Importing from China, NRCS

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DanielSon7

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HI,
I imported a tablet from China via DHL to test a R&D project at my Company. I received the tablet at my door step with no issues. The testing went well so I ordered 10 more to test communication between tablets and controllers. DHL contacted me and said Customs wants all the documentation, proof of payments, clearing instructions, DHL costs and packaging list.
The items are now with customs @ R10p/d and the NRCS will not release the items without the proper certification and a LOA. The tablets comply with all the EN standards but not IEC. They want a accredited institute to write a deceleration to say that the EN60950-1 falls under the same safety standards as IEC60950-1.
What can I do to get the certification without spending more than what the items are worth. How does this Chinese malls import electronics?
 
Just ran into the same problem with my media players :(

Hopefully supplier can supply me with the test report to have it certified.

Customs are getting really strict now.
 
I've had this problem before with cameras I imported to sell. I did a lot of research and finally managed to get the cameras without a letter of authority.

An LOA is not required for importing electronics running off 5 volts (USB powered), but the wall chargers using 220 volt wall sockets that are supplied with the electronic device must meet certain standards for approval. So as long as the cameras I import are without the non-approved charger (220V to 5V micro usb charger), or are supplied with IEC 60950 compliant chargers then I may import the cameras without any LOA being required.

After bringing this up the NCRS gave me my cameras but had to hold onto the chargers. I had the option to get an LOA for the chargers or have them destroyed.

Would it then be possible to remove the chargers from the boxes and in future I can source the chargers locally as they are standard micro usb phone chargers
 
Sensorei said:
I've had this problem before with cameras I imported to sell. I did a lot of research and finally managed to get the cameras without a letter of authority.

An LOA is not required for importing electronics running off 5 volts (USB powered), but the wall chargers using 220 volt wall sockets that are supplied with the electronic device must meet certain standards for approval. So as long as the cameras I import are without the non-approved charger (220V to 5V micro usb charger), or are supplied with IEC 60950 compliant chargers then I may import the cameras without any LOA being required.

After bringing this up the NCRS gave me my cameras but had to hold onto the chargers. I had the option to get an LOA for the chargers or have them destroyed.

Would it then be possible to remove the chargers from the boxes and in future I can source the chargers locally as they are standard micro usb phone chargers
Click to expand...

Will keep that in mind, might have to do that also. I see the cost is only R1800, I am willing to pay it to get it sorted as I got good deal on it.

Waiting to hear from the NRCS guy to come to back me now. I do have his direct number and email address.

I might just tell them send it back to sender and refund the sender the shipping fees and try again. I use Dhgate to import it and the seller only get the money when once I receive the goods. Dhgate acts as middle man and keep the money, until I am happy.
 
The cost is not so bad. It's the admin backlog they have for LOA approvals which means you can wait 3-4 weeks before you get your stuff released.
 
So far the person at NRCS was quite helpful and willing to help me out.

He said worse case is, I have ship the power adapter to PTA and they will test it and certify it for me at a cost.

Once NRCS has my package he will contact me again, so that we can have meeting to help me through the process.

Hopefully I can get test certification from the Chinese supplier, that will save me time and money.

Edit: Received the test report, looks good!
 
Last edited:
Sensorei said:
I've had this problem before with cameras I imported to sell. I did a lot of research and finally managed to get the cameras without a letter of authority.

An LOA is not required for importing electronics running off 5 volts (USB powered), but the wall chargers using 220 volt wall sockets that are supplied with the electronic device must meet certain standards for approval. So as long as the cameras I import are without the non-approved charger (220V to 5V micro usb charger), or are supplied with IEC 60950 compliant chargers then I may import the cameras without any LOA being required.

After bringing this up the NCRS gave me my cameras but had to hold onto the chargers. I had the option to get an LOA for the chargers or have them destroyed.

Would it then be possible to remove the chargers from the boxes and in future I can source the chargers locally as they are standard micro usb phone chargers
Click to expand...
Hi Where did you find this info to tell the NRCS to let go of your product. I have a 5v hair tool USB that they confiscated and they don't believe this thread... Is there an act or whatever that I can show them?
..
 
Natell said:
Hi Where did you find this info to tell the NRCS to let go of your product. I have a 5v hair tool USB that they confiscated and they don't believe this thread... Is there an act or whatever that I can show them?
..
Click to expand...
Go to the office where it is held, maybe they willing to assist. The guy in CPT office, did assist me with it.

I never got my LOA certificate to import more, but I my goods was released.
 
Contact T.E.S.T Africa, on 012 3491145 or email Gerhard Holtzhausen on [email protected] (for IEC60950 related items) or Sarel Mare' on [email protected] (for IEC60335 related items), they will be able to assist with the relevant reports and declarations as well as any advice.
 
LawrenceK said:
Contact T.E.S.T Africa, on 012 3491145 or email Gerhard Holtzhausen on [email protected] (for IEC60950 related items) or Sarel Mare' on [email protected] (for IEC60335 related items), they will be able to assist with the relevant reports and declarations as well as any advice.
Click to expand...

I phoned them a while ago. They are unbelievably expensive. Quoted me R28,000. I am paying R8000 for the exact same report in China through my supplier. I will never use them as it's too expensive and will rather use the suppliers' suggested testing labs that are accredited and accepted here.
 
NCRS is a pain, I have R1mln worth of inventory sitting at bond store, packaging was wrong doesn’t comply with regulations, packaging corrected need to submit new approved packaging sample then I can start selling.. huge learning curve, did the corrections myself and found really smart people to help with getting the right box material
 
Natell said:
I phoned them a while ago. They are unbelievably expensive. Quoted me R28,000. I am paying R8000 for the exact same report in China through my supplier. I will never use them as it's too expensive and will rather use the suppliers' suggested testing labs that are accredited and accepted here.
Click to expand...
I was quoted around R50000 few years back for media player power adapter.

My stuff did get released as I got the report from china, but it was not good enough so never got certification, but they did release the goods.
 
NRCS is about the money, rather than the safety of the consumer.

It's hard to believe that a product is safe and be sold in countries like UK and Germany - but it can't be sold in Africa ? NRCS have just adopted a safety standard (1 April 2021) that has been in existence for years already.
 
Sensorei said:
I've had this problem before with cameras I imported to sell. I did a lot of research and finally managed to get the cameras without a letter of authority.

An LOA is not required for importing electronics running off 5 volts (USB powered), but the wall chargers using 220 volt wall sockets that are supplied with the electronic device must meet certain standards for approval. So as long as the cameras I import are without the non-approved charger (220V to 5V micro usb charger), or are supplied with IEC 60950 compliant chargers then I may import the cameras without any LOA being required.

After bringing this up the NCRS gave me my cameras but had to hold onto the chargers. I had the option to get an LOA for the chargers or have them destroyed.

Would it then be possible to remove the chargers from the boxes and in future I can source the chargers locally as they are standard micro usb phone chargers
Click to expand...
Do you know if this is still applicable or if they have changed legislation to require a LOA for 5V USB devices?

I am having a very hard time finding info on the NRCS website
 
ChristineS said:
Do you know if this is still applicable or if they have changed legislation to require a LOA for 5V USB devices?

I am having a very hard time finding info on the NRCS website
Click to expand...
I think its still valid, they hardly asked for it do small amount of devices.
 
Does this LOA thing trigger with single items, or only when multiple units are involved?
 
ChristineS said:
Do you know if this is still applicable or if they have changed legislation to require a LOA for 5V USB devices?

I am having a very hard time finding info on the NRCS website
Click to expand...
I highly doubt things have changed. Customs just don't always know their own laws. Once I presented customs with the official documentation which stated that an LOA is not required for 5V USB powered electronic goods, they released the cameras. But the camera's 5V power supplies did need a LOA, because that is where is safety hazard is.
 
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