Category: India

TEC has increased the validity of MTCTE certificates from 5 years to 10 years to reduce the burden of compliance on the industry. Hence, regular certificates going to be issued after the release of this notification i.e. from 01-07-2022 will carry the validity of 10 years. However:

Validity of certificates issued before 01-07-2022 will remains 5 years.

The validity of provisional certificates to be issued will remain for 2 years.

Official notification

On June 13, 2022,The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of India has modified the MTCTE amendment previously published on January , 2022 for Phase 3 and Phase 4 products. The Amendment Notification published on June 13, 2022 includes the following modifications:

Mandatory certification of MTCTE Phase 3 and Phase 4 products has been extended by a year, to July 1, 2023.

The last day for acceptance of test reports issued by ILAC labs from non-border sharing countries has been extended by a year, to June 30, 2023. This applies to technical parameters only for products that were initially referenced in the previous amendment as receiving ILAC relaxation

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced an amended Circular regarding test reports and documents submitted by an applicant for obtaining a license/inclusion. The Circular concerns products that should be licensed through registration under the Scheme-II of the Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulation 2018.

The following product categories changed:

Fixed general purpose LED luminaires. 
Changes concern the quantity of total models in one series. The quantity of required models was reduced to 10 models in a single test report.

AC or DC Supplied Electronic Control gear for LED Modules.
Some clarifications were made regarding test reports acceptance. Thus, test reports of either AC supplied control gear or DC supplied control gear will be accepted at a clip. If there are some other varieties, they may be accepted in subsequent inclusions.

UPS/Invertors.
Some clarifications were made regarding test reports acceptance. Thus, test reports of either UPS or investors will be accepted at a clip. 

Sealed secondary cells/batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes for use in portable applications. 
Some corrections were made to this category that explains what product type can be accepted within one application

Power Invertors for use in photovoltaic power systems.
It is added that separate license will be granted not only for photovoltaic power invertors but also for grid connected photovoltaic invertors. 

Wireless Headphones & Earphones.
It is added that a single license will be given for all wireless headphones as well as for all wireless earphones.

Phase V products: 
– Wireless Microphone
– Digital Camera
– Video Camera 
– Webcam (Finished Product)
– Smart Speakers (with and without Display)
– Dimmers for LED products 
– Bluetooth Speakers
All these devices require a single license 

New product categories were added:

1. Low-voltage switchgear and control gear:

– circuit-Breakers 
– switches, disconnectors, switch disconnectors and fuse – Combination units
– electromechanical contactors and motor – Starters
– a.c semiconductor motor controllers and starters
– electromechanical control circuit devices
– proximity switches
– electrical emergency stop devices with mechanical latching function 

Official Circular

TEC issued a notification requiring the submission of Energy Consumption Rating (ECR) test reports for all Essential Requirements (ERs) starting January 1, 2023. The parameter name and standard to be tested will be added to the ERs for OEM and lab preparation

Department of Telecommunications (DOT) issued an Office Memorandum regarding importing of wireless equipment for testing under the MTCTE Scheme. Authorized Indian Representatives (AIRs) of foreign manufacturers will be allowed to obtain import licenses for wireless equipment that will be tested and certified under the MTCTE Scheme. Importation will be limited to a maximum of 5 units per each specific make and model under this import license, based on the Dealer’s Possession License (DPL) held by them.

Highlights:

1. Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) of foreign manufacturers are allowed to seek Import license for all wireless equipment importing for the purpose of testing as per MTCTE scheme
2. The notification is for all wireless equipment operating under licensed and de-licensed bands
3. For equipment operating in de-licensed bands need not have import license, only self-prepared undertaking needs to be submitted.
4. For equipment operating in Licensed bands, import license will now be required before shipping the MTCTE test samples to India.
5. DPL (Dealer Possession License) will be required as a pre-requisite of applying for an import license.
6. A maximum number of 5 units of a product make/model shall be imported under the purview of such import license.

Official Memorandum

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of India published information about drone importation restrictions. Import policy of drones in CBU/CKD/SD from under HS Code 8806 is prohibited with exceptions provided for R&D, defense and security purpose

The notification was published on February 9, 2022 and became effective immediately

      The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of India has amended MTCTE Phases 3 and 4.

Applications for Phase 3 products are being accepted as of October 11, 2021, and certification is mandatory starting July 1, 2022.

From February 1, 2022 to July 1, 2022 there is a relaxation for Phase 4 products. Applications for Phase 4 products with EMI/EMC and Safety test reports are being accepted as of October 11, 2021, and certification is mandatory starting July 1, 2022. Applications for Phase 4 products with remaining parameters of ER are being accepted as of January 1, 2022, and certification is mandatory starting July 1, 2022. Foreign ILAC test reports for other technical parameters are being accepted for a few products.

Test reports issued by TEC labs for all parameters will be valid for up to 5 years. Test reports issued by ILAC labs for technical parameters will be valid for up to 2 years in respect of the products listed in Annexure-II. Only test reports issued by ILAC labs from non-border sharing countries will be accepted

Quick notes of this Amendments :

The India’s Ministry of Power launched the Standards & Labeling Program (S&L) for energy-consumption equipment. The program allows consumers to learn whether the product is energy efficient or not and to obtain information on energy performance of the product via energy labels.
Currently, the S&L program covers star ratings for 26 appliances. Among them are 10 appliances under the mandatory scheme and 16 types of appliances that can be evaluated within the voluntary scheme. 
Recently, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power has notified about the extension of validity of the existing star rating tables for the following categories of products under mandatory scheme:

The Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing in India has published the “Use of Low Power Equipment in the Frequency Band 865-868 MHz for Short Range Devices (Exemption from Licence) Rules, 2021” on December 10, 2021. These rules are now in effect. They are not applicable to wireless equipment that has already received type approval under “Use of Low Power Equipment in the Frequency Band 865-867 MHz for (RFID) Radio Frequency Identification Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 2005.”