The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has accredited four local certification bodies to provide equipment testing and certification services from October 1.

They are the Hong Kong Standards & Testing Centre, Intertek Testing Services, SGS Hong Kong and TUV Rheinland Hong Kong.

In making the announcement today the authority said the worldwide trend is to rely on the private sector to conduct communications equipment testing and certification services, which are currently provided by the authority.

It added this is in line with the government policy of promoting and developing the testing and certification industry, which is one of the six economic areas recommended by the Task Force on Economic Challenges chaired by the Chief Executive.

The accredited bodies will provide a full range of testing and certification services. The certification fee during the first year will stay at the same level as currently charged by the authority. The fee can be adjusted by up to 15% in the second year.

A review will be conducted in early 2011 to determine the fee revision mechanism, applicable after September that year.

The authority will continue to monitor the certification process and the performance of the accredited bodies. For details click here.