Australian Radiocommunications Standards and Equipment Supply Regulation

Australian Standards Landscape Overview

The radiocommunication standards for many applications in Australia and New Zealand are managed under the umbrella of the Standards Australia, most of these standards have an AS/NZS prefix which indicates they are common to both nations. Historically the ACMA will then take up these radiocommunications standards within a section of the Radiocommunications Act, known as Section 162 (see below). Within Standards Australia there are working groups who represent the various stakeholders and develop the radiocommunication standards content and make recommendations for any necessary changes. The system also has provision for public comments ahead of any standard being adopted. ARCIA participate in RC006 and RC004 committees to develop the standards for the Australian wireless industry, which, where possible, reference or adopt international standards that already exist.

ACMA Standards (S.162) – Mandatory Supply Regulation

The ACMA regulates equipment supply under the RC, EMR and EMC Labelling regimes. The notices require equipment falling within the scope of an ACMA standard to comply and be suitably labelled. (RCM)

The regimes through ACMA standards, may reference other standards.

Telecommunications
Radio Communications
EMR
EMC

The ACMA’s radcomms, EME, EMR, and telco technical standards can be found here.

When a standard is adopted it has a time period included for review or revision, as these standards approach the expiry date they can be reviewed and either updated or extended. At present there is some activity with marine standards in other countries and the following information is applicable.

There are unlikely to be any other S162 standards being replaced or developed by ACMA as equipment rules are proposed to replace them. (See ARCIA response to ACMA equipment rules proposals)

These regimes may reference Australian Standards and other international standards. The applicable Standards are listed in the schedules of each regimes labelling notice.

Standards Australia – Voluntary Supply Regulation

Standards Australia develop voluntary standards which may also be made in conjunction with New Zealand as AS/NZS Standards. They are voluntary standards, unless legislated or mandated by the industry regulator (in Australia, this is the ACMA).

ARCIA participate on the radio communications (RC) committees to develop the standards for the Australian wireless industry, which, where possible, reference or adopt international standards that already exist. Information on these two committees and the standards developed by them can be found here: