China Sourcing for Electronics & Technology

The RCM mark is the importer's responsibility — so verification protects you

Australia imported around A$15.7 billion of electronics from China in 2024 — but not every Chinese manufacturer understands Australian compliance, and the legal responsibility sits with the importer. Electrical and electronic products must carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) and, depending on risk level, be registered in the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS). The supplier provides AS/NZS test reports and EMC evidence; the Australian importer applies the RCM and signs the Supplier Declaration of Conformity. Get it wrong and products can be detained or destroyed at the border. The most important thing we verify is whether a factory genuinely understands Australian requirements — holds ISO 9001, has exported to Australia, and can supply test reports from accredited labs — versus one that has never heard of RCM.

• RCM is applied by the Australian importer, but it relies on the factory supplying valid AS/NZS test reports and EMC evidence — we confirm the factory can actually provide them.
• EESS registration is mandatory for medium- and high-risk equipment (Level 2/3); missing it means non-compliant goods can be detained at the border.
• Suppliers unfamiliar with RCM, or reluctant to provide compliance documentation, are a red flag we screen for during verification.