Regulatory Compliance News

Switzerland Updates OFCOM Radio Equipment Regulations to Align with EU Frameworks

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM/BAKOM) issued a formal regulatory notification revising the Ordinance of OFCOM on Radio Equipment (SR 784.101.21), updating technical provisions governing telecommunications hardware and radio installations placed on the Swiss market. Transmitted to the World Trade Organization under notification G/TBT/N/CHE/280, the legal amendment updates national administrative rules, technical spectrum parameters, and compliance references. By modernizing these standards under the Ordinance on Telecommunications Installations (FAV/TIO), Switzerland maintains close bilateral regulatory alignment with European Union Directives, specifically the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU).

A key highlight of the revised regulatory framework is the formal integration of standardized charging interface mandates and enhanced technical parameters for wireless hardware. In line with European harmonization efforts, the updated rules establish mandatory USB-C common charging requirements for designated portable radio equipment categories, alongside technical specifications governing unbundled charger sales and visual labeling disclosures. Additionally, the ordinance updates technical spectrum usage conditions and recognized testing standards for short-range devices (SRDs), low-power radio systems, and digital broadcasting equipment to protect primary radio services from harmful electromagnetic interference.

These structural administrative changes directly impact market access procedures managed by OFCOM. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), authorized local representatives, and importers distributing wireless hardware in Switzerland must ensure product construction files reflect the updated technical references. While Swiss legislation accepts both domestic and EU Declarations of Conformity (DoC), compliance managers must verify that technical documentation, user information, and hardware labeling comply with OFCOM's updated ordinance parameters prior to placing equipment on the Swiss market.