The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED, formerly IC) is responsible for managing the certification of radio equipment. Bluetooth products, as digital transmission devices, must obtain IC-ID certification to be legally sold in the Canadian market.
1. Core Standards Basis
Bluetooth IC-ID products must comply with two categories of standards: Bluetooth Wireless Standards (to ensure communication compliance) and IC-ID Security / Identification Standards (to ensure legal and secure identity recognition), as detailed below:
| Standard Category | Core Standard Name / Organization | Scope of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Wireless Standards | Bluetooth Core Specification | Developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), it defines the Bluetooth protocol stack (e.g., BLE 5.4, Classic Bluetooth 5.3), RF performance, communication protocols, etc., which are the basic compliance requirements for Bluetooth products. |
| IC-ID Identification Standards | ISO/IEC 7816 (Contact IC Cards) | If the IC-ID is based on contact chips (e.g., SIM cards, smart card forms), it must comply with this standard’s requirements for chip physical interfaces, electrical characteristics, and data transmission. |
| ISO/IEC 14443 (Contactless IC Cards) | If the IC-ID is based on contactless chips (e.g., NFC-IC integrated with Bluetooth), it must comply with this standard’s requirements for near-field communication distance, anti-collision, and data encryption. | |
| GSMA eSIM Standards (if supporting eSIM-ID) | If the IC-ID is an embedded SIM (eSIM), it must comply with the GSMA-defined eSIM remote provisioning, identity authentication, and security encryption standards (e.g., SGP.22). | |
| National / Regional Mandatory Identification Standards | Such as China’s “Integrated Circuit Card Application and Charging Management Measures”, the EU’s CE (EN 62304 Medical IC-ID), and the US FCC (Part 15C), which specify the uniqueness and traceability requirements for IC-ID. | |
| Security Compliance Standards | ISO/IEC 15408 (CC Certification) | Security level certification for IC-ID, covering chip resistance to attacks (e.g., side-channel attacks, physical attacks), data encryption (AES-256, RSA-2048), and identity anti-counterfeiting. |
| FIPS 140-3 (US Federal Security Standard) | If the product enters the US government / sensitive areas, the IC-ID’s encryption module must pass this standard certification to ensure compliance with key management and data integrity. |
2. Core Testing Project Classification
Testing must focus on the three dimensions of Bluetooth Communication Performance, IC-ID Functional Safety, and Compliance Certification, with specific projects as follows:
1. Bluetooth Wireless Communication Performance Testing (Basic Mandatory Testing)
Must comply with the Bluetooth SIG’s Core Specification (e.g., BLE 5.0/5.4) to ensure stable transmission of IC-ID data. Testing items include:
| Testing Category | Specific Items | Testing Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| RF Performance | 1. Transmit Power (Tx Power): -40dBm ~ +20dBm (according to product grade) 2. Receive Sensitivity (Rx Sensitivity): typically ≤-90dBm (BLE) 3. Frequency Error: ≤10ppm 4. Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR): ≥30dB |
Ensure Bluetooth signal coverage, anti-interference capability, and avoid interference with other wireless devices. |
| Protocol Compatibility | 1. Link Layer (LL): connection establishment/disconnection, reconnection, broadcast/scanning mode 2. GATT Protocol: service (Service) and characteristic (Characteristic) definitions of IC-ID data (e.g., custom IC-ID service UUID) 3. Encrypted Transmission: AES-CCM encryption (Bluetooth LE Security Mode 4) |
Ensure Bluetooth protocol compatibility with terminal devices (e.g., mobile phones, card readers), with no packet loss or data leakage during IC-ID data transmission. |
| Communication Stability | 1. Concurrent connections with multiple devices (e.g., simultaneously connecting 10 IC-ID terminals) 2. Transmission rates (BLE: 1Mbps/2Mbps/125kbps) 3. Anti-interference testing (communication success rate in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, ZigBee environments) |
Verify the reliability of IC-ID data transmission in complex environments, avoiding identity recognition failures due to interference. |
2. IC-ID Functionality and Security Testing (Core Special Project)
Testing focuses on the “identity uniqueness”, “data security”, and “functional effectiveness” of IC-ID, which distinguishes it from ordinary Bluetooth products:
(1) IC-ID Identification Function Testing
Uniqueness Testing:Verify that each IC-ID chip’s unique identifier (e.g., UUID, SN code) is globally unique, with no duplicates (verified through the identification traceability system provided by the chip manufacturer).Identification Reading Testing:Test the success rate of reading IC-ID identifiers through a Bluetooth-connected terminal (e.g., dedicated card reader APP) (requirement ≥99.9%), and reading delay (≤500ms).Identification Stability Testing:Repeatedly read IC-ID identifiers in high and low temperatures (-40℃~85℃), humidity (95% RH), and vibration (10-500Hz) environments to verify no loss or tampering.
(2) IC-ID Security Performance Testing
Data Encryption Testing:
- Static Encryption: Whether sensitive data stored in IC-ID (e.g., user identity information, keys) uses hardware encryption (e.g., built-in SE security unit in the chip), and whether it supports AES-256/RSA-2048 encryption algorithms;
- Transmission Encryption: When Bluetooth transmits IC-ID data, whether Bluetooth LE secure connections (Secure Connections) are enabled to prevent data from being sniffed or tampered with (verified through WireShark packet capture for encryption integrity).Anti-Attack Testing:
- Side-Channel Attacks (SCA): Resistance to power analysis and electromagnetic analysis (EMA), verifying that keys are not cracked;
- Physical Attacks: Chip tamper resistance, probe reading prevention, ensuring that IC-ID data cannot be recovered after physical damage;
- Logical Attacks: Resistance to replay attacks (Replay Attack) and man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM), verifying that IC-ID authentication requires dynamic random number (Nonce) verification.Access Control Testing:Verify the operation permissions of different roles (e.g., administrator, ordinary user) on IC-ID (e.g., only administrators can modify IC-ID binding information, ordinary users can only read), preventing unauthorized access.
(3) IC-ID Application Scenario Testing
Testing is customized based on the actual use of the product (e.g., access control, payment, device traceability), for example:
Access Control Scenario:Test the Bluetooth pairing speed of IC-ID with the access control system, authentication success rate (≤1 second per attempt), and anti-copy capability (unable to authenticate after copying IC-ID);Device Traceability Scenario:Test the interaction of IC-ID with the cloud traceability platform (Bluetooth uploads IC-ID data to the cloud, which can accurately associate device model and production information);Offline Authentication Scenario:When there is no network, can the terminal device (e.g., mobile phone) read IC-ID via local Bluetooth and complete authentication (e.g., offline attendance).
3. Compliance Certification Testing (Mandatory for Market Access)
Different countries/regions have mandatory certification requirements for Bluetooth IC-ID products, which must pass corresponding official tests:
| Certification Region | Core Certification Items | Testing Content |
|---|---|---|
| Global (Bluetooth SIG) | Bluetooth Qualification (BQB Certification) | Verify that the product meets Bluetooth standards and obtain a unique BQB certification number (e.g., QDID); otherwise, it cannot be labeled with the “Bluetooth” mark. |
| China | 1. Radio Transmission Equipment Model Approval (SRRC Certification) 2. China Compulsory Certification (CCC Certification, if it belongs to the catalog of products) 3. Integrated Circuit Card Filing (if IC-ID involves finance/public services) |
1. Test Bluetooth RF parameters comply with GB/T 22451.1-2023; 2. Test electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) comply with GB 4943.1-2011; 3. File the manufacturer and technical specifications of IC-ID to ensure traceability. |
| EU | 1. CE Certification (RED Directive: Radio Equipment) 2. CE Certification (EMC Directive: Electromagnetic Compatibility) |
1. Test Bluetooth RF compliance with EN 300 328; 2. Test electromagnetic radiation compliance with EN 61000-6-3 to avoid interference with other devices. |
| USA | 1. FCC Certification (Part 15C: Bluetooth Devices) 2. If involving security IC, FIPS 140-3 certification is required |
1. Test RF power and spurious emissions comply with FCC Part 15; 2. Test IC-ID encryption module complies with federal security standards. |
| Japan and South Korea | 1. Japan TELEC Certification 2. Korea KC Certification |
Test Bluetooth RF and EMC compliance with local standards (e.g., Japan ARIB STD-T66, Korea KS C 0606). |
3. Testing Tools and Precautions
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Core Testing Tools:
Bluetooth Testing: Bluetooth Comprehensive Tester (e.g., Anritsu MT8852B), Protocol Analyzer (e.g., Teledyne LeCroy Bluetooth Analyzer);IC-ID Security Testing: Side-Channel Attack Testing Equipment (e.g., Riscure Inspector), Chip Physical Attack Platform (e.g., Microprobe Station);Environmental Testing: High and Low Temperature Chamber, Vibration Testing Table, EMC Chamber.
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Key Precautions:
If IC-ID is integrated with Bluetooth on the same chip (e.g., SoC), test for “wireless interference” (whether Bluetooth RF affects the security storage unit of the IC-ID chip);Confirm the hardware security features of IC-ID with the chip manufacturer in advance (e.g., whether it has a built-in SE) to avoid security testing failures due to hardware defects;Different application scenarios (e.g., medical, financial) have different security level requirements for IC-ID (e.g., medical must comply with ISO 14971 risk management), requiring targeted additional testing items.
Contact Number: 17666669364 (Mr. Liu)
Testing and Certification Scope
China Market: CCC, CQC, SRRC, E-commerce Quality Inspection Report, Fast Processing for Enterprises
European Market: CE (LVD, EMC, RED), GS, TUV, CB, E/e-Mark certifications;
North American Market: UL, CUL, ETL, CETL, FCC, CSA, FDA, EPA, IC certifications;
Battery Certifications: UN38.3, EN/IEC62133, MSDS, etc.;
Taiwan, China: BSMI Certification, NCC Certification, etc.;
Asian Market: PSE mark, MIC, VCCI, KC mark;
Australian Market: RCM mark & C-tick, SAA, GEMS energy efficiency certification;
Middle East Market: Saudi SASO certification, Kuwait KUCAS certification, Kenya PVOC certification, Nigeria SONCAP certification, and other COC customs clearance certifications.
Contact Number: 17666669364 (Mr. Liu)
