[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Australia RCM Mark AustraliaGlobalRegulation guide # Australia RCM Mark — Regulatory Compliance Mark The RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is Australia's unified mark indicating compliance with both electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) framework. Since 2016, RCM has replaced the separate C-Tick, A-Tick, and SAA/RCM marks for most product categories — but the underlying regulatory obligations remain distinct. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Faustralia-rcm-mark) At a glance Safety body EESS (state regulators) EMC/radio body ACMA Record retention 7 years NZ recognition TTMRA (electrical safety) ## RCM scope: EESS and ACMA ### Electrical Safety (EESS — Equipment Levels 1, 2, 3) **Detail:** Level 1 covers most electrical equipment including ICT and AV equipment — supplier registration only required. Level 2 applies to some power tools and commercial equipment — a registered competent person sign-off is needed. Level 3 covers highest-risk equipment including fixed wiring accessories — third-party certification by an accredited CB is required. ### ACMA EMC and Radio Compliance **Detail:** Mandatory for all equipment that emits radio frequency energy (virtually all electronics) and for radio communications devices. Supplier must hold a compliance folder with test evidence. The ACMA framework is separate from EESS but both must be satisfied before the RCM mark can be applied. ### RCM Mark — Unified Signal **Detail:** The RCM mark signifies that both the electrical safety (EESS) and electromagnetic compatibility/radio (ACMA) pathways have been satisfied. Applying RCM before completing both pathways is non-compliant and carries enforcement risk from both regulators. ### New Zealand Mutual Recognition **Detail:** The RCM mark is accepted in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) for electrical safety. ACMA regulatory compliance is separately required for NZ — confirm NZ-specific radio requirements with RSML (Radio Spectrum Management) before assuming full AU/NZ equivalence. ## EESS levels and product classification 01 Identify your EESS equipment level using the EESS product portal at eess.gov.au. The portal classifies electrical equipment into Level 1, 2, or 3 based on product type and risk profile. 02 Level 1 (most ICT, AV, and IT equipment): obtain the RCM mark licence, register as a responsible supplier on the EESS portal, and retain test evidence from a NATA-accredited or equivalent laboratory. No third-party certification body is required. 03 Level 2 (some power tools and commercial equipment): engage a registered competent person to certify the product meets applicable AS/NZS safety standards. The competent person's declaration is retained in your compliance records. 04 Level 3 (highest risk — fixed wiring accessories, some high-current devices): engage an accredited CB (NATA-accredited body or IECEE CB scheme participant) to issue a CB certificate. Submit the CB certificate to the relevant electrical equipment safety regulator. 05 Confirm the applicable Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS series) for your product type. AS/NZS standards are substantially based on IEC standards but include Australian/NZ-specific requirements that must be verified. ## ACMA compliance for radio/EMC 01 ACMA compliance is mandatory for all intentional and unintentional emitters — virtually every electronic product falls within scope. There is no de minimis exemption based on emission level. 02 AS/NZS CISPR 32 (emissions from multimedia equipment — equivalent to EN 55032): mandatory for ICT and AV equipment. Tests must be conducted to AS/NZS parameters, not simply referenced from EN 55032 reports. 03 AS/NZS 4268 (short-range devices — equivalent to ETSI EN 300 220): applies to devices operating in the 915 MHz ISM band and similar short-range frequency allocations. 04 AS/NZS 4771 (Bluetooth — equivalent to ETSI EN 300 328): applicable to Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band. Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz products are assessed under AS/NZS 4268 or AS/NZS CISPR 32 depending on device classification. 05 Self-declaration approach: the supplier prepares a Declaration of Conformity with reference to the applicable AS/NZS standards. Test evidence must be held in the ACMA compliance folder maintained by the Australian supplier. 06 There is no FCC/CE equivalency exemption — products must be tested to AS/NZS standards. EN 55032 test reports cannot be substituted for AS/NZS CISPR 32 reports without laboratory confirmation of equivalence. ## Supplier registration and RCM application ### EESS Portal Registration **Detail:** The responsible supplier (an Australian or New Zealand entity) must register on the EESS portal. Registration is required before the RCM mark may be applied to Level 1 products. The registration records the supplier, product type, and applicable standard. ### RCM Licence **Detail:** The RCM mark is licenced through the electrical equipment safety regulators (state-based in Australia). A single national licence is available through Energy Safe Victoria acting on behalf of all state regulators. The licence permits use of the RCM mark on compliant products. ### Test Evidence and Laboratory **Detail:** Test evidence from a NATA-accredited laboratory is preferred for EESS compliance. IEC/EN equivalent test reports may be used with a gap analysis confirming AS/NZS equivalence. ACMA test evidence must specifically reference AS/NZS standards. ### Post-Market Obligations **Detail:** Retain compliance records for 7 years. Respond promptly to ACMA compliance checks — ACMA may request the compliance folder at any time. Do not use legacy marks (SAA approved, C-Tick approved) — use 'RCM compliant' only. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does CE marking reduce testing requirements for Australia RCM? Not directly. CE marking test reports from ILAC-accredited laboratories can form the basis of an RCM compliance assessment, but a gap analysis is required to confirm that the CE test parameters satisfy the corresponding AS/NZS standards. For ACMA compliance, the test report must specifically reference AS/NZS standards — EN reports cannot be substituted without formal equivalence confirmation from the test laboratory. In practice, many products require supplementary testing to AS/NZS standards. ### Is the RCM mark accepted in New Zealand? The RCM mark is accepted in New Zealand for electrical safety purposes under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA). However, radio and EMC compliance for New Zealand is administered separately by Radio Spectrum Management (RSM), and some products may require additional NZ-specific assessment. Confirm NZ radio requirements before assuming the Australian RCM mark provides full market access in New Zealand. ### What is the difference between EESS Level 1, 2, and 3 for ICT products? Most ICT products (computers, monitors, printers, networking equipment, audio-visual equipment) are classified as Level 1 under EESS. Level 1 requires supplier registration on the EESS portal and retention of test evidence, but does not require a third-party conformity assessment body or a registered competent person sign-off. Level 2 and Level 3 apply to higher-risk electrical equipment categories that are less likely to include standard ICT products. Check the EESS product classification portal to confirm your specific product's level. ### Do battery-operated products with no mains connection need RCM? Battery-operated products that plug into mains for charging are within EESS scope for the charging function and may require RCM. Products that are entirely battery-operated with no mains interface are outside EESS electrical safety scope, but may still require ACMA compliance if they contain radio interfaces or emit electromagnetic energy. Check both EESS product classifications and ACMA radiocommunications device definitions for any battery-operated product before assuming RCM is not required. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇦🇺 Australia roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇦🇺 Australia compliance for you? 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