January, 2022
The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFETEL) of Mexico has released new Homologation Guidelines on December 29, 2021. These guidelines will enter into force on June 29th, 2022, granting a transition period of 180 days after its publication.
The newly published homologation framework reinforces some important and mandatory details of the homologation, such as:
Homologation for all types of radio, telecom, and broadcasting equipment
Label requirement for certified equipment.
Homologation certificates can be granted only to Mexican companies.
Types of Homologation Approval Processes under the new Guidelines:
Type A: This process considers testing and results in a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by a local Certification Body (CB) (such as NYCE, ANCE, etc.) and a CoH issued by IFETEL. This process is outlined in the PEC and follows the four Schemes of Type Approval.
Type B: This process is made through Technical Opinion by an authorized “perito” and results in a CoH issued by IFETEL.
Type C: This process is applicable to products that are subject to both Type A and Type B. It considers testing, CoC, and a Technical Opinion from an authorized “perito” and results in a CoC issued by a local CB (such as NYCE, ANCE, etc.) and a CoH issued by IFETEL.
Exemptions to the Guidelines:
Type A: Products that are considered to be inherently compliant in accordance with one or more specific Technical Provisions. Products, however, will not be exempt from compliance with other applicable and required Technical Provisions.
Type B: Products to be used temporarily in the organization and celebration of specific events, that make use of frequency bands of the radio spectrum for secondary use.
Type C: Telecommunications or broadcasting infrastructure that is subject to compliance with Technical Provisions issued through the opinion of a verification unit, or that is considered to be inherently compliant with that specific Technical Provision.
CoCs and CoHs:
Indefinite validity for Type A, Type B, and Type C Approvals. In order for Type B and Type C Approvals to receive indefinite validity, the holder of Type B and/or Type C CoHs must present a Technical Opinion from an authorized “perito” within ninety (90) calendar days prior to the end of two (2) years from the date the CoH was issued, which demonstrates that the products are operating satisfactorily in their modalities and design applications.
They may also be re-issued in a digital format with the same technical characteristics and terms originally given.
The purpose of re-issuing in a digital format:
1) Modification of the information regarding Legal Representatives and/or tax
address
2) Adding or removing affiliates, subsidiaries, or importers declared in the
CoH or CoC
3) Adding or eliminating HTS codes and/or countries of origin and shipment
Approval Types Procedures:
Type A
▪ All required documents must be submitted in Spanish.
▪ Lead time is considerably shorter, CoHs will be issued no later than twelve (12)
business days from the receipt of the application.
▪ IFETEL will be responsible for verifying the validity of the Type A CoH.
▪ The Type A CoH Holder, affiliates, subsidiaries, and/or importers who would use
the CoH must comply with requirements for compliance and give IFETEL access
to the location where the approved Product is located for verification purposes.
▪ The Type A CoH Holder must inform IFETEL about any changes to the Product
that would impact compliance for Type A Homologation, such as internal
adjustments, software, or reconfiguration of the Product in the parameters of the
transmitter, such as power and/or frequency of operation.
Type B
▪ Family Approval is not allowed under Type B Approval. This type of approval
would be considered by Model.
▪ All required documents must be submitted in Spanish.
▪ CoHs will be issued no later than thirty (30) business days from the receipt of the
application.
▪ IFETEL will be responsible for verifying the validity of the Type B CoH.
▪ The Type B CoH Holder, affiliates, subsidiaries, and/or importers who would use
the CoH must comply with requirements for compliance and give IFETEL access
to the location where the approved Product is located for verification purposes.
Type C
▪ The Interested Party must obtain a single CoC and/or inspection opinion issued
by IFETEL as well as a Technical Opinion.
▪ A Type C CoH will only be granted to Products that function as a part of the
Internet of Things (IoT), short-range radio communication, contain a
telecommunication or broadcasting device, or to a Family of Product Models that
are covered by a single CoC and/or inspection opinion and Technical Opinion
issued by accredited “perito” and may not be modified from the technical
characteristics that were initially approved. ▪ Type C CoHs will be issued in digital format, which includes the identification of
those who may use it, and the Technical Provisions, Mexican Official Standards,
and/or the applicable standards of compliance that must be demonstrated.
IFETEL may suspend the CoHs for Type A, Type B, and Type C Approvals:
1) The Product presents changes that impact compliance, when IFETEL receives
notice of CoC suspension or the inspection opinion from a conformity assessment
body, and when the Product creates damages or harmful interference to
telecommunications or broadcasting networks and/or services. The suspension
ceases the legal effects of the Homologation temporarily until the procedure in
question is resolved.
2) In cases of suspension, IFETEL will inform the Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s
Office and Ministry of Economy within three business days of the date IFETEL
was informed, and publish the suspension notice and dates when its effects will
resume. The Holder (and where appropriate affiliates, subsidiaries, and/or
importers) of the suspended CoC must correct the deficiencies leading to
suspension within twenty business days from the date of notification of
suspension.
3) If these deficiencies are not corrected within the timeframe given, IFETEL will
revoke the CoH.
The CoH Holder must comply with Marking or Label requirements:
1) Each Approved Product must have a physical or electronic marking or label
that contains the number of the current Type Approval certificate, in which the
number must be preceded by “IFT”.
2) This information may appear on the packaging and/or in the manual.
3) Physical markings or labels must be permanently fixed (engraved, stamped,
printed, or affixed) and easily visible by future users.
4) In the event the Product is too small for physical labeling or marking, the label
or mark may be displayed electronically in the operating system of the Product
itself if it is not possible to display the number on the packaging, label, wrapping,
travel sheet, or internal or manual electronic registration.
5) Some Technical Provisions may include additional labeling requirements.
6) If the Approved Product is a telecommunications or broadcasting device
certified under the Scheme for “Sample of Telecommunications or Broadcasting
Device and Surveillance,” in accordance with the PEC, the mark or label must be
held only by Products that function as a part of the IoT, or short-range radio
communication.