The CB scheme, your passport to export

Regardless of wherever in the world you are seeking to market your equipment, you will need to meet requirements similar to those formulated in Europe via the CE Marking scheme.

For the most part, this will be a question of ensuring that your products are not hazardous to users and their property, that they are not detrimental to the local conditions for using the frequency spectrum and, in addition, that they are compatible from an electromagnetic standpoint.

During your initial discussions with our teams, we shall jointly compile a list of answers to the following questions according to the countries you are targeting:

• What approval procedures are required in the target country?
• Are there any national variations that need to be taken into consideration in relation to the international standards?
• Do the services of a third-party body need to be used?
• Are there any agreements in force that allow for the integration of our test reports?
• Does Emitech or its partners have any such agreements in force?
• Is the marketing of the product dependent on obtaining a certification mark?
• Do your tests need to be performed in a local laboratory?

Depending on the complexity of your project, we may propose a detailed study of it for a more comprehensive analysis of the costs and time frames that might result from your choices.

If your projects concern several countries, adopting the CB Scheme will soon seem like the obvious choice to make. 

The CB Scheme is an international programme for the exchange and acceptance of test results which concerns over 50 countries (N.B. this list is given for information only):

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Hungary, United Arab Emirates, United States, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Niger, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Serbian Republic, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, United Kingdom...

The procedures for obtaining radio approvals must be carried out at the same time as the CB Scheme and fall outside its framework. The procedures are nonetheless taken into consideration by your Emitech Group contact person.

What is the CB Scheme?

The CB Scheme is governed by the IECEE 02 document.

The IECEE is an assessment system for the compliance of electrotechnical equipment and components, which is managed by the International Electrotechnical Commission. In the framework of the IECEE, the IEC coordinates an international system called the OC Scheme, which aims to reduce the barriers to trade between countries in electrical and electronic equipment.

In practice, the CB Scheme is an international programme enabling participating laboratories and certification bodies throughout the world to exchange and accept product safety test results.

According to the approval procedures in force in the target countries, this recognition of test results may be followed by procedures designed to obtain a certification mark when this is required for the marketing of a product. Alternatively, this recognition may simply need to be retained throughout the marketing period for submission in the event of an inspection.

How does the CB Scheme work? 

The main stakeholders in the CB Scheme are the Certification Bodies (CB) which are recognised in each of the countries concerned.

These CBs use approved testing laboratories known as CB Testing Laboratories (CBTL).

The CB Scheme is based on CB test certificates declaring that representative specimens of the product have successfully undergone testing which demonstrates their compliance with the requirements of the appropriate IEC standard. 

The CB Test Certificate may also include an additional report proving conformity with declared national differences. This requirement must sometimes be satisfied in order to obtain a national approval or certification.

Emitech acts as a CBTL in the context of the CB Scheme and works with Emitech Certification as a National Certification Body (NCB).

Electrical safety requirements are taken into consideration in the framework of the CB Scheme which takes place in five stages, in all countries which have adopted this method:

• Stage 1 – Application
  • Any application for a CB Test Certificate can be submitted to an approved CB for the standard in question.
  • Emitech identifies the applicable IEC standard and any variations required for the countries to which you wish to export. Emitech, in its capacity as a CBTL, passes on your application to its CB.
• Stage 2 – Testing and report 
  • Unless agreed in advance by the applicant and the CB, the tests must be carried out by a CBTL that has been approved by the CB, to which the test report must subsequently be submitted for approval.
• Stage 3 – CB Test Certificate 
  • If the CB deems the results of the tests to be favourable, it will issue a CB Test Certificate to the applicant, which is intended to accompany the test report.
• Stage 4 – Registration of the CB Test Certificate 
  • As soon as the NCB issues the CB Certificate to the applicant, a copy will also be sent to the IECEE for registration.
• Stage 5 – Use of the CB Certificate / test report by the applicant.