How Much Does Japan PSE Certification Cost?

pse certification is Japan's mandatory safety certification, proving that electrical and electronic products comply with Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (DENAN Law) or international IEC safety standards.

Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE Certification)

According to Japan’s PSE certification regulations, purchasers in Japan must register and report to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) within one month of purchasing goods. They must obtain approval from METI and label the product with the purchaser’s name or ID for supervision and management during sales. Once completed, they will receive the Electrical Appliance Manufacturer Notification and Electrical Appliance Importer Notification, commonly known as the meti registration document.

Important Reminder: Products exported to Japan that have applied for PSE certification must be registered with METI!

- PSE certification is an electromagnetic compatibility certification for wired products and a mandatory safety certification in Japan.

- METI registration is required for all PSE-certified products.

- This means that a Japanese company must register the product with METI for it to be legally sold in Japan.

PSE Certification Product Scope

According to Japan’s DENTORL Law (Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law), 498 types of products must pass safety certification before entering the Japanese market.

- 165 A-type products require a diamond-shaped PSE mark.

- 333 B-type products require a circular PSE mark.

165 A-Type Products Include:

- Electrical wires and cables, fuses, wiring devices (electrical accessories, lighting fixtures, etc.), current limiters, transformers, ballasts.

- Electric heating appliances, power-driven machinery (household appliances), electronic appliances (high-frequency hair removal devices).

- Other AC electrical equipment (electric insect killers, DC power supplies), portable generators.

Note: Some plugs, such as adapter plugs, are not eligible for PSE certification.

333 B-Type Products Are Categorized into 7 Groups:

1. Simple wiring conduits and junction boxes.

2. Simple single-phase motors within 100V-300V.

3. Household electric heating products.

4. Household electric or electronic gaming products.

5. Civilian or household products using light sources.

6. Household and commercial electronic products.

7. Other electrical products within 100V-300V.

PSE Certification Documentation Requirements:

1. PSE certification application form.

2. Factory inspection survey form.

3. Copies of business licenses of the applicant, manufacturer, and production factory.

4. Product manual.

5. Explanation of differences between various models within the same application unit.

6. List of key components and/or main raw materials.

7. Product dimension drawings, general assembly drawings, and sectional drawings.

8. Manufacturer's authorization proof (if applicable).

9. Other necessary documents.

PSE Certification Costs:

Since different products have different testing requirements, PSE certification costs vary based on product evaluations.

Circular PSE Certification Costs:

- Covers testing and certification fees, but no factory inspection is required, making it relatively inexpensive.

- Example: PSE certification for a humidifier costs approximately $1,700 and takes 1-2 weeks.

- PSE certification for an electric water heater costs about $2,000 and takes around 3 weeks due to higher testing requirements.

Diamond-Shaped PSE Certification Costs:

- Includes testing, certification, and factory inspection fees, making it more expensive.

- Example:

- Power adapter PSE certification costs around $5,000 and takes 6-8 weeks.

- Switching power supply PSE certification costs about $6,500 and takes 6-8 weeks.

Diamond vs. Circular PSE Certification:

- Diamond PSE: Required for products listed under the diamond PSE catalog. A third-party certification body authorized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) must conduct the certification. The certification is valid for 3, 5, or 7 years (depending on the product).

- Circular PSE: Required for products listed under the circular PSE catalog. These products must be tested by a third-party certification body to obtain a compliance certificate, ensuring they meet Japan’s Electrical Appliance Technical Standards. The certification is valid for 1, 2, or 3 years (depending on the product).

Since Japan is a CB report recognition member, all PSE tests can be based on IEC standards, with additional Japan-specific tests.

- AV products follow IEC 60065.

- IT products follow IEC 60950.

- The specific test items depend on the product.

- PSE certification covers both EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and safety requirements.

Classification of PSE Certified Products Under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law:

- “Specified Electrical Products”: 10 categories, including 115 products.

- “Non-Specified Electrical Products”: 11 categories, including 339 products.

Japan METI Registration Process:

1. The applicant collaborates with Microtest to provide application documents.

2. Submit the test report and relevant documents to Japan’s METI.

3. Register application documents.

4. Design and confirm the product nameplate.

METI Registration Document Checklist:

1. Application form.

2. PSE test report (for products with batteries or adapters, PSE test reports for batteries and adapters are also required).

3. Product manual (in Japanese and English).

4. Product specification sheet (BOM list, product photos).

5. Declaration of differences (if there are multiple model series in the report).

Important Notes for METI Registration:

1. PSE certification must be completed before applying for METI registration.

2. Each PSE certification corresponds to a separate METI registration document. If multiple models are covered by one PSE certificate, they can be registered under one METI document.

3. For products like power adapters with lithium batteries: If the power adapter has an existing METI registration, the lithium battery cannot use the same METI document.

- The power adapter falls under the "AC electrical appliances" category.

- The lithium battery falls under the "Lithium-ion rechargeable battery" category.

- Separate METI registration documents are required.

4. Types of METI Registration:

- With Importer Qualification: The original document is sent to the Japanese importer.

- Without Importer Qualification (Using an Agent): The original document is archived with the Japanese importer, and no physical copy is provided to the applicant.

Example:

- Projector Plug:

- The plug falls under A-type products, requiring diamond PSE certification and METI registration before being sold in Japan.

- The projector falls under B-type products, requiring circular PSE certification and METI registration before being sold in Japan.