When applying for India Type approval, two points that can be the main topics of the discussion are lead time and certificate validity. Lead time is the overall time of processing the certification from the start to the end. It’s usually calculated from the completing of sample and documents requirement to certificate issuance date. Whereas validity period is the specific range of time when the certificate is acceptable and recognized as valid.
India Type Approval Lead Time
For India Type Approval, the lead time is varied. It depends on what certification type that we’re processing. When processing WPC ETA or Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing, Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification, the standard lead time is shorter. This certification type can be finished within 1-2 weeks. This is because WPC ETA certification is processed through paperwork method. Which means that there’s no local test is required in India.
However, when we process TEC MTCTE or Telecommunication Engineering Centre and Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment, the lead time is relatively longer. The process can last within 8-12 weeks, depending on the readiness of the samples and required documents. This longer lead time is because TEC MTCTE certification requires local test in India.
India Type Approval Certificate Validity
In India, validity time of the certificate are different. It depends on what certificate type that we have. As we all know, there are 4 key certifications in India: WPC ETA, BIS CRS, TEC NTCTE, and BEE certifications. For WPC ETA certificate, the validity is Lifetime. This means that once we get the certificate issued, we don’t need to renew it anymore. We can sell the certified product for as long as we want. For BIS CRS certificate, the validity is 2 Years. Then, validity period of TEC MTCTE is 5 Years. And lastly, the validity time of BEE certificate is 3 Years.
Why We Care
Understanding the lead time brings many benefits, especially when it comes to product forecast. By knowing when the certificate can be issued, manufacturer will be able to estimate when to start shipping the product, and when the product can go to the market. So, the estimation of when the product can be accessible for the buyer really depends on the Certification lead time.
Besides the lead time, validity period of the certificate is also important. Certificate validity is something that we need to monitor closely in order keep distributing or selling the product in certain area. This is because in some cases, authority only allow product distribution or sale within the validity period. Outside of that, it’s not allowed unless we have renewed the certificate. If that’s the case and we forgot to renew our certificate, it can be too risky. We can get sanction, or even our product can be recalled. Of course, that’s not something that we want to happen. Therefore, we need to monitor the validity time of the certificate to make sure that the products are distributed or sold within the validity period to avoid any issue.