Certifying Personal Computers for the EAEU
A personal computer entering the Union can need up to four separate documents: a certificate under TR CU 004/2011 and TR CU 020/2011, a RoHS declaration under TR EAEU 037/2016, a telecom declaration, and an encryption notification covering encryption. Which certification scheme applies: 1c, 3c or 4c, depends on whether you are shipping a series, a single batch, or one unit.
Which documents might you need?
Four, depending on the product:
| Document | Covers |
|---|---|
| Certificate to TR CU 004/2011 and TR CU 020/2011 | Low-voltage safety and electromagnetic compatibility |
| Declaration to TR EAEU 037/2016 | Restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) |
| Telecom declaration or certificate | Communications application rules |
| Encryption notification | Encryption features and cryptographic algorithms |
What counts as computer equipment?
Broadly, anything in the personal-computing chain. Certification against TR CU 004/2011 and TR CU 020/2011 is mandatory for personal electronic computers, which in practice covers system blocks, laptops, tablets and portable computers, monitors and servers, digital electronic computational complexes, power supply units including uninterruptible supplies, external storage in discrete housings, magnetic and optical readers, analog and hybrid machines, peripherals and input-output devices, intersystem communication devices, and the service and auxiliary devices around them.
Check one boundary first. TR CU 004/2011 reaches electrical equipment rated 50 to 1000 V AC or 75 to 1500 V DC. Below that, and for equipment running on self-contained power sources, mandatory certification under this regulation may not apply at all.
Which certification scheme applies: 1c, 3c or 4c?
1c, series production. Testing plus an expert analysis of production. The certificate is issued only if both come back positive, runs for one to five years, and carries inspection control at a frequency the certification body sets.
3c, a single batch. Testing only. No production control, because there is no ongoing production to control.
4c, a single unit. Also issued on test results, used where one piece of equipment is being certified. The certificate is valid indefinitely.
The choice is not really a choice: it follows from what you are shipping.
How do you meet RoHS under TR EAEU 037/2016?
TR EAEU 037/2016 can be satisfied two ways. Scheme 1D rests on the applicant’s own evidence, and factory test reports are acceptable where the relevant GOST requirements are met. Scheme 3D requires testing at an accredited laboratory inside the Union. The first is cheaper when your existing reports genuinely line up; the second is the fallback when they do not.
The encryption notification
This notifies the competent national authority of any encryption software or hardware in the product and the cryptographic algorithms it uses. It takes the form of a declaration on a prescribed statutory form, describing the product’s functions and declaring its cryptographic specifications.
Registered encryption notifications, together with the authority opinion on import, are what permit the import or export of products carrying encryption.
One regulation to keep an eye on
TR EAEU 048/2019, on energy efficiency requirements for power-consuming devices, applies to devices placed on the Customs Union market. Personal computers falling within its scope may need conformity assessment and a certificate or declaration under it as well.
What should you send with an enquiry?
Product type and model range, a brief technical description, the FEACN CU code for each product, and the intended scope of application. Those four determine which of the documents above are in play.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a computer certificate valid?
It depends on the scheme. Under 1c, used for series production, the certificate runs one to five years and the certification body sets the frequency of inspection control. Under 3c, for a single batch, it covers that batch. Under 4c, used for a single piece of equipment, the certificate is valid indefinitely.
Is a telecom declaration needed to clear customs?
No. The telecom declaration of conformity to communications application rules is not required by customs at import. It is required for sale and use, and end customers such as retail chains commonly ask for it, so it is a commercial blocker rather than a border one.
Does equipment running on batteries still need TR CU 004/2011?
Not necessarily. TR CU 004/2011 applies to electrical equipment rated 50 to 1000 V AC or 75 to 1500 V DC. Equipment powered by self-contained sources may fall outside mandatory certification or declaration under that regulation.
Not sure which of these applies to your product? Send it and we will tell you
Related articles
Immobilizer Certification for the EAEU
Group 50 under TR CU 018, three HS codes to check first, and the radio-frequency and encryption approvals that attach at 119 to 135 kHz.
EAC Approval for Power Adapters and Chargers
One certificate covers TR CU 004 and 020; RoHS goes on a separate declaration. The four steps, the annual inspection, and why RoHS testing takes a month.
EAEU RoHS: TR CU 037 Schemes and Lead Times
Six restricted substances, a declaration rather than a certificate, and three routes under scheme 1d that turn on which test reports you already hold.
