If you are preparing for EU NG eCall (Next-Generation Emergency Call System) certification and need clarity on required documents and certificate validity rules, this summary—based on the latest 2025 regulations—provides clear guidance.

Core Documents for EU NG eCall Certification

According to the latest practices of certification bodies, you must prepare a complete, accurate, and formatted set of English documents. These materials form the foundation of the certification body’s evaluation and fall into four main categories:

1. Core Technical Documents: Proving "How the Product Is Designed"

·System Architecture Diagrams and Circuit Schematics: Clearly illustrate the product’s overall hardware design and connections between electronic modules.

·Minimum Set of Data (MSD) Logic Description: This is the centerpiece of the documentation. You must detail the complete mechanism for how the system generates, formats, and transmits critical data (e.g., precise time, GPS coordinates, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)) in the event of a collision. Note that under Regulation (EU) 2024/1180, NG eCall systems must use MSD Version 3 for transmitting accident data.

·Detailed Technical Specifications: Fully describe all product functions, performance parameters, and technical indicators.

2. Testing and Proof Documents: Proving "How the Product Works"

·Detailed Test Plan: Submit a clear plan listing all items to be verified (functionality, performance, environmental reliability, etc.) before laboratory testing begins.

·Complete Test Report from an Accredited Laboratory: This is the core evidence for certification review and must cover all test items required by regulations.

·Privacy Protection Plan: Detail how the system complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), such as the data encryption method (e.g., AES-256) used to protect user privacy.

3. Administrative and Legal Documents: Proving "Who Is Responsible for the Product"

·EU Authorized Representative (EC-REP) Appointment Document: A mandatory requirement for manufacturers outside the EU (e.g., China). You must designate a legal entity within the EU as your legal representative.

·English User Manual: The manual must include privacy terms and clearly state that the product will permanently display the "eCall" logo with a font height of no less than 1 millimeter.

4. Physical Samples: For Practical Verification

·Typically, 2–3 fully functional finished prototypes are required for subsequent laboratory testing and real-road environment validation.

  EU NG eCall Certificate Validity and Maintenance

1. Certificate Validity Period

Currently, both legacy eCall and next-generation NG eCall conformity certificates have a standard validity period of 3 years. Upon expiration, recertification is required.

2. Key Conditions for Maintaining Certificate Validity

During the 3-year validity period, enterprises must fulfill ongoing compliance obligations; otherwise, the certificate may be suspended or revoked:

An·nual Reporting and Random Inspections: Enterprises typically need to submit periodic reports (e.g., annually) to regulatory authorities, such as analyzing cases of false or failed eCall activations. Meanwhile, certification bodies may conduct annual production conformity random inspections.

·Strict Management of Design Changes: This is the most common risk factor for certificate revocation. Any product design changes—including hardware modifications, firmware updates, or even software updates via OTA (Over-the-Air)—that may affect the core performance of the eCall system require partial or full retesting and notification to the certification body. Such changes not only add weeks to the timeline but also incur costs ranging from 30% to 70% of the initial certification fee.

  Critical 2025 Regulatory Updates to Monitor

Your document preparation and product design must keep pace with regulatory changes. On October 28, 2025, the EU issued the key amendment (EU) 2025/1871, establishing an irreversible mandatory timeline and new requirements for the entire certification process:

·Starting January 1, 2026: New vehicle type approval applications must support NG eCall (no longer approving models supporting only legacy 2G/3G networks).

·Starting January 1, 2027: A critical turning point. All previously issued legacy eCall certificates will become fully invalid. Simultaneously, all newly issued NG eCall certificates must fully comply with the latest EN 17184:2024 and EN 17240:2024 standards.

·Starting January 1, 2028: The transition period ends completely, and NG eCall certificates complying only with early technical specifications will also expire.

·New Testing Requirements: The amendment introduces stricter tests, such as the "5-minute call + 56-minute standby + another 5-minute call" endurance test for shared backup power supplies (effective 2027), and the requirement for vehicles to have eCall system status diagnostics (effective 2028).

Successfully obtaining and maintaining EU NG eCall certification begins with accurate, complete document preparation, succeeds through strict adherence to certificate validity rules, and is sustained by continuous monitoring of the latest regulatory developments. With the 2027 deadline approaching, thorough planning is imperative. For professional certification consulting services, contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140.