NIST Criteria for CAB Qualification
Under the APEC MRA - Phase I

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Role

Organizations designated as U.S. Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) underthe Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement(MRA) for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment - Phase I, willbe able to have test data produced in their facilities accepted as evidencethat the tested product satisfies the appropriate part of a partner's technicalrequirements. This document describes the specific requirements necessary tobe nominated as a CAB under the APEC MRA. ( Text of theAPEC MRA ).

To qualify under the APEC Tel MRA Phase I, a body must:

1. be located in the United States;
   
   
2. be accredited by a recognized accreditor (conforming to ISO/IEC Guide 58) against ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025, to perform a representative scope of test methods for either the EMC and/or telecommunications terminal equipment sector(s) of interest;
   
   
3. provide sufficient documentation/information to demonstrate technical competence in applying the appropriate conformity assessment procedures;
   
   
4. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, and relevant experience with, the technical requirements as well as the interpretations and policies of the economy in which it intends to provide test results; and
   
   
5. be able to describe a specific scope of activity for which it desires to be designated.

Once designated, each CAB must keep NIST informed of all changes which may affect its status, e.g., changes in key personnel, changes in accreditation status, changes in location, legal status, or other factor which may affect the organization's ability to perform the functions of a CAB under the referenced agreement.

Each organization nominated to become a CAB will be required to sign a statement declaring its commitment to the requirements and responsibilities of being a CAB. By signing this declaration the organization agrees to the terms of its nomination and its final designation.

All information supporting a request will be subject to expert technical review, both for evidence of general technical competence and claimed specific competence. Additional documentation or supporting evidence may be necessary during the review process. In some cases a site visit may be necessary.

If appropriate information has been previously reviewed by NIST with regard to other CAB interests, it may not be necessary to review duplicate material. Only information sufficient to allow NIST to make a determination of competence for the additional CAB requirements is necessary.

Specific Requirements for Australia

The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) is the agency responsible for telecommunications in Australia. ACA allows manufacturers to issue a Suppliers Declaration of Conformity for all telecom and EMC requirements. Thus no specific designation by NIST is required. However, if a body desires, NIST can designate it as a CAB based on the body being accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 by an APLAC member accreditation body for an appropriate scope for the area of designation desired. (Please visit the ACA web site at http://www.aca.gov.au or the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Olympic Website at http://www.dcita.gov.au ).

Specific Requirements for Canada

Industry Canada (IC) is the regulatory body in Canada for telecommunications. Please visit the IC web site to view the regulations at http://www.strategis.ic.gc.ca . The requirement for a telecommunications CAB under APEC - Phase I is ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accreditation, by an acceptable accreditation body, to perform CS-03, or specified parts thereof.

The only regulatory requirement for EMC is that a laboratory must register its Open Area Test Site (OATS) with IC. Contact:Bob Corey, 3701 Carling Ave., Bldg. 94, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Phone:613-990-3869,Fax:613-990-4752.

Specific Requirements for Chinese Taipei

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)

BSMI (formerly BCIQ) is responsible for regulation of Information Technology Equipment (ITE). BSMI has specific technical requirements for bodies submitting EMC test data under Phase I procedures of the MRA:

BSMI requires that EMC testing be performed in accordance with specified Chinese National Standards (CNS). Please visit the BSMI web site for more information at http://www.bsmi.gov.tw . These include CNS 13438 (CISPR 22), CNS 13439 (CISPR 13) CNS 13803 (CISPR 11), CNS 13763-1 (CISPR 14), CNS 14115 (CISPR 15).for the applicable product(s) to be imported. There are differences between the cited CISPR standards and the CNS versions which must be taken into account. For example, the major difference between CNS 13438 and CISPR 22 is that CNS 13438 requires testing at a 10 meter site whereas CISPR 22 allows a 3 meter site.

Test reports submitted by a U.S. CAB may be in English.

Documentation (user manuals, warnings etc) for class A devices may be in English.

Documentation (user manuals, warnings etc) for class B devices must be in Chinese.

There must be a legally responsible representative in Chinese Taipei. (May either represent the CAB or the manufacturer.)

Applications to BSMI must be hand-delivered to the BSMI office. There is no mechanism to accept mailed applications since a file number will be assigned and given to the deliverer upon receipt of each application.

Laboratories must demonstrate that they have been accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 to conduct tests to the appropriate CNS standard(s).

Directorate General for Telecommunications, (DGT).

DGT has responsibility for all telecommunications equipment in Taiwan including associated EMC requirements. The specific telecom customer premise equipment requirements can be found on the DGT web site at http://www.dgt.gov.tw/English . A potential CAB must make its scope selection from these guidelines and be able to show that its personnel have an adequate understanding of and experience with the technical requirements.

EMC test requirements are covered under CNS 13438 (similar to CISPR 22). ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accreditation is required for CNS 13438.

ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accreditation is required to perform appropriate test standards. DGT will accept test data produced by testing to appropriate international or national standards other than CNS standards, unless a CNS standard is specifically called for in the requirement for the equipment under test.

Specific Requirements for Singapore

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is the regulatory authority for telecommunications and EMC in Singapore. Specific technical requirements for Singapore can be found on the IDA web site at http://www.ida.gov.sg/

Singapore requires that a CAB under Phase I be ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accredited to perform the specified IDATS standard relating to the specific equipment being tested for their market.

Specific Requirements for Hong Kong

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) is the regulatory authority for telecommunications and EMC in Hong Kong. Specific regulatory and technical requirements for Hong Kong can be found on OFTA's web site at http://www.ofta.gov.hk

LIST OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR HONG KONG, CHINA

The Technical Regulations for which Hong Kong, China will accept test reports and certificates from recognized Conformity Assessment Bodies designated by other Parties are:

1. Technical requirements for radio equipment are contained in the HKTA 10XX and 12XX series specifications.
   
   

   Type of Radio Equipment	Relevant HKTA Specifications
   Cordless Telecommunications Apparatus	1006, 1015, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1034
   GMDSS	1218, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1277, 1281, 1282
   Maritime	1001, 1005, 1022
   Public Mobile Radiotelephone	1009, 1020, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1033
   Paging	1004
   Trunk Radio	1016
   Fixed Link	1003, 1036, 1037
   Land Mobile	1002
   ISM	1007
   Wireless Microphone	1008

2. Technical requirements for wireline equipment are contained in the HKTA 20XX series specifications.

   Type of Wireline Equipment	Relevant HKTA Specifications
   Direct Exchange Line	2011, 2012, 2019, 2022
   Payphone	2020, 2024
   ISDN Terminal	2014, 2015, 2021, 2026, 2027
   Analogue Trunk	2013
   Digital Trunk	2017, 2018
   Analogue Leased Line	2023

   
   
3. Telecommunications equipment designed for household use is required to comply with the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation of the Electricity Ordinance (Cap. 406), Laws of Hong Kong.
   
   

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

The texts of Technical Regulations for which Hong Kong, China will accept test reports or equipment certifications from recognized Conformity Assessment Bodies designated by other Parties may be obtained through links at the following Internet addresses.

The following information notes provide useful guidelines for implementation of conformity assessment procedures for telecommunications equipment and are available on the OFTA web site at "http://www.ofta.gov.hk" :

1. OFTA I 401 "How to Apply for Type-approval or Type-Acceptance of Radio Equipment";
   
   
2. OFTA I 412 "How to Apply for Certification of Customer Premises Equipment to be connected to the Public Telecommunications Networks in Hong Kong"; and
   
   
3. OFTA I 421 "Hong Kong Telecommunications Equipment Evaluation and Certification (HKTEC) Scheme".

Specific Requirements for Korea

It is our understanding that Korea will accept test reports performed by an ISO/IEC Guide 25 or Standard 17025 accredited CAB using FCC Part 68 or CS-03 for Telecom equipment, and test reports performed to CISPR 22 for EMC. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

• Checklist for APEC MRA - Telecom/EMC CAB Phase I
  
  
• CAB Declaration APEC Telecommunications MRA