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Australia

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
EMC
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS
UL SERVICES

ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT OF 1945

The Electrical Safety Act of 1945, otherwise known as the Uniform Approval Scheme, is administered through a reciprocal agreement between each State/Territory regulatory authority to cover electrical safety requirements for products for sale in Australia. Under this scheme electrical products are classified as either declared or non-declared articles.

Declared Articles: Manufacturers of products falling under the Declared Articles list must comply with relevant Australian safety standards and obtain one of the following:

  • Certificate of Approval (CoA) issued by a State/Territory authority. In addition to the CoA, the products must be marked with the state authority approval marking; or
  • Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) issued by an accredited Australia Certification Office (CO) - products that have the RCM mark have applied both the electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements; or
  • Standards Mark approval from an accredited Australia Certification Office (CO); or
  • Type Examination Certificate (no marking on product) from an accredited Australia Certification Office (CO).

NSW12345

Format of one State/Territory authority (Office of Fair Trading) mark

Non-declared Articles: Products falling under the Non-declared Articles list do not require one of the above marks before being placed on the Australian market. The manufacturer maintains full liability for the product's safety and adherence to Australian standards. A voluntary Certificate of Suitability (CoS) issued by a State/Territory authority can be obtained by the manufacturer upon request.

The Uniform Approval Scheme applies to all declared articles that will be sold in Australia. Any electrical items not covered under the declared article list is to be considered non-declared.

Electrical products covered under the scope of the Uniform Approvals Scheme will be required to comply with Australian/New Zealand National Standards (AS/NZS nomenclature). Most Australian National Standards are based on International Standards (IEC) with Australian national differences.

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1992

The EMC Framework (Radiocommunications ACT 1992), establishes requirements for electrical and radiocommunications products concerning emissions of electromagnetic disturbances. Manufacturers must first classify the level of the product, Levels 1-3. Products in Level 1 require the Australian/New Zealand supplier to hold the manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity and product description. Products in Level 2 include documentation in Level 1 along with test report or Technical Construction File (TCF). Products in Level 3 include documentation in Level 1 along with a test report or TCF from an accredited laboratory. Level 2 and Level 3 products also require the manufacturer to affix the Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, C-Tick mark on the product. Manufacturers of telecommunications products must also comply with the Telecommunications Act of 1997 (see Telecommunications Act of 1997) and affix the A-Tick Mark in lieu of the C-Tick Mark. For radiocommunications products, there are additional requirements pertaining to the management of the frequency spectrum which are also addressed in the EMC Framework. Although many of the designated frequency usage has been harmonized between Australia and New Zealand, it is important to note that there are frequencies which are not harmonized between the two countries.

Please note that a Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) is also available for products that have met both electrical safety and EMC requirements. The C-Tick Mark is no longer required for manufacturers that choose to apply the RCM Mark

The Act applies to all electrical products that fall within the scope of the mandated standards. The levels are defined as follows:

  1. Level 1: Products whose performance would have a low interference impact on other devices using the radio frequency spectrum. This level covers products that only contain:
    • Manually operated switches or simple relays;
    • Brushless squirrel cage induction motors;
    • Conventional AC/AC transformers; or
    • Resistive elements
  2. Level 2: Product whose prformance would have a higher interference impact on other devices using the radio frequency spectrum. Examples of these products are:
    • A microprocessor or other clocked digital device;
    • A commutator or slip ring motor;
    • Arc welding equipment; or
    • Switched mode power supplies, lighting dimmers and motor speed controllers.
  3. Level 3: Products whose performance has the highest risk of interference impact on other devices using the radio frequency spectrum or to the telecommunications network. This level covers products in the industrial scientific and medical group 2 (CISPR 11).

ACMA mandates compliance with Australian/New Zealand (AS/NZS) standards, European Norm (EN), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), or International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) standards.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1997

The Telecommunications Act of 1997 regulates wireline and wireless telecommunications, including service providers, equipment, licensing, etc. Part 21 specifically covers Customer Equipment. Under this act, the ACMA has responsibility for the technical regulation of telecommunications customer equipment and customer cabling. To address this responsibility, the ACMA has introduced industry self-regulatory arrangements based on product labeling and compliance with applicable technical standards. The arrangements are detailed in subsequent notices amending the Telecommunications Act of 1997. Products that fall under the scope of these notices must bear either the A-Tick compliance label or the noncompliance label.

For telecommunications customer equipment and customer cabling, the A-Tick compliance label consists of the A-Tick compliance mark and information that identifies the supplier. This information may include the supplier code number issued by the ACMA, or the Australian company number, or any other information detailed in the Telecommunications Labeling Notice (TLN).

In the example below, the A-Tick compliance label shows the A-Tick compliance mark and the supplier code number N####:

Items which are covered by subsequent Telecommunications Labeling Notices, but do not comply with the applicable standards must be labeled with a noncompliance label. This noncompliance label is essentially the C-Tick Mark (not A-Tick), the supplier identification and the statements on the packaging and documentation in these Telecommunications Labeling Notices

  • This Act covers all telecommunications equipment (telephone, ISDN, etc.) for sale and installation in Australia. In addition, it also regulates the telecommunication carriers and service providers, licenses, etc. For telecommunications cabling and equipment, it allows for ACMA to create the technical standards and processes for certification.

MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS

There is a close trade relationship between Australia and New Zealand that has been developed by the Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA).

A Mutual Recognition Agreement in relation to conformity assessment, certificates and markings between Australia and the European Community was signed on June 1, 1998 and entered into force on January 1, 1999. Sectoral Annexes of the MRA cover: medicinal products, medical devices, telecommunications terminal equipment, low voltage equipment (i.e. electrical safety), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), machinery, pressure equipment and automotive products.

UL services

Australia participates in the IECEE CB Scheme for a variety of different devices. A CB report and certificate, including any national country differences, issued from UL would act as a conduit into this marketplace with regard to the safety specifications. For more information visit our CB Scheme Web site.

Furthermore, for both EMC and Telecommunications, UL is able to test to various standards.

UL's Market Access Solutions also offers a comprehensive Intermediate Applicant Program that will benefit manufacturers in obtaining Australian Marks. Learn more about our Intermediate Applicant Service.

For further information

Should you have questions about UL's Market Access Solutions in Australia, require additional information, or wish to pursue any of these services, please contact us.

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