NIST Criteria for CAB Qualification APEC Tel MRA, Phase I & II We have provided a link to these sites because they have information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites. To view documents which are , Adobe Acrobat's Reader is required. This software may be downloaded without charge. The software is identified in order to assist users of this information service. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. If you are unable to use the Adobe Acrobat Reader Software and require a copy of a PDF document, please request a copy to be sent to you from jdhillon@nist.gov. Role of U.S. Conformity Assessment Bodies NIST designated Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) under Phase-I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) will be able to produce test data in their facilities and accepted as evidence that the tested product satisfies an APEC economy's appropriate technical requirements. CABs operating under Phase-II of the MRA will be able to approve products within their scope for compliance with importing economy's technical and administrative requirements. This document describes the general and specific requirements necessary to be nominated as a CAB under the APEC Tel MRA. The text of the MRA can be found at www.ts.nist.gov/mra. General Requirements for CAB nomination under the APEC Tel MRA The CAB candidate must: be located in the United .States; be accredited (Phase-I CABs) to ISO/IEC Guide 25 or its later version ISO/IEC Standard 17025 by a NIST (NACLA) recognized accreditor who operates in compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 58; provide the scope of accreditation (Phase-I CABs) that includes the test methods and requirements of an APEC economy for which nomination is desired; be accredited (Phase-II CABs) to ISO/IEC Guide 65 by a NIST recognized accreditor who operates in compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 61; provide the scope of accreditation (Phase-II CABs) that includes the products covered, technical and administrative requirements of an APEC economy for which nomination is desired; provide sufficient documentation/information to demonstrate experience in testing products to the desired scope of nomination for an APEC economy. have technical staff who has relevant experience and knowledge of technical requirements and policies of the economy in which it intends to provide test results. be familiar with the provisions of the APEC Tel MRA. Once designated, each CAB must keep NIST informed of all changes which may affect its status, e.g., changes in key personnel, changes in accreditation status, changes in location, legal status, or other factors which may affect the organization's ability to perform the functions of a CAB under the referenced agreement. Each organization nominated to become a CAB will be required to sign a statement declaring its commitment to the requirements and responsibilities of being a CAB. By signing this declaration the organization agrees to the terms of its nomination and its final designation. All information supporting a request will be subject to expert technical review, both for evidence of general technical competence and claimed specific competence. Additional documentation or supporting evidence may be necessary during the review process. In some cases a site visit may be necessary. If appropriate information has been previously reviewed by NIST with regard to other CAB interests, it may not be necessary to submit duplicate material for review. Only information sufficient to allow NIST to make a determination of competence for the additional CAB requirements is necessary. Specific Requirements for CAB nomination under the APEC Tel MRA Specific Requirements for Australia, Phase-I (accepting CAB nominations) Specific Requirements for Canada, Phase-I (accepting CAB nominations) Specific Requirements for Canada, Phase-II (accepting CAB nominations) Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Phase-I (accepting CAB Nominations) Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's Directorate General for Telecommunications, (DGT), Phase-I (accepting CAB Nominations) Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's Directorate General for Telecommunications, (DGT), Phase-II Specific Requirements for Hong Kong, China, Phase-I Specific Requirements for Korea, Phase-I Specific Requirements for New Zealand, Phase-I Specific Requirements for Singapore, Phase-I (accepting CAB nominations) APEC Tel MRA - List of Information Required for CAB Designation CAB Declaration Form for APEC Tel MRA Matrix - APEC Tel MRA Specific Requirements for Australia, Phase-I The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is the agency responsible for telecommunications in Australia. NIST designation of a CAB is based on the body being accredited to ISO/IEC Standard 17025 by a NACLA or an APLAC member accreditation body for an appropriate scope. The ACA regulations can be accessed at www.aca.gov.au/. Recently, the governments of the United States and Australia signed an Exchange Letter to implement Phase-I of the APEC Tel MRA. The following list of technical regulations were attached to the Exchange letter. LIST OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA, PHASE-I The Technical Regulations for which Australia will accept test reports from recognised Conformity Assessment Bodies designated by other Parties are: 1. Telecommunications Regulation Telecommunications regulations are made under the Telecommunications Act 1997. The Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice No. 2 of 1997 specifies the standards that telecommunications customer equipment and cabling must meet. These include:

Copies of these standards are available from Standards Australia. Further information is available on the ACA website: www.aca.gov.au

2. Radiocommunications Regulation

Regulations regarding radiocommunications devices are made under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The following standards, either in part or whole have been adopted:

Copies of these standards are available from Standards Australia. Further information is available on the ACA website: www.aca.gov.au

3. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Regulations

EMC regulations are made under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. The following standards are mandatory for electrical and electronic products in the residential, commercial and light industry environment:

Copies of these standards are available from Standards Australia. Further information is available on the ACA website: www.aca.gov.au

Specific Requirements for Canada Phase-I

Industry Canada (IC) is the regulatory authority in Canada for radio and telecommunications equipment. Canada's "Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Acts" for both Phase I & II can be accessed at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/sf05608e.html.

Terminal Equipment: In order to be recognized by IC, testing laboratories shall:

1. be accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 17025:1999 - General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories or equivalent; and
2. the scope of designation shall include a list of Canadian standards, specifications, or parts thereof, for which recognition is sought. This list shall be included in the scope of accreditation of the testing laboratory. Note: according to IC, recognition will be offered only for full scope.

Radio apparatus: Any testing laboratory can submit test reports of radio apparatus to a recognized Certification Body for certification. These testing laboratories do not have to be accredited. Therefore, recognition by IC of testing laboratories for testing of radio apparatus is not required. However, if an Open Area Test Site (OATS) is used during testing, the following requirements apply:

1. Testing laboratories shall file OATS documentation in accordance with the IC's Radio Standard Specification 212 (RSS-212): Test Facilities and Test Methods for Radio Equipment. Detailed information on OATS filings can be found at this Web site: http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/~cert/oats_e.html OATS documentation shall be forwarded to the following address:
   
   Industry Canada
   Certification and Engineering Bureau
   Attention: Chief of Certification and Engineering Bureau
   P.O. Box 11490, Station H
   3701 Carling Avenue, Building 94
   Ottawa, Ontario
   Canada K2H 8S2
   Telephone no. (613) 990-4389
   Facsimile no. (613) 990-5009
   E-mail address: certification.bureau@ic.gc.ca
   
   
2. Test reports will be accepted for certification purposes only after the OATS documentation has been filed with the Bureau.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): Unlike radio apparatus, EMC is not subject to certification in Canada. Manufacturers are permitted to declare compliance, based on test reports. Testing can be performed by the manufacturer or by an outside testing laboratory but no accreditation is required in either case. Therefore, recognition of EMC testing laboratories is not required. Canadian regulations on EMC are covered in the Interference Causing Equipment Standards (ICES) and refer only to unintentional radiators of radio frequency energy (RF). Potential interference causing emissions from radio transmitters and receivers, including spurious emissions, are covered by the applicable Radio Standards Specifications (RSS) and are therefore subject to certification requirements.

LIST OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FROM CANADA

Legislations and Regulations:

Telecommunications Act
Radiocommunication Act
Radiocommunication Regulations
Telecommunications Apparatus Regulations

The latest version of the above legislations and regulations can be found at the following Internet address: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca.

Technical Regulations for Terminal Equipment

Testing laboratories must be accredited to the specifications given below, and be recognized by Industry Canada. The scope of accreditation of the testing laboratory should identify the specific Parts of CS-03 for which accreditation was granted.

(1) Specifications

The Technical Regulations for which Canada will accept test reports from recognized testing
laboratories (Phase I) are:

Technical Requirements for Radio Apparatus

Any testing laboratory can submit test reports of radio apparatus to a recognized Certification Body for certification. These testing laboratories do not have to be accredited and recognized. However, if an Open Area Test Site (OATS) is used during testing,, the following requirements apply:

Detailed information on OATS filings can be found at this Web site: http://spectrum.ic.gc.ca/~cert/oats_e.html

(1) Radio Standards Specifications (RSS)

(2) Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standards (BETS)

(3) Procedures

Technical Regulations for Interference Causing Equipment (EMC)

Testing for EMC can be performed by the manufacturer or by an outside testing laboratory: No laboratory recognition from Industry Canada is required in either case.

Procedures Applicable to Conformity Assessment Bodies or Designating Authorities

The latest version of the specifications and procedures listed in this document can be found at the following Internet address: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca.

Specific Requirements for Canada Phase-II

The procedures for recognition of foreign certification bodies (U.S. CABs) can be accessed at Industry Canada (IC) web site at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/sf05608e.html. The documents REC-CB, CB-02, CB-03 specifies the recognition procedures, administrative, and technical requirements.

Recognition Criteria: The following excerpts of the criteria are taken from the Canadian document CB-02. For complete recognition criteria, technical, and administrative requirements please refer to the documents noted in the above paragraph.

A U.S. CAB shall:

1. have at least one permanent location in the United States;
2. be accredited in accordance with the general guidelines of ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems by a NIST-NVCASE recognized accreditation organization. The accreditation shall include an assessment of the candidate CAB's certification procedure based on CB-03;
3. submit auditing and surveillance procedures to NIST;
4. submit certification procedure based on CB-03 to the NIST; and
5. be accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:1999, General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories by a NIST-NVCASE recognized accreditation organization. Existing accreditation to ISO/IEC Guide 25:1990 will also be accepted. This is to ensure that the CABs are capable of performing core sets of tests within the required scope of accreditation.

Scope of Accreditation: A candidate CAB shall be accredited to and be able to certify all Category I equipment. A list of applicable standards can be found in the Category I Equipment Standards List at the Web site http://strategis.gc.ca/spectrum. The CAB shall have the specific capabilities described in Appendix I of Canadian document CB-02.

Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Phase-I

BSMI (formerly BCIQ) is responsible for regulation of Information Technology Equipment (ITE). BSMI has specific technical requirements for bodies submitting EMC test data under Phase I procedures of the MRA:

BSMI requires that EMC testing be performed in accordance with specified Chinese National Standards (CNS). See www.bsmi.gov.tw. These include CNS 13438 (CISPR 22), CNS 13439 (CISPR 13) CNS 13803 (CISPR 11), CNS 13783-1 (CISPR 14), CNS 14115 (CISPR 15) for the applicable product(s) to be imported. Currently, BSMI is accepting nominations only for CNS 13438 test method. There are differences between the cited CISPR standards and the CNS versions, which must be taken into account. For example, the major difference between CNS 13438 and CISPR 22 is that CNS 13438 requires testing at a 10-meter site whereas CISPR 22 allows a 3-meter site.

Test reports submitted by an U.S. CAB may be in English.

Documentation (user manuals, warnings etc) for class A devices may be in English.

Documentation (user manuals, warnings etc) for class B devices must be in Chinese.

There must be a legally responsible representative in Chinese Taipei. (May either represent the CAB or the manufacturer.)

Applications to BSMI must be hand-delivered to the BSMI office. There is no mechanism to accept mailed applications since a file number will be assigned and given to the deliverer upon receipt of each application.

Laboratories must demonstrate that they have been accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 25 or its later version ISO/IEC Standard 17025 to conduct tests to the appropriate CNS standard(s). The accreditor of the laboratory must be recognized by NIST (NACLA).

Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's Directorate General for Telecommunications, (DGT), Phase-I

DGT has responsibility for all telecommunications equipment in Taiwan including associated EMC requirements. The specific telecom customer premise equipment requirements can be found at www.dgt.gov.tw/English. A potential CAB must make its scope selection from these guidelines and be able to show that its personnel have an adequate understanding of and experience with the technical requirements.

EMC test requirements are covered under CNS 13438 (similar to CISPR 22). ISO/IEC Guide 25 or its later version ISO/IEC Standard 17025 accreditation is required for CNS 13438 by an accreditor recognized by NIST (NACLA).

ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accreditation is required to perform appropriate test standards. DGT will accept test data produced by testing to appropriate international or national standards other than CNS standards, unless a CNS standard is specifically called for in the requirement for the equipment under test.

DGT requires that a candidate CAB must submit a sample test report in accordance with its type approval guidelines. This information is available at http://www.dgt.gov.tw/English/Type-approval/type-approval.shtml. In general, under DGT certification procedure, the followings are essentially required for acceptance of a test report.

1. The testing labs are requested to submit their first application accompanying test procedure, lab layout and lab photograph with test report.
   
   
2. According to DGT regulations, the test report must not only indicate test method and test procedure being performed, the followings are also essential.

   (1) Name, trade name, model number of equipment
   (2) Measurement setup diagram and description
   (3) Name, trade and model number of testing instruments
   (4) Technical regulations be performed
   (5) Test items and its standards
   (6) Test data and verdict of test results
   (7) Date of acceptance and completion of testing

Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei's Directorate General for Telecommunications, (DGT), Phase-II

Information about DGT: http://www.dgt.gov.tw/English/About-dgt/introduction.shtml

Type Approval, Telecommunication Equipment Conformity Assessment: http://www.dgt.gov.tw/English/Type-approval/type-approval.shtml

Specific Requirements for Hong Kong, China, Phase-I

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) is the regulatory authority for telecommunications and EMC in Hong Kong. Specific regulatory and technical requirements for Hong Kong can be found at www.ofta.gov.hk.

List of Technical Regulations for Hong Kong, China

The Technical Regulations for which Hong Kong, China will accept test reports and certificates from recognized Conformity Assessment Bodies designated by other Parties are:

1. Technical requirements for radio equipment are contained in the HKTA 10XX and 12XX series specifications.

   Type of Radio Equipment	Relevant HKTA Specifications
   Cordless Telecommunications Apparatus	1006, 1015, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1034
   GMDSS	1218, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1277, 1281, 1282
   Maritime	1001, 1005, 1022
   Public Mobile Radiotelephone	1009, 1020, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1033
   Paging	1004
   Trunk Radio	1016
   Fixed Link	1003, 1036, 1037
   Land Mobile	1002
   ISM	1007
   Wireless Microphone	1008

2. Technical requirements for wireline equipment are contained in the HKTA 20XX series specifications.

   Type of Wireline Equipment	Relevant HKTA Specifications
   Direct Exchange Line	2011, 2012, 2019, 2022
   Payphone	2020, 2024
   ISDN Terminal	2014, 2015, 2021, 2026, 2027
   Analogue Trunk	2013
   Digital Trunk	2017, 2018
   Analogue Leased Line	2023

3. Telecommunications equipment designed for household use is required to comply with the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), Laws of Hong Kong.

   Public Availability of Technical Regulations

   The texts of Technical Regulations for Hong Kong, China can be accessed at http://www.ofta.gov.hk/frameset/facts_index_eng.html for HKTA Specifications. The Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), Laws of Hong Kong can be accessed at http://www.justice.gov.hk/Home.htm.

   The following information notes provide useful guidelines for implementation of conformity assessment procedures for telecommunications equipment and are available at http://www.ofta.gov.hk/frameset/services_index_eng.html:

   1. OFTA I 401 "How to Apply for Type-approval or Type-Acceptance of Radio Equipment";
   2. OFTA I 412 "How to Apply for Certification of Customer Premises Equipment to be connected to the Public Telecommunications Networks in Hong Kong"; and
   3. OFTA I 421 "Hong Kong Telecommunications Equipment Evaluation and Certification (HKTEC) Scheme".

Specific Requirements for Korea, Phase-I

A laboratory must be accredited for compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17025 by a NIST (NACLA) recognized accreditor who operates in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 58. The requirements for testing laboratories is prescribed in the "Regulations for Designation and Management of Testing Laboratory for Information and Communication Equipment" that can be accessed at the above noted web site.

Specific Requirements for New Zealand, Phase I

New Zealand's conformity assessment system is described in "New Zealand's Standards and Conformance System" - A Guide for Business

Specific Requirements for Singapore, Phase-I

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is the regulatory authority for telecommunications and EMC in Singapore. Specific technical requirements for Singapore can be found at http://www.ida.gov.sg/. The candidate U.S. CAB must be familiar with the requirements in the following documents that are available from IDA web site:

1. IDA Singapore - EMC Requirements for Telecommunication Equipment
2. IDA Singapore - Guide for Approval of Telecommunication Equipment
3. IDA Singapore - Technical Regulations/Standards for the desired scope.

Singapore requires that a CAB under Phase-I be ISO/IEC Guide 25 or its later version ISO/IEC Standard 17025 accredited to perform the specified IDA-TS standards relating to the specific equipment being tested for their market. The U.S. CAB candidate must specify its desired scope for designation under the APEC MRA.

Contact:  jdhillon@nist.gov

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For technical questions concerning the Global Standards and Information Group, contact us:

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Phone: (301) 975-6094, Fax: (301) 975-4715, Email: gsig@nist.gov

Date created: August 27, 2001
Last updated: November 6, 2003

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