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How to comply

Step 1: Ensure products meet an appropriate standard

Lists of applicable standards are prescribed in the

Copies of applicable standards can be obtained from Standards New Zealand or Standards Australia. Suppliers should consult a testing laboratory for technical advice regarding applicable standards.

The supplier must determine which level of conformity from the Radiocommunications (Compliance) Notice 2004 [164 kB PDF] applies to each product and conduct compliance actions accordingly. Advice regarding obligations imposed by the Notice should be sought from the supplier’s legal advisor.

These flow charts will help provide guidance for electrical and electronic product suppliers:

Step 2: Prepare a product description

A product description of the marketed product identifies its use, brand name, and model number (at a minimum). A photo and technical description can also be supplied.

Step 3: Prove compliance through testing

The supplier accepts total responsibility for product conformity and needs to make a commercial decision on the level of testing required.

A test report or manufacturer’s specification may be sufficient evidence to support a declaration that the product meets a relevant standard recognised by RSM. For level of conformity 3 products, a test report from an accredited laboratory (which may be in NZ or overseas) is required. The test report must be in English. The supplier does not have to hold the original of the test report. A clear copy of the original is acceptable.

Step 4: Make a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDOC)

The Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDOC) is the document signed by a New Zealand supplier or a New Zealand agent of an overseas manufacturer or supplier to certify that a product meets applicable standards.

Step 5: Create a compliance folder

Compliance folders are a collection of documents assembled by the supplier to support the compliance declaration. A compliance folder contains:

a product description
a signed Declaration of Conformity
a test report or other documented evidence of conformity (mandatory for levels 2, 3, A2, and A3 products).

Step 6: Apply for a Supplier Code Number (SCN)

Supplier Code Number (SCN) is a registration number obtained from RSM free of charge. It authorises the holder to use the C-tick compliance mark. A New Zealand Supplier Code Number consists of the letter “Z” and a unique numerical identifier.

Step 7: Label the product

A label indicates that the product complies with the applicable standards and establishes a traceable link between a product and the supplier responsible for placing it on the market.

Where a product is in a class to which level of conformity 1, 2 and 3 applies, the compliance label consists of:

a compliance mark such as C-Tick¹ or RCM, and
an unique supplier identification such as the Supplier Code Number

Where a product is a radio transmitter in a class to which level of conformity A1, A2 or A3 applies, the product must be labelled with a New Zealand supplier code number only.

The label must be legibly and durably applied on the external surface of the product. The compliance mark must be no smaller than 3mm in diameter and the supplier identification characters must be no less than 1mm in height.

¹ The C-tick can be downloaded by clicking on the following image. The C-tick Zip file contains the C-tick in 3 formats: GIF, PCX & TIF.