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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”New Changes to the Cellular Standards” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”1112″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] The new (2025) versions of AS/CA S042.1, S042.4, and S042.5 were published today. Following this publication, there is a 12-month transition period during which equipment may be tested or assessed to either of the 2022 or 2025 standards. What’s new in AS/CA S042.1:2025? The…
In December last year we developed a compliance news article highlighting the importance of emergency call testing in Australia for mobile devices.
You can find the December article here: Emergency Call Testing in Australia: Ensuring Safety and Compliance with Comtest – Comtest Group
In addition to emergency calls, there are a few more requirements within the AS/CA S042 standards that all mobile devices must adhere to. Regardless of capability, there are clauses in each standard that may apply to your device.
At Comtest Group, we know how challenging it can be to navigate the complex web of Australian Standards. Whether you’re launching a new product or expanding into the Australian market, ensuring your technical documentation meets compliance requirements is critical.
In an emergency, correct operation of a mobile phone, tablet or smart watch is paramount to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public. The recent 3G shutdown in Australia and the government response to 2023’s Optus outage have highlighted the importance of emergency call testing for mobile devices.
It is a common misconception that Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) compliance means that a product is certified for supply on the Australian market, and that once the RCM label is applied, any Australian importer intending to supply the product can do so without taking any further actions or considerations.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Is the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) only required to be placed on “in-scope” electrical equipment (i.e. level 1, 2 or 3)?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”928″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Answer:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]The RCM is regulated under two legal frameworks: Electrical Equipment Safety Equipment (EESS) which focuses on electrical safety. Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which governs telecoms,…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Do battery powered products or products powered from extra-low voltage supplies need to be safety tested before being sold on the Australian market?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”897″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Although the products may not be in-scope of the Electrical Equipment Safety Scheme (EESS), State laws and Electrical Safety Acts throughout Australia require that such products have…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Watchdog Compliance ” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”894″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Watchdog Compliance is our go-to partner for consumer law expertise. They deliver top-tier consumer law and legal compliance services tailored to your business needs. From mandatory product safety standard checks and testing referrals, to managing product notifications and recalls, Watchdog can help you to ensure your products…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”RCM Compliance for End-products Using Compliant Integrated Cellular Modules” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”872″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]A commonly asked question is: Are radiated spurious emissions results measured on a cellular module going to be the same when the module is integrated in an end-product host device?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The response to this question is “No” the radiated spurious emissions (RSE)…
The recent NATA Accreditation Matters Conference delved into the multifaceted discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Experts from various fields convened to explore AI’s profound implications, examining whether it is a miracle of productivity or an existential threat. This session aimed to cut through the media hype, providing a nuanced understanding of AI’s real-world impact, regulatory landscape, organisational use, and the pivotal role of NATA accreditation in building trust.
As the 3G network phase-out looms in Australia, concerns regarding access to emergency services have come to the forefront. The switch-off of the 3G network poses a potential threat to millions of Australians ability to make successful emergency calls. While industry is working diligently to address this issue, ensuring the reliability of emergency calls remains critical. Thorough testing over live carrier networks is essential to identify and rectify potential hazards, as simulated testing may fail to capture critical flaws in equipment design.
As anticipation grows for the arrival of 6G cellular technology, Australia finds itself at the forefront of this digital revolution. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) undertakes a crucial role in arranging the rollout of 6G networks across the nation. ACMA oversees spectrum management, ensuring efficient allocation of radio frequencies crucial for 6G operations. Additionally, ACMA sets regulatory standards to ensure seamless integration into existing infrastructure, fostering innovation and competition while safeguarding consumer interests.
Let’s take a journey into the intricate landscape of electrical, radiocommunication, and telecommunication equipment where strict Regulatory Standards are mandatory in accessing the lucrative Australian and New Zealand markets.
Keeping up to speed with the ever-changing regulatory landscape of Australia can be challenging. Comtest Group shoulder this burden by constantly staying updated on regulations, standards, and compliance requirements.
Navigating Regulatory Landscapes: The crucial role of product compliance folders in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
In the dynamic landscape of electrical, radiocommunication and telecommunication equipment, adherence to regulatory standards stands as a cornerstone for both manufacturers and importers. Central to this commitment is the establishment and upkeep of a robust product compliance folder.
Bringing your products to the Australian and New Zealand markets can be a daunting task, filled with legal complexities and compliance requirements. At Comtest Group, we understand the challenges you face and have been helping local and international clients successfully navigate these hurdles for over 25 years.
Bringing your products to the Australian and New Zealand markets can be a daunting task, filled with legal complexities and compliance requirements. At Comtest Group, we understand the challenges you face and have been helping local and international clients successfully navigate these hurdles for over 25 years.
Watch the testing of a child’s lithium-ion battery-powered electric toy. The test was a short circuit test, identified as the cause of the reported incident, due to band design and cheap low-quality lithium-ion batteries used.
Bringing your products to the Australian and New Zealand markets can be a daunting task, filled with legal complexities and compliance requirements. At Comtest Group, we understand the challenges you face and have been helping local and international clients successfully navigate these hurdles for over 25 years.
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing in Australia, as in most countries, is primarily concerned with controlling electromagnetic interference (EMI) to ensure that electronic devices and systems can operate without causing harmful interference to other devices or being adversely affected by external electromagnetic fields.
In the world of electrical product testing and compliance, one company stands out, Comtest Laboratories trading as Comtest Group with its head office in Melbourne, Australia.
In this article we explain how and when the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) is used. The use of this mark can be confusing as it is used by two different types of Regulators: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and Electrical Regulators in each State under the Electrical Equipment Safey System (EESS).
In this video, we talk about the importance of regularly maintaining and updating information in product compliance and technical compliance folders as required by the ACMA and Electrical Regulators.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently revealed alarming statistics indicating that one in three products containing button batteries, sold in Australia, fails to meet mandatory safety standards.
This video presents a conversation between Laura and Mary regarding Comtest Group and their Virtual Compliance Manager service.
The conversation explains how the Virtual Compliance Manager service came about and how it is helping product suppliers ensure their products are currently and continually compliant for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”eScooters and hoverboards may not be as safe as they should be!” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Over recent years, our Engineers at Comtest, have tested thousands of battery powered products that fail to meet Australian Regulatory Compliance Requirements. Many of these products in question are E-scooters, hoverboards, laptops, hand tools, basically any battery powered product. Many…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Button and coin batteries” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Button and coin batteries The Australian Government has introduced four mandatory standards to reduce the risk of death and injury associated with the use of button and coin batteries. The standards apply to both button cell and coin cell batteries, and to the products that include them. Button/coin…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Your electronics purchased online are not as safe as you think” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] You purchase an electric toothbrush, phone or home appliance online. It arrives with a CE mark and a European plug, which you then plug into a travel adapter. That means it’s safe, right? Wrong. The average consumer will not notice nor…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”What is the RCM and why can’t you use a CE mark in Australian or NZ markets?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Most manufacturers understand the use of the CE mark signifies the product meets all the applicable European Directives. Australia and New Zealand are not part of the EU and therefore cannot legislate the use of…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Changes to requirements for telecommunications products” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] We’re here to update you on standard AS/CA S008:2020, which has just been announced by the Communications Alliance. While the regulatory standard remains the same — Telecommunications Technical Standard (Requirements for customer cabling products – AS/CA S008), the 2020 version brings updated requirements. Here’s what you…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Changes to be made to RCM requirements” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] An amendment has been made to AS/NZS 4417.2 “Regulatory compliance mark for electrical and electronic equipment, Part 2: Specific requirements for particular regulatory applications”. This amendment affects the risk classification and certification requirements for some devices listed below, with several increasing from level 2 to…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”I’ve tested for another international market. What else do I need to do?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”248″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text] Today we answer a frequently asked question from our clients: what else do you need to do to comply with Australian requirements? Do you have to re-test your product? How can you save costs and time…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”GSM testing: outdated?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] With carriers making the switch to 4G and 5G available, do you still need to test for GSM with telecommunications products? General Manager Robert Norris explains. [/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I9Pppy6YqU&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcomtestgroup.com.au%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title” align=”center”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Do I still need a certification body statement? How certification is changing” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] The answer is different to what you think. In some situations, you may not need to have a separate certification statement. There are two standards you must comply with when distributing a telecommunications product in Australia: AS/CA S042.1 (high risk)…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Will COVID-19 affect your testing?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Coronavirus (COVID-19) has disrupted supply chains and manufacturing around the world. So how can you limit delays to product sales in Australia? As of today, Comtest Labs is operating as normal in line with restrictions on spaces with large gatherings. The potential for delays in Comtest (as…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”NZ vs Australian compliance: when an RCM can be reused” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Australia and New Zealand share some similarities (don’t tell an Australian that) but in most situations, you’ll need to test again for Australia. Takeaways: RCMs can’t be put on a module, only the device it’s inside. you can reuse an RCM from…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Can you use CE markings to prove your compliance in Australia?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] In a South Melbourne interview, CEO Peter Dwyer and Robert Norris discuss the situations where you can and can’t use foreign test reports. Knowing when you can reuse your overseas tests can save you time and ongoing expenses. If you had…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Crackdown on false Energy Star ratings” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Your company could be penalised for an inaccurate or false Energy Star Rating. What happens if your product fails a random energy efficiency test? You can be forced to test up to 3 products at your own expense. The Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Check…
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