Australia / New Zealand (RCM) Certification

RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is the common mark showing conformity with electrical safety, EMC and telecommunications requirements in Australia and New Zealand. It unifies different regulatory regimes under a single mark. To use the mark, the supplier must be registered in the national database and keep conformity records.

• Those exporting electrical products to Australia and New Zealand
• Manufacturers of wireless and telecommunications equipment
• Importers and distributors based in these countries

Mandatory for products within scope. A distinctive feature of the regime is that responsibility rests with a 'responsible supplier' based in Australia or New Zealand: a foreign manufacturer cannot use RCM directly, and the local supplier must register. For electrical products, different obligations apply by risk level (Level 1, 2, 3); certification is mandatory for Level 3 products.

• Determining the product's electrical-safety risk level (Level 1/2/3)
• Testing against the applicable AS/NZS standards
• Taking grid conditions into account: 230 V, 50 Hz
• EMC compliance and ACMA requirements
• Radio-spectrum requirements for wireless products
• Registering the responsible supplier in the national database
• Keeping and retaining the compliance folder
• Affixing the RCM mark

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• PSEJapan Electrical Conformity
• KCKorea Conformity
• CCCChina Compulsory Certification
• BISIndia Conformity
• BSMITaiwan Conformity
• CEEU Product Conformity
• UKCAUnited Kingdom Conformity
• ENECElectrical Product Safety