Type approval is the permission a national regulator gives before radio or telecom equipment can be imported, sold or used in its country. The regulator checks that the product is safe, does not interfere with other services, and uses allowed frequencies.
Who needs it
Anyone placing a wireless product on a market that requires it. That includes manufacturers, and often distributors and importers, who may need certificates before goods clear customs.
What it usually involves
- Identify the authority and the rules for your product type.
- Prepare the product file: description, models, technologies, photos, manuals and labels.
- Provide test reports from a lab. Many authorities accept reports already made for other markets.
- Submit the application, often through a local applicant.
- Answer authority questions, then receive the certificate.
- Renew or update it when it expires or the product changes.
CE and FCC are not the same thing
CE and FCC marks relate to Europe and the United States. They do not replace national approval elsewhere, though the reports behind them are often accepted as supporting evidence.
Rules, fees and timelines differ by country and change over time. Always confirm the current position before you ship.