Certification Scope, Process Overhauls, and Labeling Updates
Not all regulatory changes demand the same response. Some extend the window for compliance, while others compress it. Some introduce entirely new categories of technical obligation. What they share is a direct impact on how manufacturers plan certifications, structure test programs, and manage the ongoing validity of their approvals.
Across several markets in the current cycle, two types of changes are converging: shifts in how long certificates remain valid, and updates to the technical standards that govern what testing is required. In some markets, both are changing at once, making it important to assess each dimension together when deciding what action is needed and when.
Key Changes at a Glance
- Venezuela: Certificate validity reduced from indefinite to 1 year (new certificates only)
- Algeria: Certificate validity extended from 3 to 5 years
- Argentina: Indefinite validity for new certificates under Resolution 57/2026 (Sept 2026)
- Australia: Mandatory cybersecurity rules for smart devices fully effective March 4, 2026
- Brazil: Act No. 14158 testing updates mandatory from April 6, 2026
Certificate Validity Changes
Certificate validity periods directly affect the ongoing cost and complexity of maintaining market access. Changes to validity periods, whether reductions or extensions, require proactive portfolio management to avoid lapses in compliance and to optimize renewal scheduling.
Venezuela: Validity Reduced from Indefinite to One Year
Venezuela’s Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL) has revised the validity period for newly issued type approval certificates, shifting from indefinite validity to a one-year term. This change applies only to new certificate applications; certificates issued under the previous regime retain their original indefinite validity and are not retroactively affected. Manufacturers with existing approvals are not required to take any immediate action unless modifications are made to the certified product or other regulatory triggers arise.
For new product launches in Venezuela, the practical implications are significant. Annual renewal cycles must now be built into compliance planning and budgeted for all new Venezuelan approvals. Renewal timelines should account for CONATEL processing delays to avoid gaps in market compliance between expiry and reissuance. Distributors and importers should be informed of the renewal requirement to ensure certificates remain current in product documentation and customs filings.
Algeria: Validity Extended from Three to Five Years
On January 31, 2026, Algeria issued Executive Decree No. 26-97, establishing an updated regulatory framework for the homologation of electronic communication equipment. The most immediately impactful change is the extension of certificate validity from three years to five years, meaningfully reducing the frequency of recertification cycles for manufacturers active in the Algerian market.
Alongside the validity change, Algeria has introduced several procedural and documentation enhancements. Applications are now filed electronically, removing the physical document requirement for Certificates of Origin and Manufacturer Authorization. The standard processing time is capped at two months from the date of application or sample submission, and a working sample of the equipment must generally be submitted within five working days of the application. The sample submitted for testing must already feature labeling that complies with current regulations.
Another relevant change is that the Authority now allows a certificate issued under one importer to be used by other importers without needing to obtain their own certification.
Documentation requirements have been strengthened: applicants must provide comprehensive technical files, declarations of conformity, and detailed test reports from an accredited laboratory, along with the laboratory’s accreditation certificate. For equipment featuring cellular mobile access, a Type Allocation Code (TAC) certificate from the GSMA is also mandatory, an important additional requirement for manufacturers of mobile handsets and cellular IoT devices. In good news for document requirements, the Certificate of Origin is now replaced with a manufacturer’s declaration of origin and cellular products no longer require proof that the importer has a Data Tracking License to obtain approval. Manufacturers should factor in all of these requirements when planning timelines for Algerian submissions.
Argentina: Indefinite Validity Under Resolution 57/2026
As detailed in White Paper 1 of this series (Key Regulatory Changes in the Americas), ENACOM Resolution 57/2026 introduces indefinite validity for new type approval certificates issued under the new framework, effective September 1, 2026. This is a significant improvement over the previous three-year renewal cycle. Consumer products will be subject to post-market surveillance every two years, but this replaces rather than supplements the previous renewal cycle. Professional use products are exempt from periodic post-market surveillance. Manufacturers planning product launches in Argentina after September 2026 should take advantage of the new scheme.
Technical Standard Updates
Technical standard updates require manufacturers to review test reports and certifications for affected product categories. The following updates span wireless, EMC, safety, and cybersecurity standards across six markets and represent some of the most significant compliance changes of the current regulatory cycle.
Paraguay: Wi-Fi 6E Authorized on the 6 GHz Band
On April 23, 2025, Paraguay’s National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) issued Resolution N° 1035/2025, enabling the use of low-power wireless access systems in the 5.925 to 6.425 GHz band. This opens the Paraguayan market to next-generation Wi-Fi technologies, including Wi-Fi 6E, while protecting existing primary services in the band through strict operating constraints.
The resolution defines two types of permitted systems. Low Power Indoor (LPI) systems are authorized for use in enclosed environments, including homes, offices, transport hubs, and aircraft cabins, and are restricted to indoor operation only; LPI devices may not be used in vehicles or boats. Very Low Power (VLP) systems are intended for short-range outdoor communications and must use sealed, fixed equipment. All equipment using this band must receive a Certificate of Approval from CONATEL before it can be sold or operated in Paraguay, and manufacturers must declare that their products can be configured to operate within the regulation’s limitations. Devices that have already been certified and are capable of WiFi-6 can have a certificate update instead of a re-certification.
A notable labeling requirement accompanies the certification: all devices must carry a label or include a statement in the user manual reading, “In Paraguay, this equipment must be configured to operate within the limitations established in CONATEL Technical Standard NTC-RF-5925:2025.” Several technical restrictions also apply across both system types: radio frequency amplifiers are prohibited, removable or external antennas are not permitted, communication with drones or between client devices is not allowed, and use of Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) systems in this frequency band is explicitly prohibited.
India: IS 13252 Transitioning to IEC 62368-1
India is in the process of transitioning its primary safety standard for information technology and audio/video equipment from IS 13252 to IEC 62368-1, aligning with the international standard widely adopted across the EU, North America, and other major markets. The transition is being phased by product category. Extended Reality (XR) products are subject to IEC 62368-2 by May 2026, while all other products remain under IS 13252 until November 2028, providing manufacturers with a multi-year runway to prepare updated test reports. Further details of the transition, including any market surveillance implications for products already certified under IS 13252, are still under review by India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Vietnam: EMC, RoHS, and SAR Updates
Vietnam has issued a comprehensive set of regulatory updates affecting mobile devices and IT equipment across three compliance domains. New regulations introduce stricter electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) limits for mobile devices; test reports prepared under previous EMC standards may not satisfy the updated requirements, and manufacturers should assess whether retesting is needed for products being submitted for new Vietnamese certifications. Updated restrictions on hazardous substances in IT equipment have also been introduced, aligning Vietnam’s requirements more closely with EU RoHS standards. Finally, updated specific absorption rate (SAR) compliance requirements have been introduced for applicable wireless devices, and manufacturers should verify that existing SAR test reports address the updated Vietnamese measurement protocols.
Indonesia: Revised Standards for LTE and 5G Devices
On December 19, 2025, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital issued Decree No. 569/2025, establishing revised technical standards for telecommunications equipment based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and International Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT-2020, or 5G) technologies. The decree replaces Decree No. 352/2024 and took effect in January 2026. It applies to subscriber stations, base stations, and repeaters operating on LTE and IMT-2020 technologies, including devices in the 2.6 GHz band for 5G.
The decree references updated compliance standards across safety, EMC, and RF domains. Key standards include SNI IEC 62368-1:2014 and IEC 60950-1:2005 for electrical safety, SNI CISPR 32:2015 and ETSI EN 301 489-52 for electromagnetic compatibility, and 3GPP TS 36.521-1 alongside the ETSI EN 301 908 series for RF testing. Devices must conform to specified channel bandwidths and operate within approved E-UTRA bands, including Bands 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, and 41. All compliant subscriber devices must include a valid International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
The new regulation also provided a reminder for domestic content. Subscriber devices, including handphones, computers, tablets, routers, and telematic devices, must incorporate at least 35% domestic components, while LTE base stations must meet a 40% minimum threshold; exemptions apply for base stations in certain paired frequency bands. Test reports issued prior to the decree’s effective date may still be accepted provided they do not conflict with the new regulation. New certifications must comply with Decree No. 569/2025 from the date of application.
Australia: Mandatory Cybersecurity Rules for Smart Devices
Australia has introduced mandatory cybersecurity requirements for connectable consumer products through the Cyber Security (Security Standards for Smart Devices) Rules 2025. The Rules were registered on March 4, 2025 and took full effect on March 4, 2026, following a 12-month transition period. They form part of Australia’s 2023 to 2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and establish baseline security obligations for manufacturers and suppliers of connected consumer products acquired in Australia.
Scope of the Regulation
The rules apply to connectable products intended for personal, domestic, or household use in Australia. Manufacturers must comply where they are aware, or reasonably expected to be aware, that the product will be supplied into the Australian consumer market. The following categories are explicitly excluded from scope:
- Desktop computers and laptops
- Tablets and smartphones
- Therapeutic goods
- Road vehicles and road vehicle components
Three core security requirements now apply to all in-scope products. First, devices must not use universal default passwords; each device must have a unique password per unit, or require the user to define one during setup. Passwords must not be based on incremental counters, derived from publicly available information, or generated from serial numbers unless protected by encryption or keyed hashing. Second, manufacturers must publish a publicly accessible vulnerability reporting mechanism that includes at least one point of contact for reporting security issues, defined timelines for acknowledgement and status updates, and must be available in English, free of charge, and accessible without the submission of personal information. Third, manufacturers must publish a defined end-of-support date for security updates. This date cannot be shortened once published, and any extension must be updated and published promptly.
Statement of Compliance and Record-Keeping
Every in-scope product must be accompanied by a Statement of Compliance at the point of supply. The statement must include product identification details, a declaration of conformity with each of the three security requirements, the security update support period and its specific end date, and the date of issue. Manufacturers and suppliers are required to retain all compliance documentation for five years from the date of supply.
Brazil: Act No. 14158 Updated Testing Requirements
ANATEL’s Act No. 14158 becomes mandatory on April 6, 2026, introducing updated testing requirements across several frequency domains. This regulation is particularly significant for manufacturers of 5G devices, Wi-Fi 6/6E products, and high-frequency wireless systems.
Act No. 14158 introduces Section 25, a new section covering the 116 GHz to 246 GHz frequency range and establishing requirements for devices operating in the millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz spectrum. For 5 GHz and 6 GHz Wi-Fi, the regulation introduces revised out-of-band and spurious emission limits for 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz band devices, updated test procedures for 6 GHz Wi-Fi under Article 18, and expands Access Point deployment to permit both indoor and outdoor use in the 5.150 to 5.250 MHz band. A particularly impactful change is the shift in how power limits are expressed: the new methodology uses conducted power rather than total EIRP, which directly affects lab test setups and requires coordination with test laboratories before any submission. Article 8 (Item 17) also introduces revised requirements for devices operating in the 57 to 71 GHz range, relevant to the 60 GHz wireless systems. Manufacturers with products pending Brazilian certification as of April 2026 should confirm with their testing laboratories that test plans have been updated to reflect Act No. 14158.
