Certifications and Licenses by Category: CE, FCC, NOM, ANATEL and More

Importing a product without the right certification for your market is not a minor risk: it can mean customs holding the entire shipment, your customers being unable to sell the product in physical stores, or you facing fines and legal liability for selling non-compliant goods. Each market has its own mandatory certifications depending on the product category, and obtaining them has a cost and a timeline that must be planned before placing the first order.

1. Why certifications are mandatory, not optional

Certifications are not voluntary quality seals: they are legal requirements set by governments to ensure that products are safe for users and compatible with the country's infrastructure (electrical, telecommunications, etc.). An importer who sells a product without the right certification may face:

• The shipment being held at customs until the certification is presented, with storage costs piling up
• Destruction of the goods at the importer's expense if the situation cannot be regularized
• Fines from the relevant regulator
• Legal liability for damage to third parties if the uncertified product causes accidents
• A product recall at the importer's expense

The key point: certification must be sorted out before you place the production order, not after the goods reach the port. Certification timelines range from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the market and the product.

2. CE Marking: the passport to the European market

CE marking (Conformité Européenne) is mandatory for selling products in the 27 countries of the European Union, plus the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It is not a quality certification: it is the manufacturer's (or importer's) declaration that the product complies with the applicable European directives.

Which products require CE

• Electrical and electronic equipment (LVD: Low Voltage Directive and EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive)
• Radio and telecommunications equipment (RED: Radio Equipment Directive)
• Toys (Toy Safety Directive)
• Machinery (Machinery Directive)
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Medical devices
• Construction materials

How CE is obtained

For low-complexity products, the manufacturer or importer can carry out a self-assessment (self-declaration of conformity) if it can demonstrate compliance with the applicable technical standards (EN standards). For higher-risk products (radio equipment, medical devices, hazardous machinery), a Notified Body must be involved to certify the product.

The CE certification process step by step

1. Identify the European directives that apply to your product (there may be more than one)
2. Identify the harmonized standards (EN) that apply and that the product must meet
3. Send samples to an accredited laboratory for testing
4. If the product passes the tests, the laboratory issues the test report
5. The importer or manufacturer prepares the Technical File and signs the Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
6. Apply the CE marking to the product and its packaging

CE costs and timelines

• Laboratory testing for a simple electronic product (LVD + EMC): USD 800 to 2,000
• Testing involving a Notified Body: USD 3,000 to 10,000
• Time: 3 to 8 weeks for standard products; longer for higher-risk products
• Recommended laboratories: SGS, Intertek, TÜV Rheinland, Bureau Veritas

RoHS: a complementary directive for electronics

The RoHS directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) limits the use of hazardous substances in electronic equipment: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. RoHS compliance is mandatory for all electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU and is part of the process of obtaining CE marking.

3. FCC: mandatory certification for electronics in the United States

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates all electronic devices sold in the United States that emit radio-frequency energy. This includes not only devices with WiFi or Bluetooth but practically any electronic device (including those that emit RF unintentionally, such as computers, monitors and power supplies).

Types of FCC authorization

• FCC ID (Certification): required for devices that intentionally emit RF: phones, routers, Bluetooth devices, wireless controllers. The FCC ID must be printed on the product or its packaging
• SDoC (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity): for devices that emit RF unintentionally (computers, monitors, power supplies). The manufacturer declares compliance without the FCC having to issue an ID

The FCC certification process

1. Send the product to an FCC-accredited testing laboratory (there are many in China and the US)
2. The laboratory tests RF emissions, interference and compliance with limits
3. The laboratory issues the Test Report
4. For an FCC ID: submit the report to a TCB (Telecommunication Certification Body), which issues the official FCC ID
5. For SDoC: the importer prepares and keeps the declaration of conformity

FCC costs

• Testing for an FCC ID (WiFi/BT device): USD 1,500 to 4,000
• TCB fee for issuing the FCC ID: USD 300 to 600
• SDoC (testing only): USD 500 to 1,500
• Time: 3 to 6 weeks for standard products

The FCC ID belongs to whoever obtains it

A critical point: if you buy a product that already has an FCC ID from the Chinese manufacturer, that FCC ID is in the manufacturer's name, not yours. If you change the firmware, the circuit design or the product name, you may need to obtain a new FCC ID in your name. Check this with your laboratory before assuming you can use the existing FCC ID.

4. NOM: Official Mexican Standards for importers

In Mexico, NOMs (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas) are the mandatory technical standards that set the safety, information and performance requirements for products sold in the country.

The most relevant NOMs for importers from China

How to obtain NOM certification

1. Identify the NOM that applies to your product
2. Hire a Verification Unit (UV) or accredited laboratory in Mexico
3. Send samples for testing according to the requirements of the specific NOM
4. Obtain the conformity assessment and the NOM certificate
5. Register the product if the NOM requires it

The cost varies by NOM: between USD 500 and 3,000. Some NOMs require annual renewal if the product changes. The best-known certification bodies are ANCE, NYCE and Normex for electronics and home appliances.

5. ANATEL and INMETRO: certifications for Brazil

Brazil is the largest market in Latin America, but also the most demanding in terms of certifications. The two main bodies are:

ANATEL (Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency)

ANATEL regulates all telecommunications devices and radio-frequency equipment: phones, routers, Bluetooth devices, modems. Every product with a radio or wireless connectivity sold in Brazil requires ANATEL approval (homologation). The approval number must appear on the product.

• ANATEL approval cost: USD 2,000 to 8,000
• Time: 6 to 16 weeks
• Testing carried out by ANATEL-accredited laboratories
• The approval belongs to the importer/distributor in Brazil, not the Chinese manufacturer

INMETRO (Brazilian National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology)

INMETRO is Brazil's metrology and quality body, equivalent to Mexico's NOMs. It regulates consumer products: home appliances, toys, footwear and construction materials, among others. INMETRO certification can be compulsory or voluntary depending on the product.

• Check at inmetro.gov.br whether your product has compulsory certification
• Cost: USD 1,000 to 5,000 depending on the certification program
• Time: 4 to 12 weeks

6. Other relevant certifications by market

7. How to obtain certifications: labs, costs and timelines

The general certification process

1. Identify which certifications are mandatory for your product and destination market before placing the order
2. Choose an accredited laboratory: SGS, Intertek, TÜV Rheinland and Bureau Veritas have a global presence and are recognized in every market
3. Request a testing quote: specify the product, the certifications you need and the destination market
4. Send samples to the laboratory (usually 2 to 5 units representative of the final production)
5. The laboratory carries out the tests and issues the report. If the product fails, the manufacturer makes corrections and the tests are repeated
6. With the approved test report, the corresponding certificate is issued
7. Mark the product with the corresponding certification mark (CE, FCC ID, NOM, etc.)

Laboratories offering testing for multiple markets from China

• SGS China: global coverage, strong in consumer and retail testing
• Intertek: especially strong in electronics and CE
• TÜV Rheinland: a benchmark for CE, FCC and German certifications
• Bureau Veritas: broad coverage in Latin America
• QIMA: more focused on quality control, but also does laboratory testing

The supplier's certification is not yours

This is the most common mistake: the supplier shows you a CE or FCC certificate in its Alibaba catalog. That certificate is in the name of the supplier or the original manufacturer. For it to be valid in your name as the importer, you need your own certificate with your name and company details. Some certificates are transferable (you can use the supplier's test report and make your own declaration of conformity), but this depends on the type of certification and the regulator. Check with the laboratory before assuming the supplier's CE covers you.