Put an end to tangled cables
From summer 2017, all mobile devices sold on the Swiss market will be compatible with a uniform charger. The Federal Council today approved the corresponding revision.
In order to standardize the different regulations for the various products and in particular for telecommunications equipment and electrical devices, the Federal Council has approved the total revision of the Ordinance on Telecommunications Equipment (OIT; SR 784.101.2) and the Ordinance on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC; SR 734.5) (further information here). Since European legislation has also been adapted along these lines, the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on mutual recognition of conformity assessments (SR 0.946.526.81) will continue to facilitate access for telecommunications equipment and electrical devices on the two markets.
More compliant products
The standardization efforts were concretized in the new legal foundations and concern, among other things, cell phones and other mobile devices that must be compatible with a uniform charger by mid-2017 at the latest. This measure will result in fewer chargers and thus less electrical waste.
In addition, the regulations applicable to telecommunications equipment and electrical devices will be harmonized and responsibilities will be more clearly divided. This will make it easier for manufacturers, importers and sales to guarantee that products placed on the market comply with the rules. Monitoring will also be simplified, as the information on the traceability of products has been clarified. Furthermore, the addresses at which the manufacturers and importers can be contacted must now be included with the product. In the case of radio equipment, the power and frequencies used must be listed in addition to any restrictions on use.
Finally, the Federal Council delegated to the Federal Office of Communications the authority to define the regulations for innovative equipment in greater detail. In this way, it ensures that these regulations can be quickly adapted to technological developments and thus positively influence certain markets. One example of this is radio equipment whose functions and parameters can be changed by simply changing the software.
The FAV will come into force on June 13, 2016. A transition period of one year is foreseen to allow the market to adapt to the new rules. The VEMV will come into force on April 20, 2016. These two dates correspond to those set for the amendment of the corresponding legislations of the EU countries.
Source: Federal Office of Communications
