What Certifications for Exporting Products to New Zealand?

New Zealand shares joint standards with Australia under the AS/NZS standards. These standards are largely aligned with IEC standards (33.3% of Australian standards are identical to national standards), with some country-specific differences. For instance, due to geographical factors, certain product standards (e.g., for fans) must account for tropical climates. Australia and New Zealand have streamlined standardization and mutual recognition of certifications, meaning a product certified in one country can be sold in the other.

rcm certification

The rcm mark (Regulatory Compliance Mark) includes safety and EMC requirements. 

As of March 1, 2013, Australia implemented new electrical safety regulations (EESS) and adopted the unified compliance mark, RCM (excluding New South Wales). 

- The former SAA and C-Tick certifications are being phased out, consolidating into the single RCM mark. 

- Applies to electrical equipment with a rated voltage of 50 V AC–1000 V AC or 120 V DC–1500 V DC, classified into three categories: 

  - Category 3 (High Risk): Requires mandatory registration in the national database and conformity certification from an EESS-recognized body before registration. 

  - Category 2 (Medium Risk): Requires database registration. 

  - Category 1 (Low Risk): Registration not mandatory. 

Additionally, products under EMC regulation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) are categorized into high, medium, and low risk. High-risk products must also be registered in the national database. 

Compliance with EESS and ACMA EMC regulations and the use of the RCM mark are mandatory for product sales in Australia and New Zealand (excluding New South Wales).

Australian GEMS Energy Efficiency Certification

Since October 1, 2012, the GEMS certification (Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards) has replaced the earlier MEPS certification in both Australia and New Zealand. GEMS certification is mandatory for regulated products, which include: 

- Air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, pool pumps, dryers, washing machines, and dishwashers. 

- Non-domestic fans, motors, external power supplies, televisions, set-top boxes, video game consoles, computers, monitors, video recorders, data centers, power transformers, and battery chargers. 

Products regulated under GEMS must be certified before being marketed, and the applicant must be a locally registered company in Australia. 

- Australia and New Zealand recognize each other's certifications, allowing certified products to be sold in both countries. 

Australian standards begin with “AS”, and joint standards with New Zealand start with “AS/NZS”. Both countries are members of the IECEE-CB scheme, allowing direct recognition of CB test reports. Products with CB reports can apply for RCM certification after supplementary testing.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Safety Certification (C-TICK/A-TICK)

The C/A-Tick certification is a regulatory mark issued by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) for communication devices. Products must comply with ACAQ technical standards, undergo testing, and register with ACA for A/C-Tick usage. Since November 2001, Australia and New Zealand have unified EMI application processes. 

For sales in both countries, the following documentation must be available for inspection by ACA (Australia) or the Ministry of Economic Development (New Zealand): 

- Level 1 Products: Low radiation interference (e.g., manual switches, simple relays). Suppliers must sign a declaration of conformity and provide a product description. Use of the C-Tick mark is optional but requires records of conformity and internal testing. 

- Level 2 Products: Moderate radiation interference (e.g., power supplies, dimmers, household appliances). Suppliers must provide a declaration of conformity, product descriptions, and test reports or technical documentation. Internal testing is permitted. 

- Level 3 Products: High radiation interference (e.g., products under CISPR11 and CISPR22). Suppliers must provide a declaration of conformity, product descriptions, test reports from accredited bodies, and a quality management system certificate from a QSM certification body. 

Communication terminal products formerly in Level 3 were reclassified as Level 2 starting November 7, 2003.