On 12 October 2026, NTEK’s international department invited Mr Ryan Currin and Mr Lloyd, senior experts from Conformity Certification Services Pty Limited (CCS) of Australia, for a dedicated interview. CCS is a leading electrical product safety certification body for the Australian and New Zealand markets. It holds accreditation under JASANZ, the New South Wales REAS scheme and the Queensland RECS scheme, and can issue voluntary EMC certificates that meet the mandatory requirements of the ACMA and New Zealand’s RSM — making it one of the most authoritative issuing bodies within the SAA certification system.

As China’s exports of electrical and electronic products to Australia continue to grow, RCM registration and SAA compliance have become prerequisites for entering the Australian market. The interview addressed the practical questions most often raised by Chinese manufacturers, and set out the core SAA requirements on family model definition, scope of control, report review, documentation and labelling.

01 Product family applications: “same DNA” as the criterion

SAA allows a product family to be applied for as a group, provided the models within the family are consistent in appearance, materials, structure and key components, differing only in functional configuration, physical dimensions or input power. If models differ materially in these “DNA” elements they cannot be grouped in a single application. This rule directly determines whether a company can reduce certification cost and lead time through a family application.

02 Scope: around 70 product categories under mandatory certification

Around 70 product categories are currently on the SAA mandatory certification list, typically power sockets, plugs, adapters, vacuum cleaners and AC fans. Exporters should identify compliance requirements against this list at the product planning stage, so that products are not kept off the Australian and New Zealand markets because certification was missed.

03 Report review: risk review as the core logic

For test reports issued by Chinese laboratories, CCS applies a risk review mechanism: different product categories carry different safety risk dimensions and the focus of the review shifts accordingly, covering water resistance, heat resistance, UV resistance, moisture resistance, mechanical strength, protection against electric shock, electrical isolation and other key indicators. Companies should therefore complete test items and the evidence chain at the testing stage in line with the risk concerns of the target market.

04 Application documents: three core items required

According to CCS requirements, companies submitting an SAA application must prepare the following:

· A CB report and CB certificate, or a safety test report issued by a CNAS-accredited or equivalently qualified laboratory that includes the Australian national deviations;

· Product instructions in English;

· Product rating label information.

05 Labelling: the RCM mark and pre-allocated numbers

After an SAA certificate is obtained, products must bear the RCM mark and the corresponding SAA certification number. Notably, CCS issues a pre-allocated approval number (PAN) at the time the application is submitted, so companies can begin label and packaging design and plate-making without waiting for the certificate to be formally issued — significantly shortening preparation time for market launch.

The interview set out the practical essentials of SAA certification for Chinese exporters and further consolidated the basis for cooperation between NTEK and CCS on Australian certification projects. NTEK has long worked closely with authoritative overseas issuing bodies, offering customers competitive pricing and shorter certification lead times. IEC series reports issued by NTEK’s domestic laboratories carry CNAS accreditation and are recognised by SAA bodies, so they can be used directly for SAA conversion.

If you have requirements relating to Australian market access, please contact NTEK’s international department at any time. We will help you complete your Australian market entry efficiently and in compliance.