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The body responsible for the certification scheme (in
this case, MCMC) has the responsibility to consider the
choice of available specifications and to select and adopt
the applicable ones, set qualification limits, and enforce
compliance to those limits.
Standards are usually set or adopted by industry
bodies through a process of discussion, investigation and
consultation. Once a standard has been agreed upon,
the industry concerned will then develop products and
services according to the specifications that have been
decided.
COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS
MCMC together with the Malaysian Technical Standards
Forum Berhad (MTSFB) develop standards for the
Malaysian communications industry. MTSFB is an
industry forum that was designated as a technical
standards forum under the mandate given to MCMC in the
CMA 98. It develops and recommends codes or standards
for registration under the CMA 98. Membership is open
to operators, manufacturers, vendors, universities, R&D
organisations, government agencies or non-government
agencies and other interested parties.
The process of standardisation is carried out by
established Working Groups. Areas covered by the MTSFB
are fixed and wireless terminals, network infrastructure,
terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, IPv6, Internet of
Things etc. Once these standards have been registered
under the CMA 98, all devices meant for the Malaysian
market
have
to
be
certified for compliance
with these standards.
The finalisation of a
standard goes through a
process of study, drafting,
consulting and approval.
First
there
is
the
formation of a Working
Group (WG). The WG then
drafts the Standard. The
draft Standard is then put
up for public comments
or consultation. After
comments are received,
the WG will review the
comments. A final draft is then readied and approved
by the Reference Panel and MTSFB Board. It is then
submitted as a recommendation to MCMC. After approval
by MCMC, the Standard will be registered and published.
Details of all standards and codes approved by MCMC can
be found at
http://www.skmm.gov.my/.
DEVICE CERTIFICATION
Product certification bodies usually are Accredition Bodies
that adhere to ISO/IEC Guide 65:199, an international
standard for ensuring competence in those organisations
performing product certifications.
SIRIM QAS International is the Certifying Agency
(CA) appointed by MCMC for the purpose of certifying
compliance with codes and standards issued by MCMC for
all communications equipment. SIRIM QAS International
is also the Cross Border Regulatory Agency (CBRA)
appointed by the Royal Malaysian Customs for the
purpose of issuing import permit for all communications
equipment imported into the country.
The process for certification of a device is generally
summed up in four steps:
• Application which includes submission of the product
test reports, issued by an accredited lab;
• Evaluation to determine if the test reports indicate
that the product meets the qualification criteria;
• Decision, where the certification body certifies that
the product meets the standards and certification
criteria; and
• Surveillance, by which the regulators monitor the
market to ensure that products in the marketplace
continue to meet the standards and certifications
criteria.
The certification requirements for communications
devices cover the following areas:
• Safety (Electrical and Radio Frequency Specific
Absorption Rate);
• Interoperability (Performance Characteristics); and
• Radio Frequency (Frequency, Power Limit and
Electromagnetic Compatibility).
MCMC CERTIFICATION LABEL
All certified communication devices sold in Malaysia shall
have an MCMC certification label on them. Some of the
communication devices which must carry such labels
include mobile telephones, WiFi devices, walkie-talkie,
digital or satellite TV devices, computers, laptops, tablets,
fixed phones and fax machines, just to name a few. In June
2015, MCMC introduced a new labelling program which
allows certificate holders to prepare MCMC labels on their
own through Self-Labelling Program (SLP) administered
by SIRIM QAS International. This programme aims to
facilitate the ease of certified products being labelled by
the certificate holders and improve the business process.
Old and new MCMC certification labels
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