OFCA

1. Certification Overview

OFCA is Hong Kong's compulsory wireless certification. Radio-frequency and telecommunications products sold in Hong Kong must meet its requirements, obtain certification, and display the mark and approval number. OFCA stands for the Office of the Communications Authority, established on April 1, 2012, succeeding the Office of the Telecommunications Authority.

Certification requirements for telecommunications equipment and industrial, scientific and medical equipment consist of the Voluntary Certification Scheme and the Compulsory Certification Scheme. Under the voluntary scheme, applying for certification is optional, and equipment may be sold or used in Hong Kong without prior certification against the relevant technical specifications. However, manufacturers, suppliers and dealers must still ensure compliance. Fixed network operators may refuse to connect customer premises equipment that does not meet specified requirements. Selling or using radio communications or industrial, scientific and medical equipment that fails to meet relevant HKCA specifications violates the Telecommunications Ordinance and may lead to prosecution. Under the compulsory scheme, certification is mandatory before equipment may be sold or used in Hong Kong. Equipment must comply with: (a) relevant HKCA specifications; (b) technical standards prescribed or recognized by the Communications Authority where no relevant HKCA specification exists, referred to as type approval criteria; or (c) specifications equivalent to (a) or (b), referred to as equivalent specifications.

2. Certification Mark

3. Product Scope

1. Radio-frequency products

2. Telecommunications products

4. Certification Standards

CE/FCC standards may be referenced and their reports used for certificate conversion; HKCA standards may also be used.

5. Required Documents

1. Instructions in English;
2. Circuit schematics;
3. Description of transmission operation;
4. Block diagram identifying chips/crystals, antenna locations and frequency ranges;
5.BOM;
6. Application form;
7. Test reports: CE/FCC reports issued by a CNAS-accredited laboratory

6. Sample Requirements

4 sample sets; no samples required for certificate conversion

7. Certification Process

1. Document Assessment:

(1) Review submitted technical specifications or user manuals to determine whether the telecommunications equipment is likely to qualify for the relevant approval;

(2) Review type approval certificates issued by other authorities and associated test reports to determine whether further equipment assessment is needed;

(3) Review test reports issued by recognized testing agents to determine whether further equipment assessment is needed.

2. Equipment Assessment:

(1) Testing of equipment samples by the certification body against relevant HKTA specifications;

(2) Testing of equipment samples by a recognized testing agent against relevant HKTA or equivalent specifications;

(3) Type approval granted by another authority against specifications equivalent to the relevant HKTA specifications, supported by associated test reports.

8. Certification Timeline & Validity

Certification takes 7 working days. The certificate has no fixed expiry.

9. Mark Usage Guidelines