PSE Certification in Japan

PSE, Product Safety of Electrical Appliance & Materials certification, is called as “Compatibility Test” in Japan. It refers to the mandatory market entry system for Japan’s electrical equipments and is an important content of Safety Laws for Electrical Equipmens. The mandatory date of PSE is April 1, 2001 and PSE mark is the Safety mark of Japan’s products.
Among the third-party certification agencies in Japan, the most influential and authoritative agencies are Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratory (referred to as JET) and Japan Quality Assurance Organization (referred to as JQA). Both JET and JQA can provide the product certification, quality system certification and environment certification services. JET is more influential in the product safety certification, and JQA is more influential in the quality system certification. At present, both JET and JQA could conduct the S-Mark certification, and their marks are respectively S-JET Mark and S-JQA Mark.
According to Japanese DENTORL Law (laws for electrical equipments and materials control), 498 kinds of products must pass the safety certification (including EMC) in order to enter Japanese market. Whereby, 165 kinds of Type-A products shall get T-MARK certification and 333 kinds of Type-B products shall get S-MARK certification.
On April 1, 2001, “DENTORL” was renamed as “DENAN” which divides products into two categories, that is, “Particular Electrical Equipments and Materials” and “Non-Particular Electrical Equipments and Materials”. Whereby, there are 115 (NEW) kinds of products in the “particular electrical equipments and materials”; and 338 (new) products in “non-particular electrical equipments and materials”. Different from the control through the agreement in previous laws and regulations, the new system will ensure the product safety through the unofficial agency. The former T mark and other marks are not used any more and punishments have also been strengthened for importers.
Certification types
Type A: the specified electrical equipments and materials
Products with the mark must be certified by the third-party certification agency which is accredited by the Japan Economy and Trade Department, manufacturers are obliged to save the test result and evidences, and the label printed by the diamond-shaped PSE mark indicates it belongs to the compulsory certification, such as power supply and electric heating products.
Type B: Other electrical equipments and materials
Products with the mark must make the self-declaration or apply for the third-party certification. According to the DENAN law, the manufacturers have obligations to save the test results and evidence. There must be the circle PSE mark in the label, such as common household electric appliances, IT/AV and so on. Self-declaration certification.
Type C: there is another kind of voluntary certification: S-JET mark
Japan S-mark is a voluntary product safety mark, and it is the IEC standard based on the coordination of Japan difference test. S-mark was originally established by Japan Quality Assurance Association and Japan Electrical Safety and Environmental Technology Laboratories. At present, it is in the charge of Steering Council of Safety Certification for Electrical and Electronic Appliances and Parts of Japan, which consists of over 50 governmental agencies, manufacturers, importers, retailers and certification agencies and consumers.
S-mark regulation also applies to EMC demands. Meanwhile, it is necessary to conduct the first factory inspection and annual factory inspection. The information must be submitted to Japan agency to apply for S-mark certificate. It belongs to the voluntary certification, but more and more manufacturers prefer and begin to adopt S-Mark so as to obtain more advantages in the market. Consumers also believe products with S-Mark are safer. It is a little similar to German G5.
Required materials for PSE certification
1. Name and address of the applicant
2.English names.type and the technical parameters of the products
3.Electrical diagram.wiring diagram.PCB wiring diagram and structural diagram
4.Operation manual and components list
5.Copy of PSE certificate of Key components (such as.plugs.switches.sockets.fuse and others).
6.descriptions of similarities and differences of series products
7.List of components of complete machines
8.List of components of circuit boards
PSE test cycle: 15 - 20 workdays; the factory inspection is unnecessary for the circle PSE.but the diamond-shaped PSE needs the inspection once per year