WASHINGTON, D.C., March 31, 2011
The American Certification Body (ACB) has been approved in the first round of certification bodies recognized to perform certification for wireless devices to Japanese Radio Law, increasing market access for manufacturers on both sides of the Pacific.
Under a bilateral agreement, the United States and Japan have implemented a mutual recognition arrangement that allows the acceptance of certification decisions under each respective country’s regulations. This new arrangement and ACB’s program now offer more options for device manufacturers.
Prior to the agreement and the recognition of ACB, it was necessary to test and certify products in Japan. This new recognition allows ACB clientele to submit applications and gain approval in the United States. “This is a great boon to our clients, especially given the global nature of the high-technology market,” said Dennis Ward, director of engineering for ACB. “It rounds out our certification authority to include this important market.”
To obtain an approval, one must generate a report and demonstrate conformance (and submit to a certification body). To determine what data must be collected, it is necessary to refer to the ordnances that cover the specified equipment, notably the “Ordinance Concerning Technical Regulations Conformity Certification of Specified Radio Equipment (aka Ordinance of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications No. 37, 1981).” This document lays out the various types of equipment, what data is to be collected, and what instrument is to be used to collect the data.
This process is the end-result of a public-private partnership and commitment, a commitment that improves the trade relationship between the United States and Japan. NIST and the FCC partnered with their counterparts in Japan at the MIC to develop the criteria for mutual acceptance. On the private side in the United States, ANSI and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board provided the necessary accreditations. On the private side in Japan, DSP Research led technical liaison and fostered communications among various partners.
ACB, with operations in North America, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom, serves the technology market and device manufacturers seeking wireless approvals and energy-efficiency certifications to the EPA ENERGYSTAR program. 703-847-4700 or www.acbcert.com