Canada's ISED Officially Releases RSS-310 Issue 6: Major Updates to Radio Frequency Equipment Requirements

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has formally issued RSS-310, Issue 6, “Licence-Exempt Radio Apparatus: Category II Equipment,” replacing Issue 5, which has been in effect since 2020. This marks one of the most significant revisions to Canada's licence-exempt (Category II) radio equipment framework in recent years and is expected to have a material impact on manufacturers of wireless communication, IoT, and related electronic devices exporting to the Canadian market.

ISED opened a public consultation on the draft standard on February 26, 2026, with comments accepted through May 29, 2026, before finalizing the revision. A companion update, RSS-Gen, Issue 6, “General Requirements for Compliance of Radio Apparatus,” was issued alongside RSS-310 Issue 6. Both standards take effect together, with a six-month transition period during which industry can adjust compliance strategies.

Five Key Changes

●  Closer alignment with RSS-Gen, eliminating duplication: Issue 6 substantially reduces overlapping technical provisions between RSS-310 and RSS-Gen, adopting a modular, cross-referenced structure. The most impactful change is the removal of stand-alone test report requirements; related compliance obligations are now consolidated under RSS-Gen.

●  Expanded scope covering new equipment categories: The new standard explicitly incorporates “stand-alone receivers” and “passive RFID tags.”

        ○ Stand-alone receivers must still meet RSS-Gen technical requirements but are exempt from certain labelling and test report provisions.

        ○ Stand-alone receiving devices and passive RFID tags, previously governed under RSS-Gen, have been moved into the scope of RSS-310.

●  Simplified labelling and user manual requirements: By cross-referencing general provisions in RSS-Gen, labelling content and user manual formatting requirements have been simplified, reducing documentation burden.

●  Redesigned exemption framework: The previous blanket exemption for transmitters with power ≤ 6 nanowatts (nW) or operating frequency ≤ 9 kHz has been removed. In its place, specific exemptions are now defined separately for labelling, user manual, and test report requirements.

●  Relocation of data modem provisions: Data modem requirements previously governed under RSS-310 have been removed and redirected to other applicable standards; manufacturers should reconfirm which standard now applies to their equipment.

Implications for Industry

This revision continues ISED's ongoing policy direction toward regulatory harmonization and reduced administrative burden. In the near term, manufacturers should reassess whether their product lines fall within the newly expanded scope — particularly stand-alone receivers and passive RFID tag products — and review whether existing test reports and label designs remain compliant under the new cross-referenced structure. Over the longer term, the consolidation is expected to reduce the complexity of cross-standard comparison and improve efficiency in preparing technical documentation.

During the six-month transition period, manufacturers may comply under either the existing Issue 5 standard or the new Issue 6 standard. Once the transition period ends, equipment sold into the Canadian market must comply with Issue 6 only. Manufacturers are advised to begin product compliance reviews promptly and consult with test laboratories or regulatory advisors experienced in ISED certification to ensure a smooth transition to the new standard.

About the Regulatory Update

RSS-310 is ISED's standard governing licence-exempt Category II radio equipment — devices that do not require formal certification but remain subject to technical and operational compliance obligations. RSS-Gen sets out the general compliance framework applicable to all licensed and licence-exempt radio apparatus. Both standards are issued by ISED under the authority of the Radiocommunication Act.