The Two Certification Schemes of Hong Kong OFTA

Hong Kong OFTA (Office of the Telecommunications Authority) certification is the official market access complianCE certification established by the Telecommunications Authority of Hong Kong for communication and radio equipment. The certification aims to regulate the electrical safety and radio frequency performance of equipment, eliminate spurious radio interference, and ensure the stable and compatible operation of Hong Kong's public telecommunications networks. All telecommunications and radio equipment must pass standard testing, comply with local technical specifications in Hong Kong, and obtain an official certification certificate before they can be legally sold and connected to the network in Hong Kong.

Classification of Certification Categories

According to Hong Kong's official telecommunications equipment evaluation and certification management system, the compliance system for telecommunications and radio equipment in Hong Kong is divided into two major certification modes: the Voluntary Certification Scheme (VCS) and the Compulsory Certification Scheme (CCS), which implement tiered control for different categories of equipment.

I. Voluntary Certification Scheme (VCS)

For this category of equipment, holding a certification certificate is not mandatory. Even if the product has not obtained an official certification certificate, it is still allowed to be sold and used in the Hong Kong market. However, equipment manufacturers, brand owners, and distributors must still bear the compliance responsibility themselves, ensuring that the product's performance, radio frequency indicators, and safety parameters fully comply with the Hong Kong HKTA/HKCA technical specifications.

For terminal equipment that fails to meet the technical standards, public telecommunications operators in Hong Kong have the right to refuse its access to public networks. At the same time, if radio equipment circulating in the market or in actual use does not meet the official standards, it will be suspected of violating the Hong Kong Telecommunications Ordinance (Chapter 106), and the relevant responsible parties will face law enforcement accountability.

II. Compulsory Certification Scheme (CCS)

Telecommunications and radio equipment listed in the compulsory control catalog are subject to a mandatory market entry certification system. Before all products are sold, deployed for use, and connected to the network in Hong Kong, they must complete the official compliance certification to ensure they meet any of the following technical bases:

1. The latest official HKCA technical specifications corresponding to the equipment category;

2. When there is no corresponding HKCA standard, follow the special technical guidelines recognized and published by the Communications Authority of Hong Kong;

3. Adopt compliance specifications that have technical indicators equivalent to the above standards and are officially recognized.

III. Two Major Audit Stages of Certification: Document Evaluation + Equipment Evaluation

(I) Document Evaluation

1. Review product specifications and English manuals to evaluate the feasibility of the product meeting the standards;

2. Verify overseas type approval certificates and supporting test reports to determine whether a re-test of the whole machine can be exempted;

3. Verify the test reports issued by recognized laboratories to finalize the subsequent testing plan.

(II) Equipment Evaluation

• The certification body conducts prototype testing directly based on HKCA standards;

• Entrust a third-party laboratory authorized by OFCA, such as Huashang Testing, to complete sample testing according to HKCA or equivalent standards;

• Apply for the acceptance of the report and direct certificate issuance with exemption from repeated testing by relying on an equivalent overseas certification certificate + a qualified test report.

Which Products Require OFTA Certification?

The following categories of equipment typically need to complete OFTA certification before entering the Hong Kong market:

• Radio Equipment
  Including Wi-Fi devices, Bluetooth products, walkie-talkies, GPS receivers, RFID devices, etc.

• Telecommunications Terminal Equipment
  Such as telephones, modems, routers, network switches, satellite communication equipment, etc.

• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Related Products
  Electronic equipment that may affect radio communications, such as power adapters, industrial control devices, etc.

Core Requirements and Technical Standards for OFTA Certification

OFTA certification is primarily based on the following technical specifications:

Technical Standards

• ETSI EN 300 328: EMC and radio frequency requirements applicable to wireless LAN equipment

• ETSI EN 301 489: General EMC standard for telecommunications equipment

• ETSI EN 300 220: Technical specifications for short-range radio equipment