In Central and South America, the Type Approval requirements differ from country to country. Apart from Brazil and Argentina, most of the countries accept foreign Test Reports for carrying out their specific approval. However requirements are volatile and may change systematically without large notice periods. Please consult our experts for an accurate proposal according to the specifications of your products.
Below is the list of some specific Approval Schemes:
Radio products that are intended to be marketed in Venezuela are subject to a mandatory approval process issued by the Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL) which is the Venezuelan state agency that exercises regulation, supervision and control over telecommunications equipment in Venezuela.
According to CONATEL Resolution Nº 253, testing activity in order to address CONATEL approval can be either based on RED (EU), FCC (USA), CNC (Argentina), IFT (Mexico), ISED (Canada) or ANATEL (Brazil). Therefore applicants can take advantage of the already testing activity performed according to the above mentioned regulations to address CONATEL approval. , tThis testing activities can only be performed exclusively by laboratories accredited by national accreditation bodies, or recognized by the respective Authorities. Additionally, the certificate of approval according to the previous schemes must also be part of the technical file.
The lead time to obtain CONATEL approval is typically 9 weeks. Local representative is not required to apply for this certification scheme and the validity of certificate is permanent.
There are no product marking requirements for CONATEL approval.
CONATEL Radio Type Approval is mandatory for the commercialization of telecom and radio equipment in Honduras. The national authority, the Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL), is responsible for regulating and coordinating the country's telecom sector. The authority issues regulations and technical guidelines for the supply of telecom services and its fees, assures its compliance, and allocates permits and licenses.
In-country testing is not required to address CONATEL approval, the National Authority accepts the following testing activity under the following schemes FCC(USA), IFT (Mexico), RED (EU) and Radio Law (Japan). Therefore applicants can take advantage of the already testing activity performed under one of the schemes above. There is required a Local Representative which will act as a legal representative for addressing the CONATEL approval.
The typical Lead-time takes 12 weeks to obtain CONATEL approval and the validity of the Certificate is unlimited.
There are no labeling requirements
CRC, which stands for Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones, is the Regulatory Body that promotes competition and regulates the market for communications networks and services in Colombia.
Most satellite equipment and all cellular products (voice and data) and devices that connect to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) require CRC certification. The rest of Radio Equipment like Short Range Devices are exempt from CRC Approval, however for this kind of products where no Approval is applicable an Exemption Letter can be obtained for avoiding issues with Customs. The products subject to approval may take advantage of the RED/FCC Testing Activity therefore in-country testing is not needed.
Local Representative is not required for addressing this Approval. CRC Approval typically takes 10 weeks and the validity of the Certificate is unlimited.
Each homologated terminal, under CRC approval will have an internal registration code in the CRC database, like below:
CRC XX YY ZZZZ
Where XX corresponds to the type of approved terminal, while YY identifies the year of registration and ZZZZ is a consecutive registration number associated with the device.
Dominican Republic: Summary of INDOTEL Approval process
The Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL) is the Institutional and Legal Framework for Telecommunications in the Dominican Republic. INDOTEL’s principal objectives are to implement a suitable regulatory framework for the development of the industry in order to ensure compliance with the General Law of Telecommunications Nº 153-98 and the proper functionality of the equipment that is being marketed in the Dominican Republic, as well as ensuring the correct use of the public domain of the radio spectrum.
INDOTEL’s testing activity for compliance with Type Approval requirements can be based on ETSI (EU) and/or FCC test reports. Additionally, and according to the previous schemes, the certificate of approval must also be part of the technical documentation issued to INDOTEL. The validity of the INDOTEL Certificate is indefinite and the process may take approximately 7 weeks.
There are no product marking requirements for INDOTEL approval.
SMA Radio Type Approval is mandatory for telecom and radio products intended to be marketed in Jamaica.
The Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) is the national authority in charge of regulating the conformity assessment of Radio and Telecommunication products and issuing Certificates of Conformity (CoC) in Jamaica.
Jamaica’s compliance testing activities with Type Approval requirements are based on RED and/or FCC test reports. The certificate of approval, either the EU-Type Examination Certificate or the FCC Grant, and the technical documentation must be submitted to the SMA when applying for Type Approval. One normal sample must also be submitted to the SMA in compliance with Jamaican local regulations.
The validity of the SMA Certificate is indefinite and the overall approval process can take approximately 4 weeks.
Labelling in Jamaica is voluntary and it differs from stand-alone to modular products. Manufacturers, importers and distributors that wish to label their type-approved devices and export them to Jamaica must affix the Type Approval ID number issued by the SMA to the documentation as shown below in order to avoid delays and/or seizure of equipment by Customs Officers:
Radio equipment intended to be commercialized in El Salvador that makes use of the radio spectrum is subject to a mandatory type approval process issued by SIGET.
The Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (SIGET) is the national body in charge of implementing a suitable regulatory framework to ensure compliance with the telecommunications regulations and the proper functioning of the radio equipment that is being marketed in El Salvador.
El Salvador’s compliance testing activities with Type Approval requirements are based on RED, FCC and/or ANATEL test reports. The certificate of approval, either the EU-Type Examination Certificate, the FCC Grant or ANATEL’s Certificate, must be part of the technical documentation submitted to SIGET.
The validity of the SIGET Certificate is indefinite and the overall approval process takes around 6 weeks.
There are no product marking requirements for the SIGET approval.
Radio frequency transmitter products intended to be marketed in Curaçao that make use of the radio spectrum or connect to the public network are subject to a mandatory approval process issued by BURTEL.
The Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post (BURTEL) is the national body in charge of regulating and controlling sectors such as telecommunications, post and electricity in Curaçao.
Curaçao’s compliance testing activities with Type Approval requirements are based on ETSI (EU) and/or FCC test reports. Additionally, the certificate of approval, either the EU-Type Examination Certificate or the FCC Grant, must also be part of the technical documentation submitted to BURTEL.
The validity of the BURTEL Certificate is indefinite and the approval process takes around 8 weeks.
There are no product marking requirements for BURTEL approval.
Radio frequency transmitter and receiver products intended to be marketed in Belize that make use of the radio spectrum or connect to the public network are subject to a mandatory approval process issued by the PUC.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the body responsible for regulating the electricity, water and telecommunication sectors in Belize and in doing so, providing services of the highest quality.
Belize’s compliance testing activities with type approval requirements must be based on RED or FCC test reports.
Once the type approval process has been completed and accepted by the PUC, a certificate of approval is granted to the applicant.
The PUC’s certificate is indefinitely valid and the overall approval process can take approximately 7 weeks.
There are no specific product marking requirements for the PUC’s approval.
Radio and telecommunication devices indented to be commercialized in Panama that make use of the radio spectrum or connect to the public network are subject to a mandatory type approval process issued by the ASEP.
The Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos (ASEP) is the Panamanian agency responsible for establishing the health, safety and radio communications regulatory frameworks for the proper development of these sectors in Panama.
Panama’s compliance testing activities with type approval requirements must be based on either RED or FCC test reports.
The ASEP’s type approval is divided into two processes: one must be performed electronically through the ASEP’s official website, and the other must be carried by submitting a hardcopy of the equipment’s technical file to the authority.
The ASEP’s certificate is indefinitely valid and the overall approval process can take approximately 12 weeks.
There are no specific product marking requirements for the ASEP’s approval.
Radio frequency transmitter and receiver products that make use of the radio spectrum (or connect to the public network) and are intended to be marketed in Nicaragua are subject to a mandatory Type Approval process. This process is issued by the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR).
TELCOR is the regulatory entity of telecommunications and postal services, an institution with functions such as standardization, regulation, technical planning, supervision, application and control of compliance of the Laws and Norms that govern the installation, interconnection, operation and provision of telecommunications and postal services. “Dirección de Titulación y Atención a Operadores y Usuarios de TELCOR” (DTAOU) is the division within TELCOR responsible for issuing the Type Approval certificates. Technical documentation, therefore, should be provided to DTAOU.
The testing activity for compliance with Type Approval requirements in Nicaragua can be based on ETSI, FCC or ANATEL. The certificate of approval must be part of the technical documentation issued to DTAOU. Equipment which doesn’t need certification will have an exemption letter to avoid problems with customs.
The TELCOR Certificate is valid indefinitely and the overall approval process takes approximately 11 weeks.
There are no specific product marking requirements for TELCOR type approval.
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