For factories and brands making wireless products (Bluetooth, WiFi, 2.4GHz remote control, RFID), SRRC is unavoidable — but a lot of people still think of it as "just run a quick test." Here's the regulatory basis, the specific frequency/power requirements, the actual application steps, and cost/timeline reference ranges.
What SRRC Is, and Its Regulatory Basis
SRRC (radio transmission equipment type approval) is a mandatory approval system administered by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) under the Radio Regulations of the People's Republic of China and the Administrative Measures for Radio Transmission Equipment Type Approval. Any product with wireless transmission capability — Bluetooth, WiFi, 2.4GHz proprietary protocols, or RFID — must obtain SRRC type approval before it can be legally sold within China, and the approval code generally needs to be marked on the product's nameplate or packaging.
Testing Standards by Wireless Technology Type
SRRC isn't "one standard tests everything" — the specific technical requirements vary by wireless technology:
- 2.4GHz Bluetooth/WiFi: mainly governed by the Technical Requirements for Low Power Short-Range Radio Transmission Equipment, operating in the 2400-2483.5MHz band, testing transmit power (equivalent isotropically radiated power, EIRP, generally capped at ≤20dBm per MIIT's current published limits), spurious emissions, and frequency tolerance
- 5.8GHz WiFi: governed by dedicated 5.8GHz band requirements, with power limits distinct from the 2.4GHz band, requiring separate testing
- Data transmission/remote-control devices: may involve the 433MHz or 315MHz bands, requiring confirmation of whether the band is license-exempt or requires a separate application
Actual test items generally include transmit power, out-of-band emissions, spurious emissions, frequency error, and occupied bandwidth — the exact combination is confirmed by the test lab's proposed test plan at submission.
How It Differs From FCC and CE RED
The three apply to different markets — SRRC for China, FCC for the US, CE RED (Radio Equipment Directive, 2014/53/EU) for the EU — and the specific parameters (band allocation, power limits) differ because each region regulates its own radio spectrum. A single report cannot cover all three markets — each requires a separate application. For example: for the same 2.4GHz Bluetooth earbud, the US FCC power limit for that band and China's SRRC limit are not identical, so even with completely identical hardware, separate submissions are needed for each region's approval.
Application Steps
- Confirm the wireless band(s) used and the corresponding technical requirements
- Prepare application materials: product manual, circuit diagrams, wireless module technical parameters, business license and other company qualification documents
- Submit samples to a qualified test lab to complete type testing
- Once testing passes, submit the approval application through MIIT's Radio Management Bureau designated platform
- Once approved, obtain the SRRC approval certificate and approval code, and mark it on the product or packaging
Cost and Timeline Reference (for budget planning only, not a quote)
Actual cost varies significantly based on the complexity of the wireless module (a single 2.4GHz module vs. a multi-mode, multi-band module), the test lab chosen, and whether expedited service is needed. The following ranges are for rough budget planning only:
- Single 2.4GHz Bluetooth/WiFi module: testing plus approval application typically takes about 4-6 weeks
- Multi-band/multi-mode products (e.g. combined Bluetooth + WiFi + GPS): since each wireless module must be tested separately, timelines typically extend to 6-8 weeks
- If MIIT's approval queue is backed up, actual certificate issuance may be further delayed — build buffer time into your launch schedule
For an accurate quote, provide the technical parameters of the wireless module directly — the same "Bluetooth earbud" category can require very different scopes of testing depending on whether the module is a proprietary design or an off-the-shelf certified module.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My product is only sold overseas — does it still need SRRC? A: If the product never circulates or sells within mainland China, SRRC is not strictly required. But if domestic manufacturing, warehousing, or transshipment could be interpreted as "sale within China," it's worth confirming with us in advance to avoid compliance risk.
Q: How long is an SRRC approval valid? A: Generally indefinite, but any change to product design or the wireless module may invalidate the original certificate, requiring reapplication. Products using an off-the-shelf certified module can often reuse the module's existing approval for non-wireless-related changes (appearance, structure), but this should be confirmed case by case.
Q: How long does SRRC approval take? A: For a standard single-band product, typically 4-6 weeks from sample submission to certificate issuance; for multi-band combination products, plan for 6-8 weeks. Timelines vary by product type and application queue — plan ahead to avoid delaying your launch.
If you have a wireless product headed for the China market, send us its wireless module's technical parameters and we can help identify which bands need testing and give you a rough cost/timeline range.