Agreement on Mutual Recognition between the European Community (EC) and the United States of America
The agreement was signed in December 1998 and became operational in December 2000. It is intended to streamline the Conformity Assessment Procedures for a wide range of telecommunications equipment and facilitates trade between the U.S. and EU member states.
It provides for the mutual recognition of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and mutual acceptance of the results of testing and equipment certification procedures undertaken by those bodies in assessing conformity of equipment to the importing country's technical regulations.
The scope for the Sectoral annex for telecommunication equipment includes all equipment subject to telecommunications regulations including wireline and wireless equipment, network terminal attachments, terrestrial and satellite equipment. For such equipment the MRA covers electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radio and telephone terminal equipment requirements.
The Sectoral annex for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) applies to the recognition of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) for products falling under EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) EC and FCC rules 47 CFR parts 15 and 18.
The Sectoral annex for Radio & Telecommunication Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) applies to the recognition of CABs for products falling under Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU and FCC rules 47 CFR parts 0-101.
The EU MRA is a bilateral, multi-sector agreement. The sectors include Telecom, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), pharmaceuticals, good manufacturing practices, electrical safety, medical devices, and recreational craft. The FCC is the regulatory authority for EMC and Telecom.
For foreign CABs designated to the U.S. under this MRA all information is submitted to the FCC from the CABs through the European Commission.
There are 27 countries which are members of the European Commission.
The EC and U.S. meet regularly to discuss implementation and operational issues.
All member states are eligible to participate. Member states currently participating in the EMC Annex are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
All member states are eligible to participate. Member states currently participating in the Telecommunications Annex are:
- Austria
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
The text of the EC MRA may be viewed at:
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2018/08/13/us-eu_mra_final_version_1998_-_access.pdf
Additional information regarding the EU MRA may be found on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) web site at:
https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov/us-eu-mra-and-us-eea-efta-states-mutual-recognition-agreements