PUBLIC NOTICE![](media/image1.png){width="0.6541666666666667in"
height="0.6604166666666667in"}

**Federal Communications Commission**

**445 12th St., S.W.**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

> **DA 01-180**
>
> **Released: January 25, 2001**
>
> **European Conformity Assessment Bodies accepted to Certify or Test
> Radiofrequency and Telephone Terminal Equipment in Accordance with the
> Terms of the US-EU Mutual Recognition Agreement**

In accordance with the terms of the Mutual Recognition Agreement between
the United States of America and the European Union, the European Union
has designated and the FCC has accepted thirty-two Conformity Assessment
Bodies (CABs) that may either certify or test radiofrequency and
telephone terminal equipment for compliance with FCC regulations.

The United States of America and the European Union signed a Mutual
Recognition Agreement (US-EU MRA) in May 1998, covering multiple product
sectors, including equipment subject to mandatory Telecommunications and
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) regulations. The US-EU MRA entered
into force on December 3, 1998; and the Telecommunications and EMC
annexes became fully operational on January 16, 2001. The agreement
facilitates trade by allowing manufacturers the opportunity to bring
products to market in a more timely fashion. A copy of the text of the
US-EU MRA is available at
[www.useu.be/docs/mra98.pdf](http://www.useu.be/docs/mra98.pdf).

Seven of the CABs designated by the EU and accepted by the FCC are
Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs). TCBs may certify
radiofrequency and telephone terminal equipment under Parts 2 and 68 of
the Commission\'s Rules. The FCC designated thirteen domestic TCBs on
June 2, 2000 (Public Notice, DA 00-1223). The new EU TCBs will have the
same privileges and responsibilities as U.S. TCBs.

The requirements for TCBs were specified in the Commission's Report and
Order (R&O) in GEN Docket 98-68 (FCC 98-338), adopted on December 17,
1998,
[www.fcc.gov/oet/dockets/gen98-68/](http://www.fcc.gov/oet/dockets/gen98-68/).
Additional information about the TCB program is provided in a Public
Notice, dated August 17, 1999, DA99-1640,
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Public_Notices/1999/da991640.html>.

The FCC will send a letter to each EU TCB. The letter will provide
guidance on the certification of products within its scope of
designation. In accordance with the policy stated in the August 17,
1999, Public Notice DA-99-1640, we are restricting all TCBs from
approving equipment for which there is not yet a documented and
recognized test procedure. At present, only certain transmitters fall
within this category. A table delineating which transmitters a TCB can
approve will accompany the letter to each TCB. Steps are being taken to
eliminate this restriction.

Twenty-five of the CABs designated by the EU and accepted by the FCC are
accredited test laboratories. Part 2 of the FCC rules permits certain
equipment to be self-authorized by the manufacturer or supplier by
issuing a Declaration of Conformity (DoC). The DoC procedure requires
the equipment to be tested by an accredited laboratory. The twenty-five
EU test laboratories are now authorized to perform measurements for
DoCs. The European accredited laboratories will be immediately added to
the FCC list of accredited laboratories.

Reciprocally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
has designated and the EU accepted a total of thirty-three US CABs. The
US CABs may certify or test radio frequency and telephone terminal
equipment in accordance with EU regulations. For further information
regarding the CABs designated by NIST see
<http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/216/mramain.htm>.

For further information about this notice, contact Bill Hurst of the
Office of Engineering and Technology at: (202) 418-7266, email:
<whurst@fcc.gov>; or, Bill Howden of the Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-2343, email: <whowden@fcc.gov>, TTY: (202) 418-0484.