PSE Mark
Mandatory Safety & EMC Approval

Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (DENAN or PSE Law)

The information on this page is intended for reference purposes only.
See JQA's Guide or METI's Guide for more detailed requirements.

PSE Scope

The PSE Law and its regulations specify mandatory electrical safety and EMI requirements for electrical products sold in Japan.

457 product categories have been designated pursuant to the PSE Law (as of December 2018).

PSE Scope chart

Under the PSE Law, electrical products are divided into two risk-based categories.

Specified Electrical Products

Products with a history of accidents in the marketplace, or products which are likely to cause injury, are termed “Specified Electrical Products” and require third-party assessment by a METI-Registered Conformity Assessment Body (Registered CAB). Specified Electrical Products must display the diamond PSE mark.

Diamond PSE

Non-Specified Electrical Products

Low-risk products are termed "Non-Specified Electrical Products" and are subject to a self-declaration scheme. Non-Specified Electrical Products must be marked with the circle PSE mark.

Circle PSE

Most household electrical products are Non-Specified Electrical Products and are subject to the self-declaration procedure. However, if you would like to show customers that your brand is committed to exceptional product safety, it is possible to obtain a voluntary certification called the S-JQA mark. The S-JQA mark can be displayed next to the circle PSE mark and is recognized by many consumers and retailers in Japan.

S-JQA

Process Flow for the Manufacture, Sale and Import of Electrical Products

The chart below shows a general overview of the regulatory process for electrical products in Japan.
See the JQA guide or METI guide for a detailed explanation of each step.

Process Flow

Obligations of Manufacturers and Importers of Electrical Products

  • Importers are obligated to submit an official notification to METI prior to importing electrical equipment subject to the PSE Law (Article 3, Notification of Business Commencement)
  • Manufacturers are obligated to conduct PSE compliance testing to ensure their products comply with technical requirements. This requirement may be fulfilled by in-house testing and/or third-party testing, as needed. (Article 8, Section 1, Obligation to Comply with Technical Requirements)
  • Specified Electrical Products are subject to third-party conformity assessment and PSE Certification by a METI-designated CAB. Non-Specified Electrical Products are not required to obtain third-party conformity assessment and are not eligible for PSE Certification, but can obtain voluntary S-JQA certification.
  • All products must undergo final compliance checks prior to shipment and a record must be retained for 3 years (Article 8, Section 2, Self-confirmation)
  • All in-scope products must be marked with the relevant PSE mark prior to sale (Article 10, Section 1, Marking)

JQA's Service Scope for Specified Electrical Products

Single-phase Small Power Transformers and Discharge Lamp Ballasts

  • Transformers for use in amusement devices (such as arcade machines)
  • Transformers for household appliances
  • Transformers for use in electronic appliances
  • Transformers for ozone generators
  • Fluorescent lamp ballasts

Heating Appliances

  • Heated toilet seats
  • Heated holding cabinets (e.g. heated display cabinets for food)
  • Heated cables to prevent pipes from freezing
  • Electric defoggers with a heating element
  • Other electric products for defrosting or defogging
  • Storage water heaters
  • Electric inhalers (e.g. steam inhalers)
  • Other heated household devices for therapeutic-use (e.g. heated pads for pain/injury)
  • Steam bath heaters
  • Sauna heaters
  • Aquarium heaters
  • Terrarium heaters
  • Toys with a heating element (e.g. baking machines intended for use by children)

Motor-Operated Appliances

  • Electric pumps
  • Electric well pumps
  • Refrigerator showcases
  • Freezer showcases
  • Ice cream machines
  • Garbage disposal units
  • Massage devices
  • Toilet seats with automated rinsing/drying function
  • Vending machines (excluding ticket dispensers)
  • Bath jets
  • Aquarium aerators (e.g. bubblers, air stones, etc…)
  • Other electric aerators or bubble generating devices
  • Toys incorporating electric motors
  • Riding toys
  • Other child-use motor-operated devices (e.g. electric toothbrushes for children)

Electronic Appliances

  • Epilators

Other AC-Operated Appliances

  • Magnetic therapy devices
  • Electric insect killers
  • Power supplies for electrotherapeutic baths (i.e. galvanic baths)
  • AC adapters & other AC power supplies (including those for concurrent use with AC power)