NCC vs BSMI: what is the difference?

NCC (National Communications Commission) covers radio and telecom conformity: intentional emission, receivers, band plans. BSMI (Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection) covers electrical safety and EMC (immunity and non-radio emission). The two regimes coexist, and most consumer radio products go through NCC and BSMI in parallel.

Is an FCC test report accepted by NCC?

No. FCC reports are not directly transferable. NCC enforces its own limits, particularly in the 5 GHz and 60 GHz bands, and requires testing against local technical specifications, notably the Low Power Radio Frequency Equipment Technical Specifications (低功率射頻器材技術規範). An FCC report can serve as documentary support, but a dedicated campaign or top-up testing is typically required.

Is a Taiwan-resident representative mandatory?

Yes. For most NCC routes, the applicant must be a Taiwan-resident entity: the local manufacturer if established there, or an appointed agent (importer, distributor, Taiwanese certification consultancy). Without a local representative, NCC will not accept the file.

What is the format of an NCC number?

For radio equipment certified via the standard route, the number takes the form CCAxxxxxxxxxxx, where CCA stands for Certified Approval followed by a lab code and a sequential identifier. Other prefixes exist for specific categories.

What are the NCC certification routes?

Two main routes: DOC (Declaration of Conformity), a supplier self-declaration for some lower-risk categories, and Certified Approval, mandatory for most radio emitters. Certified Approval requires testing in an NCC-accredited lab and leads to issuance of an official NCC number.

Must labelling be in Chinese?

Yes for regulatory statements. NCC requires mandatory warnings and certain conformity statements to be in Traditional Chinese, at a minimum font size defined by the regulations. The NCC number itself may be displayed separately. Labelling in English only or in Simplified Chinese is not acceptable.

Is BSMI mandatory for a radio product?

It depends on the category. For electrical safety (power supplies, batteries, chargers) and for EMC outside intentional radio emission, the BSMI mark is mandatory for most consumer electronics. A radio product without mains supply may be limited to NCC, but as soon as a mains supply or rechargeable battery is integrated, BSMI applies in parallel.

Is cellular operator approval required in Taiwan?

For a cellular product sold via the Taiwanese carriers (Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, FET), operator qualification is required on top of NCC. Each carrier maintains its own programme, distinct from PTCRB in North America and from GCF.

NCC Taiwan: radio certification and BSMI

Author Hugues Orgitello Last updated 27 May 2026 ~12 min read

Guide · NCC, Taiwan

Taiwanese certification of a radio device rests on two distinct regimes that must be kept apart: NCC (National Communications Commission) for radio and telecom conformity, and BSMI (Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection) for electrical safety and EMC outside intentional radio emission. The first issues a registration number, typically of the form CCAxxxxxxxxxxx, and oversees spectrum use. The second applies a separate mark, the BSMI mark, conditional on safety and EMC testing. This page covers the Taiwanese legal framework, the two NCC routes (DOC and Certified Approval), the articulation with BSMI, local band plans, the resident-representative requirement, Traditional Chinese labelling, and the recurring pitfalls for non-Taiwanese manufacturers.

Legal framework: NCC, BSMI and the Telecommunications Management Act

NCC was established in 2006 and inherited the missions of the former DGT (Directorate General of Telecommunications) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. It is an independent commission responsible for regulating telecommunications, broadcasting and use of the radio spectrum. NCC writes the rules for intentional radio emission and issues, directly or via accredited laboratories, the associated certifications.

The legal foundation is the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法), in force since 2020. It replaces the previous Telecommunications Act and restructures the regulatory framework for networks and services. It delegates to NCC the drafting of detailed technical specifications, including:

The Low Power Radio Frequency Equipment Technical Specifications (低功率射頻器材技術規範), which cover low-power consumer and industrial emitters: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, sub-GHz modules, short-range telemetry, wireless sensors.
Category-specific ordinances for cellular, broadcasting, radars, fixed links, and so on.

BSMI, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, is a distinct regulator. It administers the electrical-safety and EMC certification regimes for electrical and electronic products placed on the Taiwanese market. The BSMI mark is added alongside, not in place of, the NCC number for the vast majority of consumer radio products.

See glossary for the associated terminology.

NCC vs BSMI: scope of each

The table below separates the responsibilities of the two regimes. Confusion between NCC and BSMI is the most frequent cause of import rejection.

Aspect	NCC	BSMI
Regulator	National Communications Commission	Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
Scope	Intentional radio, telecom, spectrum use	Electrical safety, EMC (immunity and non-radio emission)
Reference text	Telecommunications Management Act + NCC technical specifications	Commodity Inspection Act + CNS standards
Marking	NCC number (typically CCAxxxxxxxxxxx) + Traditional Chinese regulatory statements	BSMI mark + registration number
Typical categories	Wi-Fi, BLE, cellular, sub-GHz modules, radars, telecom equipment	Power supplies, chargers, batteries, electronic toys, household appliances
Tests	Radio (power, mask, channel occupancy, receivers) under NCC specifications	Electrical safety (CNS / IEC), EMC emission and immunity (CNS / CISPR)

A smartphone destined for the Taiwanese market goes through both: NCC for the radio side (cellular, Wi-Fi, BLE), BSMI for the supply and EMC side. A Wi-Fi sensor powered by a rechargeable battery hits both regimes as soon as the battery is rechargeable and shipped with a mains charger.

See RED pillar and FCC pillar for the European and American equivalents.

The two NCC routes

NCC organises certification around two main routes. The choice between them depends on the product category and the risk level NCC has set in its ordinances.

Route 1: DOC (Declaration of Conformity)

The DOC route is a supplier self-declaration of conformity, applicable to certain lower-risk categories defined by NCC. The supplier (importer or manufacturer through its local representative) builds a technical file demonstrating conformity to applicable NCC specifications, signs a declaration and keeps documentation available for audit.

This route is, in principle, comparable to the EU declaration of conformity in the European regime. It remains less common than Certified Approval for radio emitters: most Wi-Fi, BLE and cellular categories are not eligible for DOC alone and require the Certified Approval route.

Categories typically eligible for DOC:

Some very-low-power equipment outside critical intentional radio emission.
Categories explicitly listed in NCC ordinances as falling under DOC.
Equipment derived from already-certified modules via module integration, under strict conditions.

Route 2: Certified Approval

The Certified Approval route is the standard path for most radio emitters. It requires:

A test campaign in an NCC-accredited lab (Designated Conformity Assessment Body, DCAB).
A technical file matching NCC specifications, submitted by a Taiwan-resident applicant.
File review by NCC or a designated body.
Issuance of an official NCC number (typically CCAxxxxxxxxxxx for radio), registered in the public NCC database.

For products that also need the BSMI mark (safety and EMC), a separate BSMI campaign is conducted, most often in parallel to compress the calendar. NCC and BSMI are two distinct files, two distinct numbers, two distinct statements on the label.

The NCC number and its format

The number officially issued by NCC, for radio equipment certified via Certified Approval, takes the form CCAxxxxxxxxxxx. Indicative breakdown:

CCA: Certified Approval prefix for radio.
Following codes: combination of lab code, year, and a sequential identifier assigned by NCC.

Other prefixes exist for specific categories (wireline telecom terminals, broadcasting equipment, etc.). The number is searchable via the public NCC search engine.

The NCC number must appear:

On the product itself (permanent physical marking or an e-label where the category allows it).
On the retail packaging sold to the Taiwanese consumer.
In the user manual, alongside the Traditional Chinese regulatory statements.

Taiwanese band plans: US alignment with local corrections

The Taiwanese radio spectrum has historically tracked US plans (FCC, IEEE), but with corrections in power limits, DFS profiles and usage rules that make a straight transposition from an FCC design non-trivial.

Critical bands table

Band	Taiwanese specificity	Reference
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, channels 1-11	Aligned with US FCC (channels 12-13 not allowed in consumer use)	NCC specifications
Wi-Fi 5 GHz UNII-1 (5150-5250 MHz)	Indoor only, NCC power limits distinct from FCC limits	NCC specifications
Wi-Fi 5 GHz UNII-2 / UNII-2e	DFS and TPC required, Taiwanese DFS profile close to FCC with local validations	NCC specifications
Wi-Fi 5 GHz UNII-3 (5725-5850 MHz)	NCC-specific availability and power limits	NCC specifications
Wi-Fi 6E 6 GHz	Allocation in scoping at NCC, timeline distinct from FCC and ETSI	NCC bulletins
Sub-GHz LPWA	ISM bands 433 / 920 MHz by category, NCC power limits	NCC specifications
60 GHz (V-band)	Power limits and masks distinct from FCC Part 15.255	NCC specifications
5G NR mid-band	Taiwanese allocations (notably n78) framed by NCC	NCC bulletins

The IEEE/FCC alignment means most protocols and channel plans can be re-used, but neither the power limits nor the conformity margins carry over. A Wi-Fi firmware calibrated for the US regional profile is not compliant on the Taiwanese profile: the per-channel power table must be regenerated for country code TW.

See FCC pillar and CE/FCC EMC comparison for the inter-regime details.

The Taiwan-resident representative requirement

For most NCC routes, the applicant must be a Taiwan-resident entity. In practice:

If the manufacturer has a Taiwanese subsidiary, that subsidiary is the applicant.
If the manufacturer is foreign with no local presence, an appointed agent is mandated: partner importer, distributor or Taiwanese certification consultancy.
The appointed agent is legally responsible for conformity vis-a-vis NCC, receives notifications, handles any audit, and retains the technical documentation.

This requirement is structurally equivalent to the EU authorised representative under RED, or the US Agent for Service of Process under the FCC regime. Formalisation in Taiwan is done through a written mandate, filed with the certification application.

A non-Taiwanese manufacturer that omits to appoint a local representative will see the NCC file rejected before technical review. For cellular products targeting the Taiwanese carriers, the local representative must additionally be acceptable to each carrier, which can narrow the choice to recognised consultancies.

Labelling: Traditional Chinese and minimum font size

Labelling a NCC-certified product follows strict formal rules. NCC requires regulatory statements to appear in Traditional Chinese, at a minimum font size defined by the applicable regulations, and applied legibly on the product, the packaging and the user manual.

Mandatory elements:

The NCC number, typically CCAxxxxxxxxxxx.
The regulatory warning, in Traditional Chinese, whose exact wording is published by NCC. For low-power radio equipment, the standard warning covers the usage conditions and the prohibition of modification.
The reference to the manufacturer or local representative.
For products covered by BSMI: the BSMI mark and a separate BSMI registration number.

Labelling in English only, or in Simplified Chinese (as used in mainland China), is not compliant. Characters must be in Traditional Chinese as used in Taiwan. The minimum font size is defined by NCC regulations and must be respected, including for e-labels.

E-labels are accepted in certain categories (notably those with a graphical interface), under conditions comparable to the FCC and Japanese regimes: user access in a few actions, legible size, no administrator privilege required.

NCC + BSMI vs CE + RED vs FCC

The table below summarises the structural differences between the three regimes for a standard radio product. It is the baseline framing for multi-market planning.

Aspect	NCC + BSMI (TW)	CE + RED (EU)	FCC (US)
Radio regulator	NCC	European Commission + national authorities	FCC
Safety/EMC regulator	BSMI	Folded into RED (EMC) + LVD/MD (safety)	OSHA / NRTL for safety outside FCC
Main radio route	Certified Approval via DCAB	Manufacturer self-declaration (with NB where harmonised standards are absent)	TCB grant or FCC direct
Alternative route	DOC for certain categories	Manufacturer DoC when harmonised standards apply	DoC (SDoC) for certain Part 15 categories
Radio marking	NCC number (CCAxxxxxxxxxxx) + Traditional Chinese statements	CE logo + associated DoC	FCC ID (GRANTEE-PRODUCT) + Part 15 statement
Safety/EMC marking	BSMI mark + registration number	Included in the CE marking	NRTL mark where applicable (UL, CSA, TUV)
Local representative	Taiwan-resident mandatory	EU authorised representative mandatory (non-EU)	US Agent for Service of Process mandatory (non-US)
Statement language	Traditional Chinese	EU official languages by member state	English
Public database	NCC certificate search + BSMI registry	Varies by member state	FCC EAS (apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas)
Test reciprocity	No, FCC reports not transferable	No, RED is standalone	No, FCC is standalone

The operational takeaway is constant: none of the three regimes lets you skip a dedicated campaign for the others. Sound multi-market planning means running tests in parallel in a lab recognised for all three regimes, not stacking certifications sequentially.

See EU + US dual certification for the CE + FCC sequential or simultaneous mechanics.

Sequence of an NCC + BSMI programme

Below is a qualitative calendar for a Wi-Fi/BLE mains-powered product targeting the Taiwanese market. The programme starts at T0, when the radio specification and the final BOM are frozen.

Regulatory scoping: identify applicable NCC categories (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, BLE) and applicable BSMI categories (supply safety, EMC emission/immunity). Identify the NCC route (Certified Approval for radio, possibly DOC for sub-categories).
Appointment of the local representative: identify the Taiwanese applicant (subsidiary, importer or certification consultancy), written mandate, file deposit.
Taiwan regional firmware: country code TW, per-channel power table compliant with NCC limits, DFS behaviour for the TW profile in 5 GHz, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz channel plan (1-11).
Internal pre-testing: radiated emission, conducted power, channel occupancy, emission masks, EMC emission and immunity, electrical safety tests. These pre-tests catch the most likely deviations before the external lab.
Lab selection: NCC-accredited lab (DCAB) for radio, BSMI-accredited lab for safety and EMC. Many Taiwanese labs hold both accreditations.
NCC radio campaign: tests under NCC specifications for each band used. Duration varies with the number of bands and modes.
BSMI campaign: electrical safety tests (CNS / IEC) and EMC tests (CNS / CISPR). The test report feeds the BSMI registration file.
File compilation: NCC file (functional description, schematics, test report, local-representative mandate, user manual including the Traditional Chinese statements) and a separate BSMI file.
NCC and BSMI submission: deposit both files, ideally in parallel. NCC processes the Certified Approval route with possible question cycles. BSMI processes the registration.
NCC number and BSMI mark issuance: assignment of the CCAxxxxxxxxxxx number for radio, and the BSMI registration number for the associated mark. Recording in the respective public databases.
Final marking: application of the NCC number, the Traditional Chinese regulatory statements, the BSMI mark. Update of the user manual and retail packaging.
Taiwanese market entry: lawful distribution via national channels, customs declaration with reference to the NCC number.

For multi-market scheduling including Taiwan, see certification timeline.

The cellular case: Taiwanese carriers

For a cellular product (LTE, 5G NR) sold through the Taiwanese networks, an extra layer applies on top of NCC: operator qualification. The three main carriers are:

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT).
Taiwan Mobile.
Far EasTone (FET).

Each one maintains its own qualification programme, distinct from PTCRB in North America and from GCF. Requirements cover:

Compatibility with the 4G/5G bands deployed by the carrier (n3, n8, n28, n78 depending on carrier).
IMS and VoLTE behaviour compliant with the carrier profile.
Taiwanese emergency services (110 police, 119 fire/medical).
Network behaviour and mobility per carrier specifications.

A cellular product that obtains NCC but lacks carrier qualification may fail to register correctly on the target network. For B2B players, some carriers maintain IoT programmes with reduced or category-specific requirements. See PTCRB pillar for the North American mechanics and TELEC / GITEKI Japan for the neighbouring APAC case.

Recurring pitfalls for non-Taiwanese manufacturers

Confusing NCC and BSMI

This is the most common trap. NCC covers radio. BSMI covers safety and EMC. A mains-powered Wi-Fi product needs both. Filing a BSMI dossier to NCC or vice versa triggers immediate rejection. The two bodies have partly distinct accredited labs, distinct files and distinct marks.

Forgetting the local representative

Without a Taiwan-resident representative, the NCC file is not admissible. A manufacturer that files alone, without mandate, sees the file rejected. The appointment of the local representative must be formalised in a written mandate before submission.

Assuming the FCC report will be accepted

FCC reports are not directly transferable. NCC power limits, particularly in 5 GHz and 60 GHz, differ. Taiwanese DFS is FCC-inspired but maintains its own validations. An FCC report can serve as documentary support, but a dedicated campaign or top-up testing is typically required.

Labelling in Simplified Chinese or in English only

NCC requires Traditional Chinese. A product labelled in Simplified Chinese (the script used in mainland China) or in English only will not pass conformity. The regulatory statements and the standard warning must be in Traditional Chinese at the prescribed minimum font size.

Mismatched declared bands

The firmware submitted to NCC must match the product as shipped exactly. A firmware that exposes channels or bands not declared (for example Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz channel 14, allowed only in Japan) will be rejected or pulled after certification. The TW country code must be frozen and exhaustive.

Under-estimating NCC documentary rigour

NCC has a reputation for the quality of its review and the rigour of its documentary demands. High-resolution photos, detailed schematics, precise functional descriptions, identification of critical RF components: a thin file will trigger question cycles that lengthen the calendar.

Not planning carrier cellular qualification

For a cellular product, obtaining NCC is not enough to sell via the Taiwanese carriers. Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FET each have their own programmes. Planning these qualifications in parallel with the NCC campaign avoids several months of slippage.

Confusing Taiwan and mainland China

Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are two distinct regulatory markets. Chinese certification (CCC, SRRC) does not cover Taiwan, and the reverse holds. A manufacturer that assumes a Chinese SRRC file is usable in Taiwan is mistaken: the regulators, the labs, the markings and the submission languages all differ.

For the CE-to-UK transition post-Brexit, see UKCA marking. For other APAC regimes, see TELEC / GITEKI Japan and KC Mark, South Korea.

Sources & references

NCC (English): National Communications Commission , NCC www.ncc.gov.tw/english/
NCC certificate search (Chinese) , NCC www.ncc.gov.tw/chinese/cer.aspx
BSMI: Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection , BSMI www.bsmi.gov.tw/
Telecommunications Management Act , Ministry of Justice, Taiwan law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=K0060116
Low Power Radio Frequency Equipment Technical Specifications , NCC www.ncc.gov.tw/english/