Asia

India

India publishes latest amendment on electronic pre-packaged products

Recently the Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, published the latest amendment on electronic pre-packaged products.

The amendment modifies specific parts of the earlier notification published on 14 July 2022. Under the notification as amended on 23 June 2023, entities are now allowed to provide the following information, not included on the product packaging, via QR code:

Address of the manufacturer/packer/importer;

Common or generic name;

Dimensions and size;

Other relevant information.

Indonesia

Indonesia SDPPI adds SAR testing requirement

On 12 July 2023 the Indonesian Directorate General of Posts and Informatics Resources and Equipment (SDPPI) issued an announcement that specific absorption rate (SAR) testing requirements will begin to apply.

As one of the requirements for telecommunications equipment certification, the SAR testing obligation will be implemented in stages, with the initial stage starting in December 2023 for head testing of mobile phones.

The list of regulated products and mandatory implementation dates is as follows:

Vietnam

Vietnam MIC changes certification requirements

According to news from August 2023, the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has changed the type approval certification requirements. From now on, type approval certificates will list full details of the manufacturer and the factory (OEM), as follows:

If there are multiple factories, each factory needs its own type approval certificate and sample device.

If the factory does not belong to the manufacturer, more documentation is required and a virtual factory inspection may be conducted.

Malaysia

Malaysia SIRIM again extends interim type approval for IPv6 cellular devices without Wi-Fi interface

On 13 July 2023, the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) issued notice SQASI/CMCS/1/23/0004.

The notice announces a further one-year extension of interim type approval applications for IPv6 cellular devices without a Wi-Fi interface. Accordingly, until 10 July 2024, new applications and renewals of certificates of conformity (CoC) for all IPv6 cellular devices without a Wi-Fi interface will have a maximum validity of one year.

The notice took effect on 10 July 2023 and remains in force until SIRIM notifies otherwise.

Japan

Japan revises regulations on radio equipment

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has issued TBT notifications G/TBT/N/JPN/775 and G/TBT/N/JPN/775/Corr.1 through the WTO, proposing to revise the regulations on wireless LAN radio equipment systems in the 2.4 GHz band. The reason for the change is to update the 2.4 GHz band used by wireless LAN systems.

Main content of the amendment:

Item revisions;

Communication systems: any of one-way, single, half-duplex and duplex communication systems;

Modulation: DSS, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, frequency modulation, pulse modulation or combinations of these, and OFDM and any modulation;

Antenna power tolerance: -80% to +20%.

Proposed effective date: October 2023; proposed adoption date: October 2023.

Singapore

Singapore to shut down 3G networks

From 31 July 2024, Singaporean operators M1, Singtel and StarHub have announced that all 3G services, including voice, messaging and data, will be shut down, as these services are no longer widely used in Singapore. After the 3G shutdown, mobile operators plan to repurpose some of the freed spectrum to improve 5G services.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia to standardise charging ports on mobile phones and electronic devices to USB Type-C

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to standardise charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices from 1 January 2025. USB Type-C will be the only standardised connector.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) have issued a new announcement setting out the mandatory stages for unifying charging ports for mobile phones and electronic devices in the Saudi market.

Enforcement of the decision will be implemented in two stages:

Most of the electronic devices affected are subject to SASO IECEE Recognised Certificates (SIRC); the remaining products must also obtain mandatory Product Certificates of Conformity (P-CoCs) and Shipment Certificates of Conformity (S-CoCs) issued by SASO-approved conformity assessment bodies.

Europe

United Kingdom

UK announces indefinite recognition of EU CE marking

The UK has released the latest information: the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has announced indefinite recognition of the CE marking beyond the December 2024 deadline.

After extensive engagement with industry, the department decided to extend CE marking recognition. As part of the government's drive for smarter regulation, the extension will reduce business costs, shorten the time needed to bring products to market and benefit consumers, meeting key industry requests to cut burdens and boost UK economic growth.

The regulations covered include: toys, pyrotechnics, recreational craft and personal watercraft, simple pressure vessels, electromagnetic compatibility, non-automatic weighing instruments, measuring instruments, measuring container bottles, lifts, equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX), radio equipment, pressure equipment, personal protective equipment, gas appliances, machinery, equipment for outdoor use, aerosols and low voltage electrical equipment.

European Union

EU plastics food contact materials regulation adds an authorised substance

The European Commission has approved amendment (EU) 2023/1627 amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The amendment takes effect on 31 August 2023.

Entry 1079, bis(2-ethylhexyl) cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate (DEHCH), is added to the positive list in Annex I of (EU) No 10/2011, as follows:

South America

Argentina

Argentina ENACOM labelling requirements for certificate renewal

On 12 August 2022, the Argentine National Communications Agency (ENACOM) issued official letter No. NO-2022-83513667-APN-DYNART#ENACOM, changing the labelling requirements for certificate renewal.

Because of the full implementation of new regulation No. 854/2020, all new certification applications may only use the RAMATEL mark style; for products already certified, ENACOM allows the existing CNC label design to continue to be used when the certificate is renewed.

From now on, ENACOM will only accept label designs based on RAMATEL.

North America

Canada

Canada amends the Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations

Canada has issued a notification amending the Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations. The amendment extends the regulatory requirements to all laser devices, including demonstration lasers and laser scanners (except medical devices).

The regulations will introduce the IEC classification system for laser products by reference to IEC 60825-1:2014, rank equipment according to its hazard level and establish test methods and rules to support compliance monitoring, verification and related enforcement activities, and help individuals buying and using laser products make better-informed purchasing decisions.

The comment period for the regulations closes on 14 September 2023.

Oceania

New Zealand

New Zealand RSM updates SRD regulations

On 1 August 2022, New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) implemented a new general user radio licence for short-range devices. The main changes are:

1. Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) and transmit power control (TPC) may only be applied to the 5250-5350 MHz band within the 5150-5350 MHz range.

2. An additional frequency range for WLAN is the 5925-6425 MHz band, with the following possible operating modes:

Indoor: 24 dBm EIRP

Indoor/outdoor: 14 dBm EIRP

3. 60 GHz devices may operate in the 57-71 GHz frequency range (increased permitted power: 25 dBW EIRP). The previous requirement for "indoor systems only" has also been removed.

Africa

Mauritius

Mauritius ICTA opens the 6 GHz band

On 4 August 2022, the Mauritian Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) published the Decision on the Allocation of Additional Spectrum for Broadband Wireless Access Services in the 5945-6425 MHz Frequency Range, permitting the 5945-6425 MHz band for the following devices:

Indoor low-power (ILP) devices for indoor use only. Outdoor use of ILP devices (including devices in road vehicles) is not permitted.

Very low-power (VLP) devices for indoor and outdoor use, except fixed outdoor use. VLP devices are prohibited on radio-controlled models.