Introduction to Japan Certification: PSE Certification and METI Registration

pse certification is Japan's mandatory safety certification. According to Japan's DENTORL law (Electrical Appliances and Materials Control Law), products entering the Japanese market must pass safety certification.

Scope of PSE Certification:

All electrical and electronic products within the DENAN catalog that are sold in the Japanese market must pass PSE certification.

Japan's DENAN classifies electrical and electronic products into two categories:

1. PSE Diamond Certification – Specific electrical products, including 116 types of Category A products. Common examples include mobile phone chargers and transformers.

2. PSE Circle Certification – Non-specific electrical products, including 341 types of Category B products. Common examples include batteries and power banks.

Which products need PSE certification?

A total of 457 products must undergo safety certification to enter the Japanese market (as of December 2018).

- 116 Category A Products include:

- Wires and cables

- Fuses

- Wiring devices (electrical accessories, lighting equipment, etc.)

- Current limiters

- Transformers

- Ballasts for electric heating appliances

- Electric power application machinery (home appliances)

- Electronic application machinery (high-frequency hair removal devices)

- Other AC electric mechanical devices (electric fly killers, DC power devices)

- Handheld engines

- 341 Category B Products are divided into 7 parts:

1. Simple wiring conduit and junction boxes

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

3. Household electric heating products

4. Household electric or electronic products

5. Civilian or household products using light sources

6. Household and commercial electronic products

7. Other electrical products between 100V-300V

What materials are required for PSE certification?

1. Application submission materials: Business license, application form

2. Testing preparation materials:

1) CB report (including Japanese-specific tests)

2) Circuit diagram (Layout)

3) PCB design related to safety standards

4) Specifications for transformers and coil components

5) List of key components and their certificates

6) Japanese user manual or assembly manual

7) Japanese nameplate and warning labels (including PSE mark and supplier’s name)

3. Test samples: At least two units of the main model, and one unit of each derivative model.

Is PSE certification required for lithium batteries and power banks exported to Japan?

Yes, it is mandatory to obtain PSE Circle Certification.

Since November 20, 2008, lithium-ion batteries with an energy density above 400Wh/L have been regulated under NSPs. From February 1, 2019, portable electrical devices containing lithium batteries (with a density above 400Wh/L) and portable battery packs (Portable lithium-ion storage batteries such as mobile batteries) must bear the PSE Circle mark and comply with J62133(H28) (JISC8712(2015) or IEC62133(2012)) standards.

Portable batteries, such as power banks, Bluetooth earphones, Bluetooth speakers, and e-cigarettes, are regulated under the PSE Circle certification, so lithium batteries and power banks must undergo PSE Circle certification.

Note: Products with an energy density below 400Wh/L are not subject to this regulation.

meti registration

The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan has issued detailed information regarding this method, which was established by the Ministry’s Commerce and Information Policy Bureau’s Information Economy Division.

According to Japan's DENTORL law, after a Japanese purchaser buys a product, they must register it with METI within one month and mark the purchaser's name or ID on the product for regulatory supervision during sales. This process is mandatory, meaning that all products exported to Japan and PSE-certified must undergo METI registration.

This is a commercial notification, similar to an importer declaration for Amazon. It includes the manufacturer's information, product details, and the signing date. This can only be issued when the importer submits the PSE certificate to METI for registration.

METI Registration Process

1. The applicant submits the application documents.

2. The applicant submits the test reports and related documents (Japanese importers submit materials to METI).

3. The application documents are registered (METI reviews and registers).

4. METI issues the registration letter (both paper and electronic versions) and confirms product nameplate design.

The METI registration application must be made by a trade company registered in Japan.

Materials Required for METI Registration

1. Application form

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

3. Product manual (Japanese and English, optional)

4. Product specifications (BOM table, product photos, optional)

5. Deviation statement (if applicable for series models)

METI Registration Timeline

1. METI Registration: 5-7 working days after submission of complete materials.

2. The certificate issued after METI registration is valid for 3 years.

Note: PSE certification must be completed before applying for METI registration. If the client is a trader without their own factory, they should inquire with the factory about whether they have PSE certification and METI registration. Having both credentials will simplify the process for product listing.

How to Choose a METI Registration Agency in Japan

1. If the client has a trade company in Japan, the company personnel can take the required materials to the local Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) to apply.

2. If the client does not have a trade company in Japan, they can choose us to handle the registration on their behalf, and we will act as the Japanese importer.

Common Questions About METI Registration

1. Q: Can one METI registration letter cover multiple models?

A: Product models are based on the PSE certificate and report. Multiple models can be included.

2. Q: Can PSE certification and METI registration be done at the same time?

A: No, PSE certification must be completed first, followed by METI registration.

3. Q: Can one METI registration document cover all products?

A: No, one METI registration corresponds to one PSE certificate and report.

4. Q: I have a product that is a power adapter with a lithium battery. The adapter already has METI registration. Can the lithium battery use the same METI registration document?

A: No, the METI registration document for the power adapter falls under the “AC electrical mechanical devices” category, while the lithium battery falls under the “lithium-ion battery” category. Therefore, two separate METI registration documents are required.

5. Q: The product already has PSE certification and the certification has been submitted, but Amazon requires a METI notification letter from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. What should I do?

A: For products exported to Japan with PSE certification, METI registration is mandatory. After METI registration, a business notification letter must be obtained to list the product on Amazon or sell it locally in Japan.

6. Q: Is there a paper version of the METI registration document?

A: METI registration has two types: one for importers with qualifications and one for those without. If the client provides Japanese importer information, the original document will be sent to the local importer. If a third-party agent is used, no paper document will be issued, and the original document will be stored by the Japanese importer.

7. Q: If the client provides the importer (local Japanese trader), will the original METI registration letter be sent to the importer’s company?

A: The client needs to provide the Japanese registered company’s information, including business license, contact person, phone number, and address.

8. Q: What if the product’s label and the registration applicant’s name do not match the importer on the registration?

A: If the importer on the product’s nameplate is different from the registered importer, or the seller’s name does not match the registration document, Amazon may ask for a “purchase invoice” to further verify that the seller is sourcing from the stated supplier.