Common Questions and Answers

Updated July 2026Switching power supplies, semiconductor converters, semiconductor rectifiers and inverters are listed in Annex A of the CISPR 11 standard referenced in ICES-001 as examples of group 1 industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment. As such, they are under the scope of ICES-001.

However, when such a power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter is marketed together with equipment subject to another ICES standard, or is marketed independently but is exclusively intended for use with this specific equipment, then power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter may alternatively be verified together with the equipment it is intended for against the applicable ICES of that equipment.

In this case, the power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter shall be considered as an integral part of the equipment under test (EUT), together with the equipment it is intended for, as one multiunit EUT. For example, the power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter shall be included in the EUT arrangement and placed on the support table together with the equipment (when this is tabletop) during radiated emission measurements.

Examples are power supplies, converters, rectifiers or inverters intended for:

• information technology equipment (ITE), such as an external power supply for a laptop computer: may be tested together with the ITE against ICES-003;
• lighting equipment: may be tested together with the lighting equipment against ICES-005;
• ISM equipment: may be tested together with the ISM equipment against ICES-001;
• charging electric vehicles: may be tested together with the vehicle against ICES-002.

The labelling requirements in the corresponding standard shall apply to the power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter, when this is marketed independently. However, if the power supply, converter, rectifier or inverter is exclusively marketed together with the corresponding equipment, labelling the former is not required, though recommended. In either case, the labelling requirements shall apply to the equipment itself.

Updated July 2026Any product placed on the Canadian market must comply with the applicable standard at the time when it is manufactured, imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold in Canada. When the applicable standard is updated and the transition period expires (which means that the old edition of that standard is no longer valid), the product's test report must be updated to demonstrate compliance of the product in question with the latest version of the standard. In many cases, the changes can be as simple as adding some text (e.g. a new page) to the report, explaining why the changes made to the standard do not affect the product’s compliance.

In case of Category I equipment, there is no need to update the certification submission or the REL listing, provided the equipment complies with the latest edition of the applicable standard(s), as per the above. In this case, the updated test report shall be kept on file by the manufacturer / importer for as long as the product is manufactured, imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold in Canada and it shall be made available to ISED upon request during this time.

NOTE: The above guidance applies only to products that are already certified and listed in the REL. If a new product version is being added to an existing family through a C1PC application, or if a product identical to one already certified is seeking certification through a Multiple Listing application, the applicant must still show compliance with the latest published version of the applicable standard. This can be done either by providing a declaration of compliance, where no new requirements affect the product, or by submitting a supplementary test report to address any new requirements that have not previously been evaluated.

For additional information, see the following links:

• Paragraph 4(3) of the Radiocommunication Act requires that all equipment for which a standard exists is compliant with that standard at the time when any of the actions listed therein takes place (i.e. manufacture, importation, distribution, lease, offer for sale, or sale).
• Paragraph 5(1)(d) of the Radiocommunication Act gives the power to our Minister to establish technical standards.
• Paragraph 2.1 of the Radiocommunication Regulations states that the applicable standards are those listed in the Category I and Category II equipment standards lists, as amended from time to time.
• The standards in force at any given time are those listed in the Category I equipment standards list and in the Category II equipment standards list, both published on the ISED website.

No, a special authorization cannot be granted retroactively. If a product has previously been certified, and subsequent testing reveals that the device does not meet the applicable ISED standards (in some, or all, aspects), that product would now be considered non-compliant. In that case, when a company realizes their product is non-compliant, there is no avenue for asking for a retroactive special authorization. The company would need to take steps to bring the device into conformity with the regulatory standards. Should an audit by ISED discover such a non-compliance, there are a range of compliance and enforcement actions that could be taken by the department, including removing the product from the market.

In all cases, the responsibility falls on the company to ensure their products are in compliance with all regulations at all times. 

Typically, RSS standards are developed to be technology neutral. Therefore, equipment must meet the frequency range and technical specifications in the applicable standard, regardless of the underlying technology.

For equipment certification, the test report shall not be dated more than 12 months before the application for equipment certification is submitted. The tests within the test report may have been conducted more than 12 months before this date but must remain valid with the applicable requirements.

All certified radio products are listed in the Radio Equipment List (REL). You can search for the product with various parameters such as the model number or certification number. For details, see RSP-100 for labelling requirements.

Updated July 2026In cases where there is no applicable ISED equipment standard, there is no need to undergo a certification process or to provide a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC).

However, if the equipment is a radio apparatus, unless it is only capable of reception of broadcasting (and is not a distribution undertaking), then a radio authorization is required for installation, operation and possession of such equipment. The radio authorization is usually issued as a licence.

If the radio apparatus is used solely for the purpose of research and development, experimentation, demonstration or assessment of marketability, it may be subject to a developmental licence. You may visit the Developmental Licence Playbook and follow the instructions.

In rare cases, a special authorization can be granted by following RSP-102; applications can be submitted online.

The licensees and grantees are responsible for complying with subsection 4(1) of the Radiocommunication Act and make sure the equipment meets the terms and conditions of the radio authorization (which includes licences and special authorizations).

For more information regarding licences, please contact spectrumoperations-operationsduspectre@ised-isde.gc.ca

For more information regarding special authorizations, please contact consultationradiostandards-consultationnormesradio@ised-isde.gc.ca

For more information, please contact our Certification Bureau at certificationbureau-bureauhomologation@ised-isde.gc.ca 

Please visit the following link for information regarding certification fees.

Examples of fee calculations. Additional Information regarding fees.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will accept a FCC test report with the following conditions:

• The test report issue date must be less than one year old;
• The test report must satisfy all the requirements of the latest issue of the applicable ISED standard(s).
• The test report shall be from a test laboratory recognized by ISED.
• A cross-reference table must be submitted with the test report to show that the equipment meets all of the requirements of the latest issue of the applicable ISED standard(s).
• In case of different or additional requirements in the applicable ISED standard(s), the test report is updated or a separate additional report is submitted to demonstrate compliance with these requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This guidance does not apply to RF Exposure test reports. Due to the significant difference between FCC and ISED RF Exposure requirements, FCC RF Exposure test reports will not be accepted. A test report issued specifically to show compliance to the requirements of RSS-102 and its companion documents is mandatory.

If you wish to report any compliance issues, please complete a Non-Compliance Report form. Once you have reported a non-compliance case, you will receive an acknowledgement by email. ISED will conduct a study and may contact you for more information.

See also the Equipment market surveillance webpage.

The labelling requirements specified in ICES product standards are all referring to ICES-Gen, but they also give an example label, specific to that ICES standard.

The new issue 2 of ICES-Gen simplified the labelling requirements, prescribing a generic label that may be used regardless of what ICES standard or standards apply to the equipment. Products using the previous label format do not need to be relabeled because all the necessary components, per issue 2 of ICES-Gen, are already in their label. 

If the ITE or digital apparatus is exclusively installed in the vehicle / boat at the factory, before the vehicle / boat is placed on the market, then ICES-003 does not apply. In this case, the ITE or digital apparatus is verified together with the vehicle/boat against ICES-002.

However, if the ITE or digital apparatus is (also) marketed independently, e.g. for post-market installation in a vehicle/boat, then the ITE or digital apparatus has to comply with ICES-003.

Even though ANSI C63.4 does not have any requirements on stabilization time, we would not consider a lighting equipment that fails the limits in ICES-005 during the startup period as actually failing the requirements of ICES-005, as long as that lighting equipment passes the limits after it enters stable operation mode.

Please note however, that any device, even if no ISED standard exists for that device, is subject to the provisions of the Radiocommunication Act with respect to the prohibition to cause harmful interference to radiocommunication services.

The SDoC is an attestation accomplished by affixing a label on each unit of the product model (similar to the CE mark in Europe, or the FCC mark in the U.S.); it is not a document requiring a signature. 

Typically, the manufacturer will be performing the testing / labelling in accordance with the technical standard.  The SDoC is accomplished through the labelling of the product. The manufacturer can be located in another country without being a Canadian legal entity. 

Importers and distributors have a legal responsibility to ensure the equipment they are importing or distributing in Canada is in compliance with ISED’s technical standards.  This can be done by verifying with the manufacturer that the device was tested and is in compliance with ISED’s rules, including labelling requirements.  

If the manufacturer did not test the devices for Canada, the importer would have the responsibility to perform the testing/labelling before placing any product for sale on the Canadian market. 

See ICES-Gen. 

The detailed requirements for Modular Approval are stated in RSP-100 Form D.

For further details, please refer to RSS-GEN and RSP-100.

The host device requirements are dependant on the type of certification of the module being integrated, Limited Modular Approval or Full Modular Approval.

The module(s) shall be integrated into host products as per the requirements/instructions for intended use/configuration provided by the module certificate holder.

Host products and associated modules (i.e. final product) shall meet all applicable requirements set out in RSS-GEN, including the radio frequency (RF) exposure compliance requirements in RSS-102.

For further details, please refer to RSS-GEN and RSP-100.

Host products do not usually require certification provided they contain certified radio modules and do not contain any other radio transmitters. Consult RSP-100 to see if host certification is necessary.

Host products and associated modules (i.e. final product) shall meet all applicable requirements set out in RSS-GEN, including the radio frequency (RF) exposure compliance requirements in RSS-102.

Testing Laboratories and Certification Bodies that are recognized by ISED are listed on ISED's website. Testing laboratories test the products according to the required Canadian regulations for radio certification with ISED. Certification Bodies are recognized independent organizations who conduct certification of radio-communication equipment for the purpose of sale in the Canadian market.

See the Conformity assessment bodies webpage.

Certification of a product requires various steps and documents which are detailed in RSP-100. The product must comply with Canadian regulations and standards. The application can be submitted electronically, using the Equipment Certification Services provided on the Spectrum Management System website. Generally, applicants utilize the expertise of Testing Laboratories and Certification Bodies  to obtain certification with ISED for the Canadian market.

The procedure to apply for radio equipment certification is RSP-100. The Form/Annex A and Form/Annex B from RSP-100 must be completed and signed. These Annex forms and other required documents must accompany your application.

The requirement for documents varies according to the type of application and services required. Please see Annex/Form C of RSP-100 for complete list of required documents.

When multiple product versions (identical or similar products) with unique PMN, HVIN and FVIN combination are certified under one certification number, it is referred to as family certification. Multiple versions can be listed in the Radio Equipment List with one application or multiple applications over time. Please see the additional requirements for family certification in RSP-100.

When the existing certificate holder or another entity/company (new applicant) requests a new certification number based on an existing certification, it is referred to as a multiple listing application. Please see the additional requirements for   multiple listing in RSP-100.

When certified equipment is modified, the extent of the modifications will determine the required actions for the client. If the product modifications require notification to ISED, then a permissive change application (reassessment) is required to be submitted. The requirements for permissive change application(s) are provided in detail in the RSP-100.

Any modifications to a certified product may require recertification with ISED. The various types of modifications are divided into four categories and referred to as Permissive Changes. The requirements for different types of changes to a certified product are detailed in RSP-100.

Post-certification audits will be conducted by ISED and the CB in order to ensure continuing compliance. The certificate holder shall provide random radio product samples at the certificate holder’s expense, when requested by ISED or the CB, for post-certification audit testing, or for investigations related to a radio interference complaint.
In the event of an investigation of non-compliance, the certificate holder will be asked to provide ISED with records of the quality control process, as well as any relevant information that could help identify issues related to compliance.

Yes, the application can be submitted to ISED with one certification number which will also be a terminal registration number. It is considered a Dual Certification (Terminal and Radio).

Updated July 2026No recognition is required for testing labs to perform simple calculations to determine compliance with FRL.

Provided a testing lab is recognized for the relevant RSS (non-RSS-102) the device under which the test falls (e.g. RSS-247), no additional scope of recognition is required to submit test reports where simple calculations are used to show compliance with FRL.

Yes, If MIMO-capable equipment complies with all requirements in RSS-111, the equipment may be certified under this standard. Standards are intended to be technology neutral. RSS-111 covers equipment with multiple transmitters in Section 5.3.1.

The introduction of NB-IoT equipment in the band 2500-2690 MHz would need to be consulted with interested stakeholders prior to modification of the standard. ISED would re-visit this matter the next time the standard is revised. Accordingly, all equipment operating in the frequency band 2500-2690 MHz, including base station, must meet the requirements in the current RSS-199.

Antennas themselves do not require approval by ISED. However, should the technology to be used be ultra-wideband (UWB), then the UWB GPR device is required to comply with the requirements prescribed in RSS-220. Certification of these types of devices is required. 

Vehicular key fob systems (i.e. both the key fob itself and the onboard vehicle UWB component) using ultra-wideband technology fall under the handheld category and shall apply the requirements of that category. 

ISED seeks to harmonize as much as possible. However, in this particular case, ISED implemented different limits than the FCC limits for the 1.61-4.75 GHz frequency band in order to protect services such as the mobile service in adjacent frequency bands. It should be noted that for the frequency band from 4.75 GHz to 10.6 GHz, ISED has limits harmonized with FCC.

While the frequency band 300 GHz – 3 THz does fall within the scope of the Radiocommunication Act, ISED does not currently prescribe any specific regulatory requirements for the infrared transmitter itself other than ICES-003 (due to the use of digital circuitry in the remote control for controlling and conditioning the data sent through the infrared transmitter). As such, equipment such as remote controls continue to only require compliance to ICES-003. The change to RSS-310 was intended to ‘future-proof’ the regulations in light of the continuing evolution with regards to spectrum uses.

ISED allows the two headphones to be certified under one HVIN or two HVINs. If the applicant wishes to have two HVINs (one for left and one for right), ISED will accept the HVINs as Family Certification. 

An applicant who does not have a Canadian address and contact must provide in writing the identity of a contact representative located in Canada who is capable of responding to enquiries and who can provide post-certification audit samples at no charge to ISED. The requirement is further detailed in RSP-100.

Category I equipment must meet the requirements of the applicable ISED standard(s) and requires certification. Category II equipment must meet the requirements of the applicable ISED standard(s) but is exempt from certification. See subsections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Radiocommunication Act  the Radiocommunication Regulations and ISED information on compliance requirements.

Label exemption requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. To obtain such an authorization, please submit a request to the Certification and Engineering Bureau with:

• product make and model;
• reasons why the label cannot be applied on the product, as required by the applicable standard;
• supporting material, such as drawings or photographs.

If it is determined that the request is valid, the Certification and Engineering Bureau will issue an authorization for an alternative label placement, such as in the user manual and/or product packaging.

However, in case of devices with size equal to or smaller than two and a half centimetres (e.g., earbuds and hearing aids), if the product label information cannot be placed on the device itself, the product label information shall be placed in the manual and on the packaging. For these small devices, label exemption request to ISED CEB is not required.

No person shall manufacture, import, distribute, lease, offer for sale, sell, install or use equipment which is not certified and not listed in the REL.

Radio apparatus used solely for the purpose of research and development, experimentation, demonstration or assessment of marketability are exempt from certification and labelling requirements but may be subject to a developmental licence. These radio apparatus shall not be leased, sold, or offered for sale in Canada.

RSS-HAC applies only to a subset of radio devices (e.g. cellphones) listed at the following page: Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control

Updated July 2026As per the RSS-102 issue 6 requirements, as long as a testing laboratory seeks certification from an ISED-recognized certification body that has the Radio Scope 7: Simulation for Radio Frequency (RF) Exposure, no pre-approval from ISED is needed for a certification filing that includes a simulation report.

However, if certification is being sought from a certification body without Radio Scope 7 for a certification filling which includes one or more simulation reports, an approval letter from ISED is required for each simulation report.

The algorithm was approved several years ago; will the product need to be tested against the latest requirements in RSS-102.SAR.MEAS?

Updated July 2026Only the approved TAS algorithms listed on the ISED website can be implemented into wireless devices, including RF modules, for the purpose of equipment certification.

The certification application shall meet all the requirements and include all the required test cases in Annex G of the latest version RSS-102.SAR.MEAS irrespective of when an algorithm was approved by ISED. TAS algorithm developers and vendors have the responsibility to provide appropriate documentation, tools and training to the testing laboratories to perform the required testing as per the requirements of the latest version of RSS-102.SAR.MEAS.

The transmit function of the radio transmitter can be turned off provided it does not affect the emissions from the digital or Information Technology Equipment (ITE) circuitry.

Alternatively, if the transmit function is kept on, the emissions related to the radio transmitter can be ignored when assessing compliance with ICES-003 limits. However, this may complicate the test setup since there may be a need to include notch filters or attenuators. In this case, an emission having a level above the applicable ICES-003 limit can be ignored only if it is demonstrated to be generated by the radio transmitter and not by the digital/ITE circuitry.

In case the emission level measured with the peak detector is at or below the average limit, then reporting only the peak detector result is sufficient.

If the emission level measured using the peak detector is at or below the peak limit, but above the average limit, the measurement has to be performed with both the peak and average detectors and both results need to be reported for that specific emission frequency.

As stated in the first paragraph of section 1.4 in ICES-003 issue 7, the equipment must comply with both ICES-003 and the applicable RSS standard(s). The simplest way to demonstrate compliance with this requirement is to insert a reference to the RSS report in the ICES-003 report. Alternatively, a combined ICES-003/RSS report can be used.

Here’s an example of a reference that can be added to the report:

This product has also been tested to and demonstrated to meet the requirements of the applicable RSS : see (Company ref number of the test report).

The applicant (e.g., manufacturer of the digital or Information Technology Equipment (ITE) product) will need to provide this information to the testing laboratory in order for them to include it in the ICES-003 report.

This scenario is addressed in the second paragraph of section 1.4 in ICES-003 issue 7. In this case, the digital/ITE product is considered a “host”, per RSS-GEN, and two requirements apply:  labelling of the host; and compliance with RF exposure requirements (per RSS-GEN and RSP-100). Therefore, specific to the test report:

1. Labelling: the ICES-003 report should include a section where compliance with the labelling requirements is demonstrated. Either a photo of the label or a drawing (if the product sample tested is a prototype and the label has not yet been printed) will suffice.
2. RF exposure: the ICES-003 report will have to demonstrate that the host, with the radio module installed and active, is compliant with RSS-102. The extent of information necessary to be included in the ICES-003 report depends on the specific situation.
   1. The ICES-003 report shall include the attestation of the host manufacturer that the radio module was incorporated in the host device in accordance with the instructions specified by the radio module’s certificate holder and that the host device, with the radio module installed, continues to comply with RSS-102.
   2. In case there are deviations from the instructions specified by the radio module’s certificate holder, the ICES-003 report shall demonstrate the compliance of the host device, with the radio module installed, with RSS-102.
   3. For handheld and/or wearable host devices (such as cellphones and smartwatches), host certification is required since modular certification is not adequate unless the host contains only one transmitter module for which the specific absorption rate (SAR) is exempted or below 0.4 W/kg. When a handheld/wearable host contains multiple modules, host certification is required in all cases regardless of 1) whether the transmission is only from one module at any time or from a number of modules simultaneously and 2) the SAR value of the individual modules (see RSP-100) 

Updated July 2026Under REC-CB, written contracts are required when a CB relies on external testing laboratories because its in-house laboratory does not cover all standards within the CB’s accredited scope. In those cases, the contractual agreements must be with testing laboratories recognized by ISED, located in an MRA economy, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the MRA partner's accreditation body, and must ensure the lab's accredited scope covers the required standards and provide CB personnel access to staff and facilities and the right to witness/supervise testing. Copies of such contractual arrangements shall be provided to ISED (Canadian CB directly; foreign CB via their Designating Authority) prior to recognition.

Please see Agreements/Arrangements for the list of economies with which Canada has implemented MRAs.

Updated July 2026

For a new recognition:

• Signed and dated cover letter confirming compliance with REC-CB
• Copies of the certificates and scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and applicable contractual agreement(s), if any
• Completed cross reference checklist
• Radio apparatus certification procedure
• Internal product audit procedure(s) showing how minimum audit requirements for certified equipment will be met
• Accreditation assessment report, signed by the AB assessor(s), including the list of employees interviewed
• List of employees responsible for key operations/certification activities and the physical address where work will be performed
• AB provided list (based on Category I equipment standards list) of all RSSs and/or BETS in the assessment scope, including the latest issue numbers and publication dates.

For renewal and scope amendment:

• Copies of current certificates and scopes of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and applicable contractual arrangement(s), if any
• If employee assignments changed since the last renewal: an updated list of employees responsible for key operations/certification activities and the physical address. If no changes: a statement confirming no employee changes
• AB provided list (based on Category I equipment standards list) of all RSSs and/or BETS in the assessment scope, including the latest issue numbers and publication dates.

The testing laboratory should provide:

• A signed cover letter, indicating:
  • that the applicant meets all requirements of the latest issue of DES-LAB
  • that the applicant will provide ISED with information and access to records, personnel and facilities to verify continuing compliance
  • the MRA country (i.e. foreign economy) and the type of designation being sought (new, renewal or scope amendment)
  • the standards for which designation is being sought
• Copies of current certificate and scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017
• Evidence that the testing laboratory is legally identifiable and located in Canada
• A list of foreign standards in the scope of designation (using the foreign economy’s terminology)
• Any other specifications from the foreign economy for which designation is being sought (e.g. the United States’ Federal Communications Commission checklist)

Lab recognition is not required for labs testing equipment under the scope of:

• Compliance Specification CS-03: Parts III and Part IV
• Broadcasting Equipment Technical Standards:  BETS-3 and BETS-7
• Interference-Causing Equipment Standards: All
• Radio Standards Specification: RSS-310

Please note that lab recognition is not required for labs testing Category II equipment standards. 
Lab recognition is required for labs testing Category I equipment standards.

Updated July 2026

• A separate checklist is required for each testing location listed on the Scope of Accreditation;
• On-site assessments are required for initial recognition and scope amendments that include RSS-102 elements;
• The assessment date of the checklist shall not be older than 12 months, except for laboratories that are accredited by an AB that conducts biennial assessments, but issues accreditations annually. For these laboratories, in the years where no assessment is performed, applications that do not include an updated checklist shall include a statement from the AB confirming that the laboratory remains in compliance with the previously submitted checklist.

Updated July 2026The REC-CB procedure clarifies that contracted testing laboratories must be recognized by ISED, located in an MRA economy and accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by a recognized accreditation organization or equivalent, as per the terms of the MRA.

For a list of partners with which Canada has established mutual recognition agreements or arrangements for conformity assessment of telecommunication equipment, please refer to the MRA implementation schedule.

Robots and autonomous machines are subject to the interference-causing equipment standard (ICES) that corresponds to their main function and intended use. As such, industrial, commercial or domestic robots are subject to ICES-001; autonomous vehicles, boats and devices with traction batteries are subject to ICES-002; other types of robots, such as toy robots, are subject to ICES-003.

If the robot or autonomous machine incorporates radio modules, then it must also comply with the radio standard specifications (RSS) that apply to the specific radio technology.

ICES standards apply only to finished products, not to components. RSS standards apply to both finished products and to radio modules (see modular certification in RSS-GEN and RSP-100).

Accessories that are independently marketed, such as a wireless computer mouse or a corded external power supply, are finished products and thus subject to the applicable ICES and/or RSS standard.

Only the external component (e.g., an external thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner) is subject to ICES-003, as opposed to the entire appliance.

Certification is required for type 3 WPT devices as specified in RSS-216 and for some WPT devices that require a special authorization.

Yes. RSS-216 provides classification requirements for WPT devices into three types (Type 1, 2, or 3). If the Qi WPT device intentionally transmits electromagnetic energy that is modulated with information on the WPT frequency, then it is classified as Type 2 or 3, based on the two conditions, specified in RSS-216. Otherwise, it is classified as Type 1.

ISED standards typically applies to final products. However, a radio module can be separately certified, as described under modular certification in RSS-GEN and RSP-100.

LoRa (from “long range”) devices that contain no other type of radio transmitter and operate in the 902-928 MHz band at power level between 15 dBm to 30 dBm, require radio certification under RSS-247

No, a device must be inside the building, enclosed by four walls, a roof and a floor to be considered indoor.

ISED does not recognize equipment certified under other jurisdictions. Devices entering Canada must be certified under the applicable Canadian technical standard.

To reduce the investigated frequency range to less than the full 3 kHz to 10 MHz span, the applicant must demonstrate that:

• the characteristics of the transmitter are known
• there are no emissions produced by the device under test (DUT) outside of the investigated frequency range as stated in RSS-102.NS.MEAS.

The characterization is an analysis of the radiated emissions from the DUT over the entire frequency range from 3 kHz to 10 MHz. To ensure proper frequency range reduction, the applicant shall provide spectrum plot(s) over the entire frequency range of 3 kHz to 10 MHz demonstrating that there are no emissions outside the investigated or reduced frequency range.

When a new issue of an RSS is published, all devices that continue or start to be placed on the market after the specified transition period expires shall meet the latest RSS issue requirements.

For already certified products, a reassessment application to ISED is not required unless the device is required to be retested and values listed in REL require revision due to the new issue of the applicable RSS; however, situations like this are very rare. In most cases, new RSS revisions do not impact the already certified products. Nevertheless, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their products are compliant to the latest issue of the applicable RSS.

ISM equipment are generally not subject to RSS-102. However, wireless power transfer (WPT) source devices (transmitters) covered under RSS-216 are subject to RSS-102 even when classified as Type 1 (i.e., interference-causing equipment).

The supplier responsible under the SDoC includes all persons or entities located in Canada who are involved in one of the activities listed in subsection 4(3) of the Radiocommunication Act. These activities are: manufacture, importation, distribution, lease, offering for sale, and sale.

Who the supplier is depends on the specific situation. For example, a person or entity importing interference-causing equipment units of a specific model into Canada is the supplier, responsible under the subsection 4(3) of the Radiocommunication Act, as are all persons and entities subsequently involved in the distribution, lease, offering for sale, and sale of such equipment in Canada; but in this scenario the manufacturer, who is not in Canada, is not a supplier responsible under the Act.

If a product that is subject to and is already in compliance with ICES-002 is modified, the persons or entities involved in any of the activities listed in subsection 4(3) of the Radiocommunication Act relative to the modified product are responsible, under the Act, to maintain the product’s compliance with ICES-002. This includes the person or entity who performed the modification (if located in Canada), the importer of the modified product (if the product is modified outside Canada), as well as any person or entity distributing, leasing, offering for sale or selling the modified product in Canada.

An example scenario is a flatbed truck imported into Canada: the importer, as well as all distributors, leasing agencies and vendors or dealers are responsible, under the Act, for the truck’s compliance with ICES-002. If one company then purchases such trucks and installs various accessories on them to transform them into dump trucks, cement trucks, lorries, etc., that company (as the manufacturer), as well as all distributors, leasing agencies and vendors or dealers of the modified trucks are each considered to be a responsible party for the purpose of this standard and thus are each responsible, under the Act, for the compliance of the modified products.

The last stage Canadian manufacturer is therefore responsible for completing its due diligence to ensure that changes made to a compliant vehicle body by adding other compliant equipment / devices (e.g. OEM parts) do not take the end product out of compliance.

Modular Approval (MA) is not permitted for devices under RSS-248. Modules subject to RSS-248 compliance can only apply for certification under a Limited Modular Approval (LMA) as per section 4.8.7 of RSS-248 issue 3, except for indoor subordinate devices, which cannot be certified as modules (neither MA nor LMA) regardless of the scenario.

Even if a module meets all the requirements of RSP-100 Form D, which allows for full Modular Approval (MA), the requirements in RSS-248 take precedent and restricts the ability to proceed as MA, as such, the module can only be considered for LMA (except for indoor subordinate devices).

Applications to ISED for the sole purpose of changing the status of previously certified modules from MA to LMA are not required. ISED will automatically modify the MA status for previously certified modules to LMA directly in Spectra.

Coverage of an Equipment Class: Yes, ISED allows a C4PC application for a module to cover a specific equipment class under RSS-248, rather than only a single host.

Certification Conditions: The CB certificate must clearly specify that the module can only be installed in hosts that qualify under the designated equipment class. The certificate shall also list all requirements associated with that class, and require the manufacturer to include installation instructions with the module.

Permissive Changes (C1PC Eligibility): Once a C4PC is granted for an equipment class, any host in that class that meets the requirements may integrate the module and be eligible for C1PC. No separate permissive change application is required for each individual host.

Integration into Different Equipment Classes: If the module needs to be integrated into hosts belonging to a different equipment class, a new C4PC application is required for the additional class.

RF Exposure Requirements: If any specific module/host combination requires a new RF Exposure assessment, another C4PC application will also be necessary.

ISED will not require C4PC applications for certified modules that have been integrated into existing hosts and were introduced on the market prior to RSS-248 issue 3.

Module and host manufacturers are nevertheless responsible for ensuring that hosts currently on the market which contain RSS-248 modules meet all the requirements associated with the designated class in RSS-248 issue 3.

However, ISED will require C4PC applications for certified modules that are integrated into new hosts, in order to demonstrate that the hosts meet all the requirements associated with the designated class in RSS-248 issue 3. A C4PC can cover a single host or a specific class of host under RSS-248 (See answer to question #101).

NEW July 2026As per RSS-GEN, every unit of a certified module shall be identified with a label that includes the certification number and the HVIN. There is no exemption to this requirement when the module is imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold on its own on the Canadian market, unless the module has its own display and can use E-Labelling.

Special module labelling exemption may be requested prior to the original module certification, only when a certified module is strictly integrated in hosts prior to introduction on the Canadian market, and the module will never be imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold on its own on the Canadian market. In such cases, the host device shall have the module certification number displayed on its external surface, unless E-Labelling is used.

NEW July 2026As per RSS-GEN, every unit of a certified module shall be identified with a label that includes the certification number and the HVIN. There is no exemption to this requirement when the module is imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold on its own on the Canadian market, unless the module has its own display and can use E-Labelling. Therefore, in such situation, if E-Labelling is not possible, the Multiple listed module is required to have a label which displays the certification number and HVIN issued during the Multiple Listing certification process.

For specific situations where a module is re-certified via Multiple Listing by a host integrator to facilitate the submission of subsequent permissive changes (ex.: C4PCs), the module is exempted from having to be re-labelled with the new IC ID and HVIN issued via Multiple listing, if the following conditions are met:

• The multiple listed module is only integrated in hosts, prior to importation, distribution, lease, offer for sale, or sale on the Canadian market;
• The multiple listed module is installed in the host in a manner that it is not accessible nor visible to the user;
• The host product is labelled to display the certification number issued via multiple listing for the module, in the following format: “Contains IC: XXXXX-YYYYYYYYYYY”. Alternatively, the module’s certification number can be displayed by the host, using E-Labelling;

The multiple listed module will never be imported, distributed, leased, offered for sale, or sold on its own on the Canadian market.