines, please contact your TÜV Rheinland representative.

South Korea

In the latest draft announcement (i.e., not yet a formal declaration), it is being reported that South Korea’s Radio Research Agency (RRA) is planning to apply the KC EMC KN32 and KN35 requirements for multi-media equipment. KN32 and KN35 are equivalent to CISPR32 and CISPR35.

There are still open issues on the implementation of this standard and even CISPR has not yet implemented this standard internationally. However, if the announcement is made by the end of this year (expected by December 2015), enforcement of this standard will be expected beginning January 1, 2016.

When KN32 and KN35 become official, it will replace the following standards:

• AV: KN13, KN20
• IT: KN22, KN24

Highlighted below is an excerpt from the RRA notice no. 2014-91 (Page 5):

Watch this space for further updates in the coming months. Product manufacturers should contact their NRTLs for further information. If you do not currently work with an NRTL, please contact TÜV Rheinland for more information.