TEC extends Certification Deadlines for Telecom and Networking Equipment

The mandatory certification date for five telecom and networking equipment products under Phase-III, IV, and V of the MTCTE regime has been extended. This modification applies to previous notifications regarding the testing and certification of these products. Specifically, the certification deadline for the Smart Electricity Meter (Phase III) is now October 1, 2024, while other products such as Satellite Communication Equipment (Phase IV), Base Station for Cellular Network for 5G, Hypervisor, and IP Terminal (all Phase V) also have adjusted timelines. Telecom and networking equipment usually require TEC certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

Additionally, the deadline for accepting test reports from labs accredited by ILAC signatories, excluding those from border-sharing countries, has been extended by two months for five products under Phase-III, IV, and V. These products include the Base Station for Cellular Network (up to 4G) with a new acceptance date of September 30, 2024, and other items such as SIM, VHF UHF Radio Equipment System (Phase IV), Base Station for Cellular Network for 5G, and E-band Fixed Radio Relay Systems (Phase V). The relevant technical parameters for these products will adhere to the extended timeline.

The TEC certification has been mandatory since April 2019. Every year the Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) expands the certification catalog and adds more telecom products. See the list of TEC standards here.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673).

For more information about TEC certification, please refer to our free brochure “TEC Certification Made Easy“.

BIS – Cast Iron Products included by new Extension Order

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued an extension order for cast iron products, formally known as the Cast Iron Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, as detailed in the Gazette Notification dated June 13, 2024. This order mandates that cast iron products conform to the established Indian Standards, including IS 1726:1991 for manhole covers, IS 1729:2002 for drainage pipes and fittings, IS 1879:2010 for malleable pipe fittings, IS 13349:1992 for sluice gates, IS 210:2009 for grey iron castings, and IS 1537:1976 for vertically cast pressure pipes. These product categories generally require BIS certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

The implementation dates for adherence to these standards are segmented based on the size of the enterprises. For small enterprises, the compliance deadline is December 1, 2024. Micro enterprises have until March 1, 2025, while general enterprises (other than micro and small) must comply by September 1, 2024. This regulation stipulates that the specified cast iron products must meet the standards under Scheme-1 of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Adhering to these standards is vital to maintain the products’ quality and integrity within the industry.

Non-compliance with the provisions outlined in this order will result in penalties as specified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. This measure emphasizes the Ministry’s dedication to strict compliance and product standardization, promoting safety, and ensuring industry-wide quality assurance. The extension underscores the Ministry’s commitment to effective regulation of cast iron products, fostering a safer and higher-quality industry standard.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Extension Order for Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes, and Wire Mesh

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released a new notification pertaining to products classified under Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes, and Wire Mesh. As per the Indian IS norms, BIS certification is mandatory for these products to be exported and distributed in India. The notification, titled the Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes, and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2024, stipulates that the following Indian Standards must be adhered to for these products.

Previously, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry had issued the Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes, and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2023, on November 21, 2023. This order was set to take effect six months after its publication, on May 21, 2024. However, a new Quality Control Order (QCO) was published on July 3, 2024, extending the enforcement dates for different categories of enterprises:

• Micro Enterprises: Until June 1, 2025
• Small Enterprises: Until March 1, 2025
• General (Other than Micro and Small Enterprises): Until December 1, 2024

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Key Updates in the 2024 MTCTE Procedures for Telecommunication Equipment Certification

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of India has issued a new version of the procedures for mandatory testing and certification of telecommunication equipment. This updated document, known as “Procedure for Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE)” version 3.0, was released in April 2024 and replaces the previous TEC 93009:2021 guidelines. Telecommunications products generally require TEC certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

A summary of some of the most notable changes in the document “Procedure for Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment (MTCTE)” version 3.0:

1. Acceptance of BIS Certifications: Valid certificates or test reports issued by BIS or BIS-recognized labs against safety requirements are now accepted under MTCTE.
2. Certificate Validity Extension: The validity of the regular MTCTE certificate has been extended from 5 years to 10 years.
3. Revised labelling requirements
4. Updated Definitions
5. Source Approval Certificates: Acceptance of Source Approval Certificates (SAC) under MTCTE is now formalized.
6. End of Life/End of Sale Clarifications: Clarifications regarding end-of-life and end-of-sale for whole unit warranty replacement products are provided.
7. Test Reports from CABs: Acceptance of test reports from Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) designated for Generic Requirements (GR) and Interface Requirements (IR) for the parameters of Essential Requirements (ER) under MTCTE.
8. Witness Testing Requirements: The mandate for NABL accreditation for witness testing by RTEC has been removed.
9. Provisional Certificates: Issuance of provisional certificates has been removed from the procedures.

These changes aim to streamline the certification process, extend the validity period of certificates, reduce costs for government institutions, and update various procedural and technical requirements.

The TEC certification has been mandatory since April 2019. Every year the Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) expands the certification catalog and adds more telecom products. See the list of TEC standards here.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673).

For more information about TEC certification, please refer to our free brochure “TEC Certification Made Easy“.