FAQ's Topic - Botswana BOCRA New Type Approval Regulations

Botswana's regulatory authority, BOCRA, adopted new Type Approval guidelines in July 2023 and have been progressively implementing the recommendations. BOCRA have also engaged stakeholders before and after the guideline adoption, explaining key changes in workshops.

Eleos have been actively participating in these sessions to stay abreast of the latest developments.

Q1. What notable changes exist in BOCRA's equipment type approval process compared to the previous guidelines?

Answer: The primary changes revolve around the following:

One time Type Approval - Under the new guidelines, there is a shift to One-time Type Approval, implying that equipment needs approval only once. Subsequent applicants for the same device model will no longer receive separate approvals, unlike the previous guidelines.

Type Approval Exemption - The introduction of Type Approval Exemption provides BOCRA the authority to exempt equipment meeting predefined radio characteristics from the approval process. This exemption encompasses devices implementing Bluetooth, WiFi, broadcast receivers only, and vehicles embedded with RTTE. Nevertheless, before importing or marketing such equipment in Botswana, it is essential to verify its exemption status on the BOCRA database or apply for an exemption if necessary.

Harmonization of Type Approval fees - This move signifies that regulatory fees are no longer dependent on the type of equipment.

Q2: Are all these changes currently being enforced?

Answer: BOCRA issued an official notification in August 2023 regarding Type Approval exemption and has been actively enforcing it. However, the current online system does not account for exemptions. As a result, applicants of exempted equipment on the BOCRA portal may encounter their applications being labelled as "Rejected" without additional explanation. Until a new module that incorporates exemptions is in place, the management of Type Approval exemptions is handled through email correspondences with dedicated BOCRA officers. Notably, the enforcement of changes related to one-time Type Approval and harmonized regulatory fees is not currently in effect.

Q3: When is the anticipated start date for the full implementation of these changes?

Answer: BOCRA have communicated that the comprehensive enforcement of changes will occur upon the completion of all internal adjustments necessary for the implementation. An updated IT solution, tested for seamless integration with the procedural changes, is anticipated to be fully operational by April 2024. Eleos will remain well-informed about forthcoming developments.

For additional information on the changes detailed in BOCRA's new Type Approval guidelines, please don't hesitate to reach out to [email protected]