Global Market Access: Can FCC Testing be Used for the CE Marking?

You’ve designed a great new wireless product, and you can’t wait to get it in the hands of customers. But first, there are regulatory hurdles to be cleared.

Most countries regulate the testing of digital devices, radiofrequency (RF)/radio devices, and products with integrated wireless technologies before they are imported, marketed and sold. Before offering your product for sale, you must comply with complex testing requirements in the country where the product is manufactured, as well as the countries where it will be distributed and sold.

Safety is at the heart of these regulations. Compliance testing verifies that electronic devices are safe to use and will not interfere with other wireless devices operating nearby.

In the regulatory realm, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States (U.S.) and the European Commission (EC) in the European Union (EU) are two key players with oversight for wireless devices. Before your product hits store shelves, it will need an FCC label for sale in the United States and a CE Marking for sale in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Manufacturers with plans to sell their products in both the U.S. and Europe may wonder if they can leverage their FCC testing to obtain the CE mark, or vice versa. This blog will explore differences in FCC and CE testing requirements, and whether there is any overlap that could save you time and money.

FCC Certification & Compliance
The FCC is an independent federal government agency responsible for implementing and enforcing communications law and regulations in the United States.

With oversight from U.S. Congress, the FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

In the United States, all electrical devices capable of producing radiofrequency (RF) emissions above 9kHz must undergo testing to ensure they meet FCC requirements. That includes an almost endless range of everyday products, from garage door openers to baby monitors. FCC testing standards are based on the type of radiofrequency produced by that particular product, as detailed in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Independent, third-party laboratories, such as Industrial Inspection & Analysis (IIA), perform FCC compliance testing, or “equipment authorization,” to verify that telecommunications and radiofrequency (RF) devices function effectively without causing harmful interference to other devices operating nearby. FCC compliance testing also ensures that devices comply with FCC safety standards, RF emission limits and other FCC rules and requirements.

In terms of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, the FCC only requires emissions testing to prevent electromagnetic interference with other devices. The FCC label on a product tells users that the device is safe to use and does not prevent other electronic devices in the vicinity from functioning properly.

The FCC label is recognized far beyond the borders of the U.S. If a product sold outside the U.S. is sporting the FCC label, it means that the product was either manufactured in the U.S. or manufactured elsewhere for sale in the U.S.

CE Certification & Compliance
Goods that are manufactured in the European Union, or manufactured elsewhere and sold in the EU, must undergo testing to earn the EU’s official marking for Conformitè Europëenne (CE) (a French term that translates in English to “European Conformity”). The CE Marking is governed by the EU's New Approach Directives and covers diverse products ranging from toys to medical supplies to machinery. The CE marking offers access for manufacturers to sell their qualifying product throughout the European Economic Area (EEA), which consists of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and three countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, excluding Switzerland.

The rigorous testing required to earn the CE Marking helps to demonstrate that the product performs as intended without endangering health, safety or property. The CE Marking requires EMC emissions testing to ensure the device does not interfere with the operation of other nearby digital devices. The CE Marking also requires EMC immunity testing to ensure that the device operates properly even when exposed to electromagnetic interference from other nearby devices. In addition, manufacturers must conduct a complete risk assessment and product safety testing to earn the CE Marking.

FCC vs CE Testing: How Do They Differ?
Both the FCC and CE Marking are recognized around the world and represent rigorous testing to ensure the safety and quality of electronic devices and to verify that they will not interfere with the other electrical products.

While there is some overlap, the testing involved with earning the FCC label and CE Marking is not identical or interchangeable. There are notable differences in the testing scope, standards, procedures and processes used to achieve each certification.

For this reason, FCC testing cannot be used to substitute for CE testing. The test measurement procedures and test setups for FCC testing are significantly different from those required by EU standards, including variations in frequency ranges, limits, and test methodologies.

For example, the FCC only regulates EMC emissions testing; while the CE Marking requires both EMC emissions and immunity testing, as well as product safety testing.