Selling electrical and electronic products: the rules by market
The rules electrical and electronic products must meet before going on sale in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, the UAE and Saudi Arabia: who writes them, who enforces them, and what has to be registered, tested and labelled, with the official source for each. Compliant Always shows which of them apply to your product.
Europe
- European UnionIn the EU, electrical and electronic products are CE marked against the Directives that apply: the Low Voltage Directive for electrical safety, the EMC Directive, and the Radio Equipment Directive for radio devices, which also sets the USB-C common charger. RoHS restricts hazardous substances, WEEE sets marking and producer registration, and batteries follow Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.Selling electrical and electronic products in the EU
- United KingdomIn Great Britain, electrical products fall under several sets of regulations at once: electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, radio equipment, and restriction of hazardous substances, each with UKCA or CE marking. Connectable products must meet product security rules, and producers register for WEEE and follow battery rules. Northern Ireland follows EU rules.Selling electrical and electronic products in the UK
- SwitzerlandIn Switzerland, electrical safety follows the Low Voltage Ordinance (NEV), enforced by the Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI). Electromagnetic compatibility and radio equipment are OFCOM's, under the EMCO and the TIO. Hazardous-substance limits and battery rules sit in the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance, from the FOEN. Each asks for a declaration of conformity, kept ten years.Selling electrical and electronic products in Switzerland
The Americas
- United StatesIn the US, devices that emit radio frequency energy, from wireless gadgets to personal computers, are authorised under FCC rules before marketing, by certification or a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity, and carry FCC labels. Consumer products are also subject to CPSC rules, such as the button cell battery rule, and some appliances carry an FTC EnergyGuide label.Selling electrical and electronic products in the US
- CanadaIn Canada, radio equipment and digital apparatus are regulated by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) under the Radiocommunication Act: radio apparatus needs certification, a listing and an IC label, and digital apparatus meets ICES-003. Prescribed energy-using products carry a verification mark, and consumer products fall under the CCPSA.Selling electrical and electronic products in Canada
- MexicoIn Mexico, electrical, electronic and household appliances carry the Spanish commercial information, instructions and warranty terms of NOM-024-SCFI-2013. Electronic equipment meets the safety NOM-001-SCFI-2018, with conformity shown through an accredited body. Equipment that connects to a telecoms network or uses the radio spectrum is homologated, a role passing from the IFT to the new Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones.Selling electrical and electronic products in Mexico
- BrazilIn Brazil, household appliances need certification under INMETRO's Portaria 148/2022 and carry the conformity seal on the product and pack. Plugs follow the Brazilian standard, ABNT NBR 14136. Products that connect to telecommunications networks or use radio spectrum need certification and homologation by ANATEL, now through its Certifica system.Selling electrical and electronic products in Brazil
Asia and the Pacific
- AustraliaIn Australia, household electrical equipment rated above 50 V AC falls under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), run under state law: a registered Responsible Supplier, a risk level, and the RCM. Separately, the ACMA's electromagnetic compatibility rules need supplier registration, compliance records and, for most devices, the RCM. Energy efficiency and button battery rules apply to some products.Selling electrical and electronic products in Australia
- New ZealandIn New Zealand, electrical products must be safe under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, which WorkSafe's Energy Safety enforces. High-risk articles need approval or recognised certification, and medium-risk articles a supplier declaration of conformity. Radio and EMC compliance sits with Radio Spectrum Management, through a registered supplier, a declaration and the RCM or R-NZ mark.Selling electrical and electronic products in New Zealand
- JapanIn Japan, electrical appliances fall under the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act. Manufacturers and importers notify the government, meet the technical standards, inspect and keep records, and mark products with PSE; specified appliances also need a registered body's assessment. Radio equipment follows the Radio Act's technical conformity rules.Selling electrical and electronic products in Japan
- South KoreaIn South Korea, electrical appliances need safety certification, safety verification or a supplier's declaration of conformity under the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, run by KATS. Radio and EMC equipment also needs conformity assessment under the Radio Waves Act, through the National Radio Research Agency (RRA). Listed equipment has hazardous substance limits and take-back duties.Selling electrical and electronic products in South Korea
- SingaporeIn Singapore, 33 categories of household electrical, electronic and gas appliances are Controlled Goods: tested, registered with the Consumer Product Safety Office and marked with the SAFETY Mark before sale. Other appliances meet international standards under the CGSR. NEA sets energy labels, hazardous substance limits and e-waste duties; IMDA registers telecommunication equipment.Selling electrical and electronic products in Singapore
- IndiaIn India, many electronic and IT goods are registered with BIS under the Compulsory Registration Scheme, a self-declaration of conformity notified by MeitY. Household and similar electrical appliances bear the BIS Standard Mark under a Quality Control Order. Low-power radio devices are licence-exempt within set limits, and packs carry the Legal Metrology declarations.Selling electrical and electronic products in India
The Middle East
- United Arab EmiratesIn the UAE, low voltage electrical products need a MoIAT conformity certificate, backed by IEC CB test reports, a rating label, Arabic and English manuals and BS 1363 plugs, and meet the RoHS rules of Cabinet Resolution No. 10 of 2017. Appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators need an energy efficiency label; telecom equipment needs TDRA approval.Selling electrical and electronic products in the UAE
- Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, electrical and electronic products meet technical regulations published by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO): the Gulf low voltage regulation, hazardous substances, electromagnetic compatibility and energy efficiency. Communications and IT devices, including radio equipment, have their own regulation, agreed with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). Certificates are registered in SABER.Selling electrical and electronic products in Saudi Arabia
Other products
- Food
- Supplements
- Beverages
- Alcohol
- Infant formula and baby food
- Pet food
- Cosmetics and beauty
- Cleaning products and detergents
- Toys
- Clothing, footwear and textiles
- Kitchenware and food contact articles
- Consumer goods
Selling electrical and electronic products somewhere not listed here? Tell us the product and the market, and we will come back to you with the rules that apply.
Tell us where you sellCompliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.