In 2026, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released Issue 6 of RSS-310, updating the technical requirements for licence-exempt radio apparatus classified as Category II equipment. This standard applies to devices that do not require certification but must still comply with applicable technical and operational requirements. The update replaces the previous Issue 5 published in 2020 and aligns the standard more closely with the general compliance framework outlined in RSS-Gen General Requirements for Compliance of Radio Apparatus. A six-month transition period allows manufacturers and suppliers to comply with either issue before the new requirements become mandatory.
One of the most notable updates in RSS-310 Issue 6 is the restructuring of several requirements to eliminate duplication with RSS-Gen and simplify compliance. The new version removes stand-alone test report requirements and simplifies labeling and user manual provisions by referencing existing RSS-Gen requirements instead. The revision also introduces specific provisions for stand-alone receivers, which must meet receiver requirements in RSS-Gen but are exempt from labeling and test report obligations. Additionally, passive RFID tags—which transmit data by reflecting energy from a reader rather than generating their own signal—are now included in the standard with clear exemptions from test report, labeling, and user manual requirements.
The updated standard also revises requirements for certain specialized devices and operating conditions. For example, underground radio systems, such as those used in mining environments, must include bilingual labeling indicating that the equipment is intended only for underground installations and must ensure radio-frequency leakage above ground does not exceed general field strength limits. Requirements for cable-locating equipment operating between 9 and 490 kHz and AC wire carrier current devices operating up to 30 MHz are clarified to reduce potential interference with authorized services. In addition, transmitters with extremely low input power (6 nanowatts or less) and equipment operating below 9 kHz are no longer fully excluded from ISED rules; instead, they receive targeted exemptions from labeling, user manual, and test report requirements.
Overall, RSS-310 Issue 6 focuses on improving clarity and regulatory efficiency while maintaining safeguards against harmful interference. By consolidating requirements with RSS-Gen and expanding guidance for specific device types, ISED aims to streamline compliance for manufacturers while ensuring that licence-exempt radio devices continue to operate responsibly within Canada’s radio spectrum environment.
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