Australian Electrical Product Testing & Certification

      Australia and New Zealand have introduced the RCM Mark as a unified marking for electrical products. The trademark is owned by Australian and New Zealand regulatory authorities. It indicates that products meet both safety and EMC requirements. RCM itself is not a mandatory certification.

 

Countries Applicable to RCM

Australia, Nauru, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati,

Federated States of Micronesia, Tuvalu, New Zealand, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa.

 

RCM Certification Application Process

1. A third-party laboratory evaluates the product and determines applicable test standards.

2. If non-conformities are found during testing, the product shall be modified to meet Australian standard requirements.

3. Once testing is passed, a test report is issued.

4. Submit the test report to an Australian certification body for document review.

5. After successful review by Australian authorities, the RCM certificate is issued.

6. The client or laboratory may complete registration on the Australian official website.

 

Important Notes for Australia RCM

1. Products shall be permanently marked with the RCM logo, per Australian official announcement issued on 19 April 2013.

2. For plug-in adapters applying RCM safety certification, random testing of the plug is required.

3. Lamp products such as T8 LED tubes and fluorescent tubes carry higher safety risks since end users can directly replace them; samples must be sent to Australia for assessment.

4. Processing lead time varies among different certification bodies.

 

Available RCM Services

1. New RCM application

2. Certificate renewal

3. Technical amendment to certificate

4. Administrative amendment to certificate

5. Certificate transfer to another holder

6. Certificate extension within validity period

7. Additional certificate printing

 

RCM= Safety + EMC + Importer Declaration

 

1. Safety Certification

      Electrical goods are classified into Prescribed Products and Non-prescribed Products, defined under AS/NZS 4417.2.

      1）. Prescribed Products: Include electric heating equipment, refrigeration equipment, power tools, components, etc. Certification bodies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are the most active.

      Prescribed electrical products must obtain a Certificate of Approval issued by the regulatory authority and be marked with the certificate number. The first letter of the certificate number identifies the issuing state or region:

（1） Q04051（Queensland） --- Q Number

（2） W2015（Western Australia） --- W Number

（3） V03101（Victoria） --- ESV Certificate V Number

（4） NSW18099（New South Wales）--- DOFT Certificate NSW Number

      Non-prescribed Products: May be sold directly without certification, but manufacturers must ensure electrical safety complies with AS/NZS 3820:1998 (Essential Safety Requirements for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment). Regulators may issue a Certificate of Suitability for compliant products. Products holding this certificate may print the certificate number; the suffix letter indicates the issuing state:

（1）CS/431/Q

（2）CS/108/NSW

 

2. EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)

      Australia’s EMC compliance scheme is established under the Radio Communications Act 1992. It covers a wide range of products: motor-driven and heating electrical appliances, power tools, lamps, TV & audio equipment, IT equipment, ISM equipment, ignition engine and arc welding equipment, etc.

Products are divided into three risk categories based on the severity of electromagnetic interference. Category 2 and Category 3 products must carry the C-Tick mark. All categories must satisfy relevant EMC standards.

      Category 1: Minimal impact on radio spectrum, e.g. manual switches, simple relays, squirrel-cage induction motors, AC power transformers, resistors. C-Tick application is voluntary.

      Category 2: Moderate impact on radio spectrum, e.g. microprocessor-based digital devices, rectifier / slip-ring motors, arc welding equipment, switching power supplies, light dimmers, motor speed controllers, IT & telecom terminal equipment (reclassified from Category 3 effective 7 November 2003).

      Category 3: Severe impact on radio spectrum, e.g. Group 2 ISM equipment (CISPR 11).

 

RCM Application Guidelines

      1. If CB test reports plus national deviations are available, applicants may directly convert to a Safety Certificate. Combined with EMC documentation, the local agent can issue the declaration. The product may then be sold in Australia and bear the RCM Mark.

      2. Safety Certificate: For direct plug-in products, AU Plug Test is required (Standard: AS/NZS 3112:2004). Desktop equipment is exempt from this test.

      3.EMC Report: Acceptable reports include C-Tick reports (AS/NZS CISPR 22:2002) or CE EMC reports.

 

RCM (SAA) Issuing Authorities

      Testing is performed by CB member laboratories. Test reports are submitted to state certification authorities for certificate application. There are seven eligible bodies (including New Zealand):

1）DepartmentofFairTrading,NewSouthWales(NSW)

2)DepartmentofMinesandEnergy,Queensland

3)TheOfficeoftheChiefElectricalInspector,Victoria

4)OfficeofEnergy Policy,SouthAustralia

5)OfficeofEnergy,WesternAustralia

6)OfficeofElectricity,StandardsandSafety,Tasmania

7)Ministryof Commerce,NewZealand

 

Latest RCM Regulatory Requirements

      1. The new regulation officially takes effect on 1 March.

      2. SAA and C-Tick marks will be gradually phased out and replaced by RCM covering safety and EMC. C-Tick may still apply for certain low-power wireless products.

      3. All electronic products are categorised into High / Medium / Low Risk.

Low risk: battery-powered or products below 12V

Medium risk: standard 240V mains products

High risk: high-voltage products

Grace periods: 6 months for low-risk goods; 3 years for medium & high-risk goods. These timelines are industry association recommendations and not yet formally finalised by government legislation.

      4. RCM application must be submitted by an Australian local entity, who must apply for an RCM number from the Australian government. Chinese manufacturers and exporters may apply for IEC or AS/NZS test reports in their own name, but these reports must be handed over to the Australian importer to complete RCM registration.

Registration fee: AUD 75 per product per trademark per year.

Example: An Australian company imports identical goods under two brands A and B. Annual registration fee = AUD 150.

      5. The importer bears legal liability for non-compliant products. Non-Australian companies cannot directly apply for RCM. More Australian companies will tend to appoint qualified, reputable labs to produce reliable test data and reports, then apply for RCM themselves, rather than letting Chinese factories cover SAA costs.

      6. Australian laboratories may theoretically act as applicants to obtain RCM. However, due to high legal liability risks, most Australian labs are reluctant to undertake such work; if they do, fees will be relatively high.