Manufacturers need to be aware of the paperwork application for Singapore type approval. This is the recommended route for applying for IMDA certification. This is because local testing in Singapore is more expensive.
The paperwork application for Singapore type approval has several requirements that must be met. In this case, the criteria are set by the IMDA or Infocomm Media Development Authority, which is the agency that regulates the approval process for telecommunications devices entering and circulating in the country.
The ease and speed of the paperwork application for Singapore type approval is what makes it popular with companies. In fact, Singapore has a faster process than its neighboring countries. Therefore, understanding this process as a whole is something that should not be overlooked.
Also Read
What is the Paperwork Application for RF Type Approval?
Paperwork application or document evaluation is the process for Radio Frequency (RF) type approval, which generally applies in countries that do not require local testing, such as Singapore. In other words, the process involves submitting test report from an international laboratory.
In the application process, each country has its own rules. Generally, testing conducted in international laboratories must comply with applicable international standards, such as Conformité Européenne (CE) or Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
It is important to note that the use of frequencies, power levels, and emissions must also comply with those permitted in the destination country. Usually, testing must still be carried out in an international laboratory that is registered and accredited by the authorities of that country. In Singapore, a paperwork application is recommended for the IMDA certification process.
Is Local Testing for Singapore Type Approval Mandatory?
Local testing for Singapore type approval is not mandatory because IMDA accepts test report from overseas laboratories that comply with applicable international standards. This means that a paperwork application for Singapore type approval is an option.
The absence of a requirement for local testing certainly makes things easier for applicants. It does not make the certification process as lengthy as the local testing process.
What if you don’t have test report from a foreign laboratory yet? Dimulti can certainly help you obtain these test report. We can discuss together whether to conduct the testing in Singapore or in another country.
Sample requirement for Singapore type approval
The non-mandatory nature of local testing means that there is no obligation to send samples. However, samples are still required if you do not have test report from overseas.
For these tests, the number of samples required will depend on the laboratory’s needs. This is due to the policies and testing requirements for the devices submitted.
Foreign Laboratory Testing Requirements
Local testing is not recommended in Singapore; it is important to know the requirements for approved laboratories. The conformity assessment of overseas laboratories for paperwork application for Singapore type approval must present the report of equipment testing conducted in accordance with IMDA Standards.
Testing laboratories recognized by IMDA are based on Phase I mutual recognition arrangements or those that are internationally accredited to ISO 17025. The paperwork application for Singapore type approval also accepts equipment certification from recognized local or foreign certification bodies based on Phase II mutual recognition arrangements.
This is, of course, subject to Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) between IMDA and overseas laboratories and/or certification bodies. There are two phases in the MRA:
- Phase I: Mutual acceptance of test reports. For example, equipment tested and approved by overseas MRA partners will not require re-testing in Singapore, and vice versa.
- Phase II: Mutual acceptance of equipment certificates. For example, equipment certified by overseas MRA partners can enter the Singapore market directly without requiring re-certification, and vice versa.
The following is a list of MRA IMDA partners included in the paperwork application for Singapore type approval.
- Phase I: Australia, India, Canada, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, the United States, Hong Kong, and Vietnam
- Phase II: The United States, Canada, and India
List of testing labs recognized by Singapore
| Reference | Testing Laboratory | Address | Country | Scope of Designation |
| APEC TELMRA Phase 1 | EMC Technologies Pty Ltd | – 57 Assembly Drive, Tullamarine (Melbourne), Victoria 3043, Australia – Unit 16/6 Gladstone Road, Castle Hill, New South Wales 2154, Australia | Australia | EMC- IEC CISPR 22 (excluding disturbances at telecommunications ports) – IEC 61000-4-2 – IEC 61000-4-3 – IEC 61000-4-4 – IEC 61000-4-5 – IEC 61000-4-6. The above may be required as part of the IDA Tech |
| Matrox Conformity GroupCAB ID: CA3617 | 1055 St-Regis, Dorval, Quebec, Canada, H9P 2T4 | Canada | CISPR 32 as part of the requirements defined in the relevant IMDA Technical Specifications | |
| Nemko Canada Inc.CAB ID: CA0101 | 130 Saltsman Drive, Unit 1, Cambridge, Ontario, N3E 0B2, Canada | IMDA TS LMR IMDA TS SRD IMDA TS WBA | ||
| Nemko Canada Inc.CAB ID: CA2040 | 303 River Road, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1H2, Canada | IMDA TS DLCN IMDA TS ISDN IMDA TS PSTN IMDA TS LMR IMDA TS SRD IMDA TS WBA | ||
| Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (Hong Kong) Limited, Taoyuan Branch Lin Kou LaboratoriesCAB ID: TW2021 | No. 47-2, 14th Ling, Chia Pau Vil., Lin Kou Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.) | Chinese Taipei | Lin Kou Dist., New Taipei City (Main): IMDA TS SRD | |
| Intertek Testing Services Taiwan Ltd. Hsinchu LaboratoryCAB ID: TW0597 | No. 11, Lane 275, Ko-Nan 1st Street, Chia-Tung Li, ShiangShan District, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan, R.O.C | IMDA TS PSTN IMDA TS SRD | ||
| Taiwan Testing and Certification Center Communications LaboratoryCAB ID: TW0674 | No. 8, Lane 29, Wenming Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyian City, 33383, Taiwan R.O.C. | IMDA TS PSTN | ||
| Telecom Technology Center Communication and Photovoltaic LaboratoryCAB ID: TW1810 | No. 3, Luke 1st Rd., Luzhu Dist., Kaohsiung City 821, Taiwan R.O.C. | IMDA TS DVB-T2 IRD | ||
| Eurofins Electrical and Electronic Testing NA, Inc.CAB ID: US0129 | 3162 Belick Street, Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA | United States of America | IMDA TS SRD IMDA TS LMR IMDA TS AR IMDA TS CT-CTS IMDA TS WBA IMDA TS UWB | |
| Bay Area Compliance Laboratories, Corp.CAB ID: US0057 | 1274 Anvilwood Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94089 USA | IMDA TS IOT IMDA TS DSRC IMDA TS WSD IMDA TS CT-CTS IMDA TS SRD IMDA TS AR IMDA TS GMPCS IMDA TS CMT IMDA TS CBS IMDA TS UWB IMDA TS WBA IMDA TS LMR | ||
| Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc. (BVCPS)CAB ID: US0106 | One Distribution Center Circle, Suite #1, Littleton, MA 01460 USA | IMDA TS SRD IMDA TS LMR IMDA TS CMT | ||
| Cisco Systems, Inc.CAB ID: US0028 | 170 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134-1706 USA | IMDA TS PSTN IMDA TS DLCN IMDA TS ISDN IMDA TS ADSL IMDA TS SRD |
List of certification bodies recognised by Singapore
| Reference | Certification Body | Address | Country | Scope of Designation |
| IMDA MRA DESScheme | TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd(Certification Department)CAB ID: SGAP02 | 15 International Business Park, TUV SUD @ IBP, Singapore 609937 | Singapore | IMDA TS SRDIMDA TS PLCIMDA TS LMR |
| APEC TELMRA Phase 2 | Bay Area Compliance Laboratories, Corp.CAB ID: US0057 | 1274 Anvilwood Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94089 USA | United States of America | IMDA TS IOTIMDA TS DSRCIMDA TS WSDIMDA TS CT-CTSIMDA TS SRDIMDA TS ARIMDA TS GMPCSIMDA TS CMTIMDA TS CBSIMDA TS UWBIMDA TS WBAIMDA TS LMRIMDA TS DVB-T2 IRDIMDA TS CCHNIMDA TS PLCIMDA TS ADSLIMDA TS ISDNIMDA TS PSTNIMDA TS CMIMDA TS DLCN |
| Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc.CAB ID: US0106 | One Distribution Center Circle, Suite #1, Littleton, MA 01460 USA | IMDA TS DSRCIMDA TS WSDIMDA TS DVB-T2 IRDIMDA TS CT-CTSIMDA TS SRDIMDA TS ARIMDA TS GMPCSIMDA TS CMTIMDA TS CBSIMDA TS UWBIMDA TS WBAIMDA TS LMR | ||
| IIA LAB SERVICES, LLCUS0111 | 13146 NW 86th Drive, Suite 400, Alachua, FL 32615 USA | IMDA TS SRDIMDA TS LMRIMDA TS ARIMDA TS CT-CTSIMDA TS CMTIMDA TS CBSIMDA TS WBAIMDA TS UWBIMDA TS DVB-T2 IRDIMDA TS DSRCIMDA TS IOTIMDA TS WSDIMDA TS GMPCS | ||
| Vista Laboratories, Inc.US0202 | 1261 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente, CA 92673 USA | IMDA TS DSRCIMDA TS WSDIMDA TS DVB-T2 IRDIMDA TS CT-CTSIMDA TS SRDIMDA TS ARIMDA TS GMPCSIMDA TS CMTIMDA TS CBSIMDA TS UWBIMDA TS WBAIMDA TS LMRIMDA TS IOT | ||
| Derycom Certification Services, Inc.US0243 | 1100 Falcon Avenue, Glencoe, MN 55336 USA | IMDA TS CMTIMDA TS DVB-T2 IRDIMDA TS ARIMDA TS CT-CTSIMDA TS DSRCIMDA TS IOTIMDA TS UWBIMDA TS WSDIMDA TS LMRIMDA TS SRDIMDA TS WBA |
The Process of Paperwork Application for Singapore Type Approval
Paperwork submission is subject to strict document requirements for Singapore type approval. The document processing requires several documents to be submitted before the application can be filed. The following are some of the documents required for the paperwork application for Singapore type approval:
- Enhanced Simplified Equipment Registration (ESER)
- Conformity assessment
- Product brochure
- Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
- Simplified Equipment Registration (SER)
- Conformity assessment
- Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
- Photographs of equipment
- Product brochure
- EU-Type Examination Certificate (EU-TEC)
- User manual
- Safety information
- General Equipment Registration (GER)
- Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
- Photographs of equipment
- General information about the product
- Product brochure
- Test reports
- User Guide
- General Equipment Registration by Certification Bodies (GER-CB)
- A certificate issued by a certification body recognised by IMDA
- Photographs of equipment
- General information or product brochure
- Confirmation of Conformity (COFC)
- Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
- Photographs of equipment
- Product brochure
- Test reports are acceptable according to IMDA standards
Once the above document requirements for Singapore type approval have been collected and prepared, they will be submitted via https://licensing.gobusiness.gov.sg/. The submitted documents will be evaluated by IMDA after you have made the payment.
If the evaluation is successful, certification will be prepared for issuance and legalization. However, if the evaluation fails, the missing documents must be completed and then re-evaluated by IMDA.
Basically, the paperwork application for Singapore type approval is the recommended route for certification. However, for those of you who do not yet have test report from overseas laboratories, Dimulti can help you conduct local testing as an alternative.
The laboratory for testing can be selected in Singapore or in another country, as agreed. If this is done, then a sample will be required to be sent as a testing requirement.
Overseas laboratory testing can be done through document evaluation by attaching the test report. However, it must be ensured that the test report are issued by a laboratory that has collaborated with IMDA and/or has ISO 17025 international accreditation.
Problems with the paperwork application for Singapore type approval can cause delays in the application process. For this reason, you can consult with Dimulti to avoid such problems.
We are ready to assist you in overcoming RF type approval issues with over 15 years of experience and a professional team. This way, you will go through an effective and efficient certification process with real-time monitoring and an international network to penetrate the global market.
