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International Regulatory Telecom and Safety Approval
South Africa
Is country specific certification required or is CE/FCC approval sufficient?
- Country specific certification required
What is the lead time to obtain type approval?
- 6-8 weeks
Are there any marking or logo requirements?
- Yes
Is in country testing required or can we leverage existing FCC or CE test reports?
- We can leverage your CE Mark test reports as part of the application process. ContactCSIA for more details.
What are the types of equipment that would require approval in this country?
- Most products using telecom technology such as WIFI, Bluetooth, cellular and satellite.
Do I need an in country local representative or local certificate holder?
- A local representative is required.
South Africa consist of 3 potential approvals.
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
This telecom approval is directed at products with telecom technology.
These technologies include WIFI (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth, Cellular (GSM, UMTS, CDMA, LTE), Satellite, etc.
As stated above a local representative, a legal entity in the country, is required to submit the documents.
Should the client not have a source in South Africa to fulfill that role, CSIA can provide that service.
In most cases we can leverage your CE (R&TTE, now RED directive) test reports as part of the approval process and avoid in country testing. We require RF, EMC and Safety reports on the product.
ICASA is typically very busy and while published lead times are around 4 weeks they usually are closer to 8 weeks out.
Once the certificate is issued an application to print your own labels is required. For this application we require an example of your label showing the ICASA local and certificate number.
For all products except cellular the approval is valid indefinitely. Cellular products require renewal each March.
Modular approval is allowed however SABS EMC approval is required for all products that don’t hold ICASA approval certificates. So if you apply for ICASA approval of the RF module, SABS EMC approval will be required for each host product (end product that the module goes in). We feel the best strategy is to apply for ICASA approval for each end product instead of ICASA and SABS.
Contact CSIA for more information on this type approval process.
(SABS) South African Bureau of Standards
SABS is required for any device with an electrical component. This is a safety approval.
If a product requires ICASA certification it is usually if not always exempt from the SABS process because EMC and low-voltage reports as well as supporting documentation are provided to ICASA. So for a wireless device ICASA is taking the place of SABS as well as certifying the radio/telecom aspects.
As stated above a local representative, a legal entity in the country, is required to submit the documents.
Should the client not have a source in South Africa to fulfill that role, CSIA can provide that service.
Starting in late 2016 SABS now requires in country testing. Cost cannot be provided until we submit but CSIA may be able to give you an idea of cost based on your product prior to submitting.
Also products that require SABS CoC requires SABS factory inspection (ISO9001 and CIG023 not accepted). Products that require a SABS EMC do not require the SABS factory inspection.
Once issued the SABS certificate is valid for 3 years at which time a renewal is required.
Contact CSIA for more information on this approval process.
(NRCS) National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications
NRCS is required for any device that plugs into the mains.
In most cases we can leverage your CE or CB test reports as part of the approval process and avoid in country testing.
While NRCS has published lead times are around 4-6 weeks they usually are closer to 8 -10 weeks to process the applications.
As stated above a local representative, a legal entity in the country, is required to submit the documents.
Should the client not have a source in South Africa to fulfill that role, CSIA can provide that service.
As with the SABS approval the NRCS approval is valid for 3 years at which time a renewal is required.
Contact CSIA for more information on this approval process.
South Africa updates
June 2023
Following December’s public consultation, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has amended the table of radio frequency spectrum license exemptions incorporating the lower 6 GHz band for the provision of Wi-Fi services and the 122-246 GHz frequency band for Non-Specific Short-range Applications.
November 2022
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) announced the implementation of the SABS ILAC EMC CoC Certification Process.
Based on this announcement of the new SABS ILAC EMC CoC Certification Process can manufacturers of non-telecommunication electronic and electrical equipment starting from 1st November 2022 apply for a SABS EMC Certificate of Compliance (CoC) by using EMC test reports from any laboratory that has been accredited by the International Laboratories Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). In the past SABS just accepted EMC test reports issued by SABS affiliated laboratories (SABS A-Labs).
A SABS EMC CoC is required for any non-telecommunication electronic and electrical product entering the South African market.
January 2022
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published an amendment to the Radio Spectrum Regulations 2015. This text updates technical requirements for Radio Apparatus exempt from radio frequency spectrum licences.
June 2021
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) released Draft Equipment Authorization Regulations in the Government Gazette on March 31, 2021 which proposes a new type approval system based on three classes of equipment:
Classification 1: Low Risk Equipment
Classification 2: Medium Risk Equipment
Classification 3: High Risk Equipment
Classification 1 equipment will be exempted from Equipment Authorization, while Class 2 and 3 equipment will be subject to the applicable conformity assessment approach. Under the new regulation, the conformity assessment approach will include two processes:
Certification Application Process, resulting in a CoC
Equipment Authorization Process, resulting in a Homologation CertificatePrior ICASA approvals will continue to remain valid, however products with prior approval will need to comply with the updated ICASA compliance mark. Adoption of the regulation is expected in early 2022, with implementation in mid-late 2022.
May 2021
NRCS (National Regulatory for Compulsory Specifications) has started the implementation of the SANS/IEC 62368 standard. The standard (IEC 62368) is allowed in the approval process by the NRCS (National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications). Note that all approved safety test reports with this standard are now accepted.
As a reminder, the standard (IEC 62368) is the combination of the scopes of standards 60950 (ICT Equipment) and 60065
(Audio/Video (AV) products). For the time being, standards 60950 and 60065 are still used in the country in addition to
62368.
March 2021
Spectrum auction of 4G and 5G postponed due to legal disputes
ICASA has halted the auctions of radio frequency spectrum licences pending the outcome of the court processes.
This could potentially delay the roll out of 5G in South Africa.
Contact CSIA for more updates on this issue.
August 2019
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) recently created and amendment to Annexure B of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, 2015.
This updated amendment, now called Amended Radio Frequency Spectrum Amendment Regulations, 2019 made the following changes:
Inductive Devices: 9-140 kHz
ULP-AMI Devices: 9-315 kHz
ULP-AIDS and Peripherals: 315-600 kHz
RFID: 865-868 MHz
WLAN: 2400-2483.5 MHz
Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Communication Devices: 3100-3400 MHz
Wireless Access Systems/Radio Local Access Network (WAS & RLAN): 5470-5725 MHz
Please contact CSIA for more information on this update.
As regulations change from time to time in many countries you should contactCSIA for up to date information.
CSIA can also provide supporting services should your company not be able to meet country specific requirements such as a local representative, local certificate holder, translating documents into the native language, etc. Contact CSIA at (503) 489 8006 or quotes@csiassoc.com for all your FCC certification, CE certification, Industry Canada and International Approval needs.