Telecom certification experts from Nemko America have visited existing and potential
South American partners, primarily in Brazil and Argentina.
The purpose of the visits was to understand the changing regulatory landscape in these countries and to find solutions for Nemko customers entering these markets.
In Brazil, is the ANATEL (National Telecommunications Agency) the primary regulatory authority responsible for telecommunications product certification.
Designated Certification Bodies (OCDs) are the entities that conduct the actual certification process, ensuring that telecommunication products meet the necessary technical standards and governing requirements.
When visiting the OCD Master Certificacoes between Sao Paulo and Campinas, one learned that there are currently not enough test labs to handle the volume of testing.
This has created tremendous difficulties for customers seeking to enter the Brazilian market.
They also met the owners of the OCD Associação Versys de Tecnologia, a young, energetic, and talented group of engineers who have formed one of the newest OCD organizations and were impressed by how they worked with many of the local laboratories to deliver ANATEL certifications efficiently.
In the Campinas region, they visited Instituto de Pesquisas Eldorado (IPE), which is one of the best equipped test facilities in Brazil, also having a COD that operates as a separate entity co-located with the lab.
In the busy city of Sao Paulo, they had a reunion with long-time partner for safety certifications, Associação IEx Certificações, led by Mr. Marco Roque and could discuss the current relationship and explore ways to work more effectively as partners and expand business volume in the region.
In Argentina, they met with the management of the Certification Body Lenor in Buenos Aires, and saw their test capabilities in Energy Efficiency, Safety, EMC, and Radiocommunication.
Lenor has operations throughout Latin America and work with some of the bodies Nemko already partner with to facilitate market access into Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Uruguay.
Traditionally, has Nemko cooperated with Lenor for product safety certification only and now discussed how one could mutually benefit by expanding the relationship to include radio approvals by LATAM for market access for Nemko customers in Latin America and for Lenor customers, global markets through Nemko North America Certification and Nemko GMA services.
A final visit in Argentina was with “old” friends at IRAM, currently celebrating 90 years as a certification body.
One agreed to review the existing mutual acceptance agreement between the parties and explored new opportunities.
IRAM has customers in the oil & gas industry as well as other industries that include explosive environments. While certification is not a mandatory for Ex-equipment in Argentina, these customers require their equipment suppliers to demonstrate that the products will operate safely in these environments. In response to this customer need, IRAM is contemplating a voluntary certification program for Ex-equipment.
In any case, they want to refer manufacturers who need European ATEX certification or/and international IECEx- certification to Nemko.
For further information and/or assistance with product certification/approvals for Latin American countries, please contact Tom.Tidwell@nemko.com or Michelle.Furrow@nemko.com
(This article is based on internal announcement by Tom Tidwell; edited by T.Sollie)