Step 2: show your product complies

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. 

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.

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:

• testing body
• accredited testing body.

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.

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. 

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 (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

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.