What products need testing?
The labelling requirements set out the compliance level for your product and whether your product needs testing to show it complies with our rules.
The labelling requirements for:
- electromagnetic energy (EME) are in Schedule 3 to the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 (General Equipment Rules)
- radiocommunications are in Schedule 3 to the General Equipment Rules
- electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are in the Radiocommunications Labelling (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Notice 2017
- telecommunications are in the Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2015.
We categorise equipment according to its compliance level.
| Requirements for... | Compliance level | Testing requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
EME Radiocommunications EMC |
Compliance level 1 | Testing is not required but you may choose to obtain a test report from a testing body. |
|
EME Radiocommunications EMC |
Compliance level 2 | Testing is required and you can use a testing body. |
|
EME EMC |
Compliance level 3 | Testing is required by an accredited testing body. |
| Telecommunications item required to comply with… | Testing requirements for telecommunications equipment |
|---|---|
| An applicable technical standard, which is not a high-risk, applicable technical standard |
You can choose to provide:
|
| A high-risk applicable technical standard |
You can choose to provide:
|
Even if you do not have to test your product, make sure it complies with our rules. Keep documents that show your product complies. For example: documents from the manufacturer that describe your product's performance.
If your product changes in any way after testing, have it retested. The change might stop your product complying with our rules.
How to test your product
To test your product, arrange a time with a tester.
You can expect to pay a fee for testing your product.
Check your labelling requirements to find out if you need to contact a:
Your product will need to tested against the applicable technical standards.
A tester will give you a test report with the results.
If you want to export your product to another country, check whether a mutual recognition arrangement applies to your situation.
Testing for low interference potential devices
If your radiocommunications device is an item of low interference potential equipment, clause 53 in Part 15 – Short Range Equipment Standard of Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules requires your device to comply with:
- any standard listed in column 4 of Schedule 1 to Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015 (LIPD class licence)
- specified requirements in the LIPD class licence.
If there are any differences between the standard and the requirements in the LIPD class licence, you will need to ensure your device is tested to comply with the specified requirements in the LIPD class licence.
Testers
A tester tests your product to check whether it complies with our rules.
Check your labelling requirements for what type of tester to use.
It is up to you to find and choose a tester. We cannot recommend one to you.
A testing body is a laboratory that can test to our technical standards.
An accredited testing body is a laboratory that meets set quality levels from:
- the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia
- a NATA mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) partner
NATA regularly reassesses testing bodies. Through NATA, you can find:
- accredited testing bodies (in Australia and overseas)
- NATA MRA partners
A certification body can give a statement to say whether certain telecommunications products comply with our rules.
Certification bodies can help when:
- testing bodies are not available
- you need to show extra proof that your product complies with our rules
JAS-ANZ decides whether a person or organisation is a certification body.
Through JAS-ANZ, you can:
- find certification bodies
- find the rules for certification bodies
- apply to become a certification body
Mutual recognition arrangements
There are mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) between Australia and certain countries.
The countries agree to accept test reports and certificates from conformity assessment bodies (CABs).
This means you can test your product just once before exporting it.
MRAs that might apply to your situation include the:
- Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications Working Group Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APECTEL MRA) between Australia and Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation countries
- Australia–Singapore Mutual Recognition Agreement on Conformity Assessment (Singapore-MRA) between Australia and Singapore
- Chinese Taipei Electromagnetic Energy Mutual Recognition Arrangement (EME MRA) between Australia and Chinese Taipei
- European Community Mutual Recognition Agreement (EC-MRA) between Australia and Europe
- European Economic Area (EEA) European Free Trade Association MRA (EFTA MRA) between Australia and EEA countries, plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway
- Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) between Australia and New Zealand
If an MRA applies to your situation, contact a CAB to test your product.
Conformity assessment bodies
Conformity assessment bodies (CABs) are accredited testing bodies for Australia and countries with a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA).
We have a list of CABS under the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications Working Group Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APECTEL MRA).
CABs must be accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or a NATA MRA partner.
CABs under the APECTEL MRA
These CABs can test to overseas standards.
List of Australian CABS
| Australian conformity assessment body | Contact details | Accredited economy | Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMC Technologies (Melbourne |
176 Harrick Road |
Canada |
AU0001 |
|
EMC Technologies (Sydney) |
3/87 Station Road |
Canada |
AU0002 |
|
Austest Laboratories (Sydney) |
2/9 Packard Avenue |
Canada USA |
AU0003 |
|
EMC Bayswater (Melbourne) |
18/88 Merrindale Drive |
Canada USA |
AU0004 |
| EMC Services |
12/8 Tilley Lane |
USA | AU0005 |
|
Compliance Engineering Pty Ltd |
90 Indian Drive, Keysborough, VIC 3173 | Canada and USA | AU0006 |
A list of overseas CABs
|
Overseas conformity assessment body |
Designated authority | Designation code |
|---|---|---|
|
Applied Test Lab Inc. 3961 52nd Avenue NE, Unit 4174 Calgary, AB T3J 0J8, Canada |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA0004 |
|
Avaya BVW EMC Laboratory |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA4210 |
|
Celltech Labs Inc. |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA3874 |
|
CRIQ (Centre de recherche industrielle du Quebec) |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA7443 |
|
CSA Group - Toronto |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA4336 |
|
Electronics Test Centre (Ottawa) |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA0002 |
|
LabTest Cerification Inc |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA5970 |
|
Laboratoire d'essaies CEM Inc |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA0989 |
|
Matrox Conformity Group |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA3617 |
|
Megalab Group Inc. |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada | CA0102 |
|
National Technical Systems Canada Inc. |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada |
CA1111 |
|
Nemko Canada Inc |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada | CA2040 |
|
TUV SUD Canada |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada | CA6844 |
| QAI Laboratories Ltd 3980 North Fraser Way Burnaby British Columbia, Canada, V5J 5K5 |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada | CA9543 |
|
TUV SUD Canada, Inc (Ottawa) |
Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada | CA4180 |
|
Intertek Testing Services Hong Kong Ltd. |
Office of the Communications Authority Hong Kong |
HK0005 |
|
A Test Lab Techno Corp |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW1330 |
|
Bay Area Compliance Laboratories Corp. |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW3732 |
|
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (Hong Kong) Limited |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW2021 |
|
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (Hong Kong) Limited |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW2022 |
|
Cerpass Technology Corporation Test Laboratory |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW1439 |
|
DEKRA testing and certification Co. LTD |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW3024 |
|
DEKRA testing and certification Co. LTD Lin Kou Laboratory |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW3023 |
|
Taiwan Testing and Certification Center Communications Laboratory |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW0674 |
| Interocean EMC Technology Corp. No.5-2, Lin 1, Tin-Fu, Lin-kou Dist., New Taipei City 244 Taiwan (ROC) |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW1113 |
|
Intertek Testing Services Taiwan Ltd Hsinchu Laboratory |
Directorate General of Telecommunications Chinese Taipei |
TW0597 |
|
Perfectlink International Corp |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW2414 |
|
SGS Taiwan Ltd. Central RF Lab No.134, Wu Kung Road, New Taipei Industrial Park, Wuku District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 24803 |
National Communications Commission (NCC) |Chinese Taipei |
TW3702 |
|
Spectrum Research & Testing Lab, Inc |
National Communications Commission (NCC) Chinese Taipei |
TW1016 |
|
TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd |
Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) Singapore |
SGAP01 |
|
UL International-Singapore |
Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) Singapore |
SGAP07 |
|
Atlas Compliance & Engineering, Inc |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
US0089 |
|
Bay Area Compliance Laboratories, Corp. (BACL) |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
US0057 |
|
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
US0160 |
|
CKC Laboratories, Inc. Satellite locations: |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
US0103 |
|
Compatible Electronics, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
US0066 |
|
Compatible Electronics, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0135 |
|
Compatible Electronics, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0145 |
|
Compliance Worldwide, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0132 |
|
Core Compliance Testing Services, LLC |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0178 |
|
DNB Engineering, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0090 |
|
Electro Magnetic Test, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0036 |
| Element Materials Technology Portland - Hillsboro Evergreen 6775 NE Evergreen Parkway, Suite 400 Hillsboro, OR 97124 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0017 |
| Element Materials Technology Seattle - Bothell 120th 19201 120th Avenue, NE, Suite 104 Bothell, WA 98011 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0157 |
| Element Materials Technology Irvine 41 Tesla Avenue Irvine, CA 92618 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0158 |
| Element Materials Technology Minneapolis - Brooklyn Park 9349 W. Broadway Avenue Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0175 |
| Element Materials Technology Dallas - Plano 3801 E. Plano Parkway Suite 150 Plano, TX 75074 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0191 |
| Elite Electronic Engineering, Inc. 1516 Centre Circle Downers Grove, IL 60515 |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0107 |
| Eurofins MET Laboratories, Inc. 13501 McCallen Pass, Austin, TX 78753 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0004 |
|
Extron Electronics |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0190 |
|
Global Testing Laboratories |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0167 |
|
HP Inc. Fort Collins Hardware Test Center |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0011 |
|
Hyundai C-Tech, Inc. dba HCT America, Inc. Satellite location: |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0198 |
|
MiCOM Labs |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0159 |
|
NTS Labs, LLC Plano |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0054 |
| NTS Labs, LLC Fremont & Newark 41039 Boyce Road Fremont, California 94538 USA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0027 |
|
Parker Hannifin Chomerics Test Services - Woburn, MA |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0068 |
|
Professional Testing (EMI), Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0123 |
|
RF Exposure Lab, LLC |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0194 |
|
Rhein Tech Laboratories, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0079 |
|
SGS North America, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0186 |
|
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0185 |
|
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0192 |
|
TUV SUD America, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0201 |
|
TUV SUD America, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0080 |
|
UL LLC |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0065 |
|
UL LLC |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0067 |
|
UL Verification Services Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0104 |
|
Vista Laboratories, Inc. |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) USA |
US0202 |
APECTEL MRA Technical regulations for Australia
Technical regulations on equipment are set by us on behalf of Australia under Phase I of the APECTEL MRA on Conformity Assessment.
Australia does not participate in Phase II of the APECTEL MRA and we don't require certification or approval under its regulatory arrangements.
Telecommunications
Our technical requirements for telecommunications customer equipment and customer cabling are listed on the Telecommunications standards page.
Radiocommunications general standards
Our technical requirements for radiocommunications devices are listed in Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules. You can find out more about the technical requirements on the Radiocommunications standards page.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
Our recognition of conformity assessment bodies for the purposes of EMC under the APECTEL MRA only extends to bodies testing to EMC standards that are directly relevant to telecommunications equipment and appear in the list of ACMA-mandated EMC standards.
Currently the relevant recognised standards are those mandated standards listed at Serial 3, Serial 7 and Serial 54 on Part 2 of the EMC standards page.
Important notes:
(1) Manufacturers and importers must use accredited test reports for equipment deemed by AS CISPR 11 to be ISM Group 2 supplied into Australia. This is the only standard for which there are accredited testing requirements under our EMC regulatory arrangements.
(2) The 900 MHz ISM band within Australia is 915–928 MHz. 900 MHz ISM devices working outside of this range cannot be operated in Australia (that is, ISM devices that use the frequencies 902–915 MHz are not authorised for use within Australia).
(3) Using the frequency range 902–915 MHz would interfere with Australian mobile telephone networks. Severe criminal penalties, including imprisonment for 2 years or a fine of up to 1,500 penalty units, exist under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 for interfering with radiocommunications services.
Electromagnetic energy (EME)
The Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 (the General Equipment Rules) outline requirements for certain equipment, (mobile stations with an integral antenna), to comply with exposure limits for electromagnetic energy.
The exposure limits are those applying to the general public as specified in a standard published by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Radiation Protection Standard for Limiting Exposure to Radiofrequency fields – 100kHz to 300 GHz (2021) (the ARPANSA Standard).
Equipment must comply with the General Equipment Rules. Testing must be conducted in accordance with the methodologies prescribed in Schedule 4 to the General Equipment Rules and the limits defined in the ARPANSA Standard.