Importing, not all it is cracked up to be
I'm currently stumbling through regulatory compliance and certification on a battery charger. I don't think I will ever give Australian importers a hard time again. At least, not those importing controlled products.
What a bloody expensive mess! Fees for everything, nobody else's certifications recognised (despite being based on those standards), certificates that expire, standards that you must meet but have to pay to read, regulatory compliance certificates issued to the Australian supplier rather than the manufacturer (meaning just because it has an existing Australian regulatory mark doesn't mean YOU can sell it), the list goes on! I think I'm going to lose my mind before this is done. I'm amazed that any foreign electrical products come to market, no wonder they are twice the price here.
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