Why compliance matters

New Zealand’s product compliance framework helps manage the risk of interference to the radio spectrum. As a supplier, it’s important that you make sure your products meet the standards set out in the framework.

About radio frequency interference

The technology behind transmitting and receiving radio waves touches almost every part of life. Cellphones, TV, WiFi, and emergency services all use the radio spectrum. It’s an important economic resource for New Zealand. The spectrum is also affected by pollution - known as radio frequency interference (RFI).

Apart from natural phenomenon, like thunderstorms, there are two main sources of interference.

Electrical products (also known as 'unintentional radiators')

All electrical and electronic products generate a certain amount of interference. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) helps minimise this kind of interference. Our EMC technical standards define acceptable levels of interference to the spectrum.

Product compliance Gazette Notices

Radio products (also known as 'intentional radiators')

We generate radio waves for a variety of purposes, but most often for communications. Our licensing framework helps ensure all uses (and users) of the spectrum can co-exist. We manage:

  • electrical product interference through the product compliance framework
  • radiocommunications interference through the frequency licensing framework.

Supplier requirements

As a supplier, you must make sure that your products meet the standards set out in the product compliance framework. If you don’t, you risk causing:

  • interference to safety services — like marine and aeronautical — and potential loss of life
  • interference to other services, such as emergency services
  • disruption to commercial services like radio and television.
  • If your products cause interference, you could face a fine or, in some cases, prosecution.

Supplier responsibilities

The compliance framework works on the principle of supplier self-declaration. This means that, as a supplier, you take responsibility for the products you put on the market. This is the same regardless of whether:

  • you import your products, or
  • they're produced in New Zealand.

The key components of the framework are:

  • evidence of conformity with prescribed standards
  • a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
  • product labelling with the RCM compliance mark or New Zealand radio label (R-NZ).

Steps to compliance

There are 7 steps suppliers need to follow to ensure products are compliant.

NOTE: You should confirm your products meet the requirements of the framework with retailers. They need to know that your products are compliant before they can sell them.