The following is an extract from an e-mail communication the AutoEMC.net website had with the ACA on the topic of Automotive EMC in Australia. Their response was comprehensive and as such we felt deserved to be shared with the Automotive EMC community. The AutoEMC.net team would like to openly thank the ACA for their rapid and thorough response to our enquiry.

Automotive products which are sold independently of the vehicle must meet the ACA's EMC regulatory arrangements. A common example of this is car audio equipment, which falls under EN 55013, CISPR 13 or AS/NZS CISPR 13.

However the ACA has entered into an agreement with the Federal Chamber of Automobile Industries (FCAI) for its members. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) is the peak industry organisation representing the automotive industry in Australia . The FCAI's membership include the four passenger motor vehicle manufacturers and all major international brands importing and marketing passenger, light-commercial and four-wheel drive vehicles and motor cycles in Australia etc. Under the agreement, a voluntary Code of Practice from the FCAI covers products that are pre-installed in vehicles (ie: fitted accessories and engines).

Please note that automotive products manufacturers who are not members of the FCAI will still be required to meet the Australian EMC regulatory requirements for any vehicles or automotive parts or accessories they provide to the Australian market. These manufacturers will need to display the C-tick on those products which are Compliance Level 2 or 3 products.

The ACA has a list of mandated EMC standards on the following webpage;

http://www.aca.gov.au/stds_compliance/electromagnetic_compatibility/emcbook/append-a.htm.

Standards on this list are mandatory. For example, the EMC standard AS/NZS 2557 applies to vehicles and motor boats propelled by an internal combustion engine, electrical means or both (combustion and electrical).

Although immunity is voluntary in Australia , the ACA recommends that suppliers consider immunity issues at the product design stage. There are general provisions under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 where suppliers are subject to heavy penalties if their products are found to cause interference to the radiofrequency spectrum.

The EMC arrangements are underpinned by two basic regulatory requirements: 1) product compliance with a relevant EMC standard and 2) C-Tick labelling.

The C-tick labelling compliance requirements of motor vehicles and motor accessories will depend upon whether the manufacturer is a member of the FCAI and whether the products they supply are only supplied as an integral part of the vehicle. Regardless of whether the manfacturer is an FCAI member or not, they must still meet an applicable standard for all radiocommunications products. For more details see the following fact sheet:

http://www.aca.gov.au/consumer_info/fact_sheets/industry_fact_sheets/fsi34.htm.

The European e-mark is not recognised in Australia as a mark of compliance for EMC. Automotive products are required to comply with the ACA's EMC regulatory arrangements and must be labelled with the C-tick as per normal arrangements for a host of other electrical and electronic products unless otherwise specified (as above for FACI members).