Certification Services
UL International New Zealand Ltd is accredited by JAS-ANZ (Joint Accreditation System for Australia and New Zealand) as a Certification Body authorised to certify products to a range of AS, AS/NZS and IEC standards listed on the JAS-ANZ website.
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- Overview
- Regulatory Regimes
- ANZ Certification Program Scope of Accreditation
- Certificate Validity
- How to apply for Certification under the ANZ Certification Program
- Information Required for ANZ Certification
- ANZ Certification Program Product Marking Requirements
- Other ANZ Certification Program Services
- CB Certification
- DEMKO Certification
- Contact Details
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1 Overview
UL Issues three types of certificate relevant to the Australian and New Zealand market:
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- Certificate of Approval: This is a certificate for a Declared Article, which is a product declared by the NSW Government as requiring an approval before being sold. UL is authorised by the NSW Government to issue such certificates as a Recognised External Approval Scheme (REAS); and
- Certificate of Conformity: This is a certificate issued for a Level 3 product (sometimes referred to as a High Risk product), which is a product listed as Level 3 in standard AS/NZS 4417.2. Certificates of Conformity are governed by the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) operated by the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC). UL is authorised by the Queensland Government, as a participant in the EESS, to issue Certificates of Conformity; and
- Certificate of Suitability: This is a certificate issued either for: a) a Level 2 or a Level 1 product (sometimes referred to as a Medium Risk or Low Risk product respectively). Level 2 products are listed in standard AS/NZS 4417.2. Level 1 products are all those products which are EESS in-scope products not listed as Level 3 or Level 2; or b) products which are neither Declared Articles nor EESS in-scope products. For products described in a), UL issues Certificates of Suitability under the authority of the Queensland Government as a participant in the EESS. For products described in b), UL issues Certificates of Suitability in accordance with its Certification Body accreditation granted by JAS-ANZ.
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UL is independently funded by the fees it charges the customer for services provided. General information on fees charged to the customer for certification services can be obtained by contacting Customer Service.
The Certification Office is based in Auckland and is independent of the laboratory testing operation.
UL is also a CB laboratory, which in conjunction with UL Demko in Denmark, enables CB certification to be obtained to facilitate access to multiple global markets. Also through UL DEMKO, European marks can be obtained where required for specific EU markets.
2 Regulatory Regimes
Each Australian State and Territory and New Zealand independently regulates for electrical product safety. Until recently, all the Australian States and Territories had more or less identical regulatory regimes. New Zealand’s was also largely the same, but implemented differently and with some additional requirements. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) are in place between all these jurisdictions, so that a product approved for sale in one jurisdiction may also be sold in all the other jurisdictions. In 2013, the EESS regime was adopted in Queensland, with transition provisions through to 2018. This regime is markedly different from that retained by the other States and Territories in that:
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- It regulates all low voltage electrical equipment for household use and not just those products deemed to be high risk;
- It requires all Level 3 (High Risk) products to be registered on a national database;
- It requires all Level 2 (Medium Risk) products to be registered on the national database;
- It requires all Responsible Suppliers (i.e. importers into or manufacturers in Australia) to register on the national database and to register their brands used for Level 1 (Low Risk) products.
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There is some confusion in the marketplace regarding the relationship between the EESS and the traditional regulatory regimes in the light of the MRAs. Negotiation of an agreement between the various States and Territories to resolve these issues is in progress. In the meantime, customers who need advice on what they are required to do should contact Customer Service.
New Zealand’s regime differs from the traditional regime as implemented in Australia in that:
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- Products included in a published list of Medium Risk products, along with all High Risk products, must have a Supplier Declaration of Conformity prepared, signed and held by the supplier prior to offering the product for sale;
- The New Zealand regulations extend to extra low voltage as well as low voltage products whereas the Australian regulators restrict their regimes to low voltage only.
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3 ANZ Certification Program Scope of Accreditation
The list of standards UL is able to certify to is maintained on theJAS-ANZ Web site.
4 Certificate Validity
Most certificates have a maximum life of five years. Regulatory authorities impose a shorter period on some products and reserve the right to reduce the validity period of certificates in some circumstances (e.g. where a significant change is introduced to a standard for safety reasons). Where there is evidence that a product is unsafe and/or production articles do not match the certified sample, a certificate may be suspended or cancelled by UL.
A product with a Certificate of Approval or a Certificate of Conformity may not be sold once the certificate expires. A product with a Certificate of Suitability may be sold if its certificate expires, but it may not be claimed that it has a Certificate of Suitability.
5 How to apply for Certification under the ANZ Certification Program
Following the steps below will provide a smooth path to your product certification:
a) Check that your product meets the requirements for certification and you have test reports demonstrating this (see Information Required for Certification). If you are unsure as to what is required or if you do not have test reports, UL can assist. Contact Customer Service for advice and to obtain a quote for the services you require..
b) If you wish to use an agent to act on your behalf, you will have to first sign an agreement authorising that agent.
c) Complete and sign the application form and, if necessary, complete the model details spreadsheet, to apply for new certification, renewing certification, a replacement certificate or registering a product modification or change of particulars.
d) Send the application documents and the required information to one of the addresses below. Samples are not required unless requested by the Certification Office. Submissions by email are preferred and are required if the model details spreadsheet is completed.
| Email: | Post: | Courier: | |
| customerservice.anz@ul.com | PO Box 300 330 Albany Auckland 0752 Auckland New Zealand | 54 Tarndale Grove Albany Auckland 0632 New Zealand | |
The certification process commences when all the required information has been received and the certification fee has been paid (unless prior credit arrangements have been agreed). The maximum turnaround time is ten working days, but we aim to provide turnaround in five or less days. A priority service can be provided subject to workload at the time. Contact Customer Service to enquire about the priority service.
6 Information Required for ANZ Certification
The following information is required:
- a) Where a Certificate of Approval, or a Certificate of Suitability for non EESS in-scope products, is to be issued, a complying test report or test reports to the appropriate standard covering the product to be certified. Test reports must be accredited (they must bear the accreditation body’s logo or other proof must be provided), be in English and from either:
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- An IANZ, NATA or MRA partner laboratory, or
- a recognized IECEE CB Scheme laboratory where testing to an IEC or equivalent standard is covered by the Laboratory’s recognized scope and AS/NZS differences are included. Accreditation to AS/NZS 3112 is essential for assessment of integral plug portions. Copies of the IECEE CB Scheme Certificate are required. Note that RMT test reports are not accepted.
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b) Details of product marking, instruction sheets and critical component listing.
c) External and internal colour photographs and technical drawings that enable proper identification of the product and any key design features, or a sample of the product.
d) Where a Certificate of Conformity or a Certificate of Suitability is to be issued for EESS in-scope products, a complying test report as for a) above, except that such reports must bear the test laboratory’s accreditation body’s endorsement and all CB reports must be accompanied by a CB certificate.
7 Product Marking Requirements
Where a Certificate of Approval is issued, the certified product must be marked indicating that it has approval to be sold. In certain circumstances (e.g. with very small products) it might be acceptable to mark the packaging only. There are two marking options:
a) The Certificate number in the form ULL-xxxxxx-EA, where “xxxxxx” is a unique six digit number. Note, however, the EESS requirement below must also be met if the product is to be sold in Queensland or
b) The RCM mark, provided all the requirements of AS/NZS 4417 are met
The same applies for a Certificate of Suitability issued for non EESS in-scope products, except that the marking is voluntary and the suffix “EA” may not be used.
All EESS in-scope products first introduced for sale into an EESS jurisdiction (currently only Queensland) after 29 February 2016 are required to be marked with the RCM in accordance with AS/NZS 4417. Products already in the distribution chain in that EESS jurisdiction as of 29 February 2016 may continue to be offered for sale without RCM marking until 28 February 2018.
8 Other ANZ Certification Program Services
In addition to new product certification the following ANZ Certification Program services are available:
a) Renewal of existing certification. This requires evidence that the product, including any modifications, complies with the currently appropriate version of the applicable standard (which may be different from when the product was last certified). UL will advise certificate holders six months before their current certificate expires;
b) Modification to an existing certificate. A modification must be notified to UL and the certificate updated where a change is made to a product. This also applies where there is a change of a manufacturer or manufacturing location.
c) Change of particulars. A change of particulars such as company name must also be notified and the certificate updated;
d) Certificate transfer. Where there is a change in the holder of a Certificate, this must be notified and the certificate details updated;
e) Test program. Where a product has incomplete or insufficient test report coverage, a test program designed to fill the gaps that exist can be prepared. While in some circumstances a fee may be charged for this service, that fee will be rebated against a subsequent certification fee for that product.
9 CB Certification
UL International NZ Ltd operates a CB testing laboratory from its Auckland site and is a member of the IECEE CB Scheme.
In its operation as CB Laboratory, UL International NZ Ltd works in conjunction with the National Certifying Body (NCB) UL Demko for household equipment.
The CB Scheme is administered by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for the international recognition of electrical equipment test results. It is based on the principle of mutual recognition and acceptance of reports, and CB Test Reports and their accompanying CB Certificates are accepted in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Manufacturers accessing multiple markets who use the CB Scheme as the basis of their product testing stand to gain significant savings in cost, time and effort. The principle is one test for several markets. In practice additional testing is often required, but significantly less than if each market is addressed separately.
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10 DEMKO Certification
UL International NZ Ltd, through our association with UL DEMKO, can make applications for licensed European test marks for greater recognition of product safety and quality in the European market
11 Contact Details
For quotes and general certification enquiries: customerservice.anz@ul.com
Ph +64-9-415 3355