Is the testing body for obtaining the PSE mark a certification system?
Q：Is the testing body for obtaining the PSE mark a certification system?
Ａ：The testing body for the PSE mark is not a “certification system.”
Under Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (PSE Law), the basic principle is “Self-Declaration of Conformity” (Self-Confirmation), where the business operator manufacturing or importing the target electrical appliances confirms conformity to technical standards on their own responsibility. It is not a system where a government-designated third-party certification body officially certifies the product, unlike the EU’s CE marking.
Accurate System Organization
① Procedures differ based on the PSE classification
There are two categories of PSE: “Specific Electrical Appliances (Diamond PSE)” and “Non-Specific Electrical Appliances (Circle PSE).”
Specific Electrical Appliances (Diamond PSE)
It is mandatory to undergo conformity inspection at a third-party body.
→ However, that inspection body is not a “Certification Body,” but a “Registered Conformity Assessment Body” registered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Registered Conformity Assessment Bodies (Examples):
・JET (Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories)
・JQA (Japan Quality Assurance Organization)
Role of Registered Bodies:
To conduct tests for technical standard conformity. The final responsibility for displaying the PSE mark lies strictly with the business operator.
Common Point of Confusion:
Registered Body ≠ Certification Body
→ The inspection result (test report) is the basis for the self-declaration, but it is not a system where you receive PSE mark certification from the body.
Non-Specific Electrical Appliances (Circle PSE)
Third-party inspection is not required.
Business operators can display the PSE mark based on self-confirmation using in-house testing or external test reports.
② Why can we say it is “not a certification system”?
- Japan’s PSE system is a “Business Operator Responsibility Model” (Self-Declaration).
- The PSE mark is not a “Certification Mark” granted by a certification body, but a “Mark of Declaration of Conformity” displayed by the business operator.
- Inspection bodies do not have the authority to grant the PSE mark.
This differs from certification systems like the EU’s CE, or the US’s UL and TÜV.
③ Points of Common Misunderstanding (Summary)
| Common Misunderstanding | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| A certification body issues the PSE | It is not certification, but a Self-Declaration of Conformity displayed by the business operator. |
| Registered Inspection Body = Certification Body | They conduct testing, but do not perform certification. |
| Automatically OK if there is a test report | The business operator bears the final responsibility. |
| PSE is a government permit | It is not a permit system, but a “mandatory display for business operators.” |
④ Final Requirements for Business Operators (Practical/Operational)
- Design, Components, and Structure that conform to technical standards.
- Conduct Necessary Testing (at a Registered Inspection Body for Diamond PSE).
- Retention of Technical Documentation (Technical Reports/TR, circuit diagrams, risk assessments, etc.).
- Display of Business Operator Name and Importer Name.
- Correct Display of the PSE Mark.
- Overseas businesses must submit a notification of specified import business. *A “manufacturing business notification” is required if the product is manufactured in Japan.
Summary (Shortest Answer)
Obtaining the PSE mark is not a certification system.
for Circle PSE), it is not a system where a mark is granted upon receiving certification or a permit. The final display of the PSE mark is a “Self-Confirmation System conducted by the business operator themselves.”
