Overview
- The commission will vote on October 29 on a draft rule that would bar labs in countries that do not offer reciprocal market access from performing substantive testing for future U.S. device approvals.
- If adopted, the rule would take effect on December 1, 2028 and would not require reapproval of devices that already hold FCC certification.
- The draft prohibits measurements, technical analysis, and test report preparation in excluded countries while allowing routine administrative tasks and non‑certification research to continue overseas.
- The FCC says roughly 82% of devices authorized last year were tested in mainland China and fewer than 4% were tested in U.S. labs, a gap that regulators say creates security and concentration risks and will force manufacturers to find alternative testing capacity.
- China’s commerce ministry warned of retaliatory measures and the move follows earlier FCC steps in May 2025 that removed recognition from about 29 labs, signaling likely trade and diplomatic friction if the rule is adopted.