Testing Lab of Power Supply/ IT / AV Products

Japan's Product Safety Electrical Appliance & Material (PSE) certification is the mandatory safety mark that every electrical product must carry before entering the Japanese market. For power supply products — including AC/DC adapters, switching power supplies, and battery chargers — compliance is not optional. These products overwhelmingly fall under the Category A "specified electrical appliances" classification, subject to the most stringent diamond-shaped PSE mark requirements. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the PSE regulatory framework, clarifies which power products fall under which classification, maps the applicable technical standards, and highlights the critical compliance changes introduced by Japan's 2025 regulatory update.

1. Understanding PSE Certification — Japan's Mandatory Electrical Safety Regime

The PSE certification system is established under Japan's Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (DENAN), previously known as the DENTORL Law. Administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the regulation mandates that 456 categories of electrical products obtain safety certification before being offered for sale in Japan.

Products are classified into two categories:

Category A — Specified Electrical Appliances (≈116 products): High-risk products requiring the diamond-shaped PSE mark. Third-party testing by a METI-registered conformity assessment body (RCoC), mandatory factory inspection, and METI filing are all required.

Category B — Non-Specified Electrical Appliances (≈340 products): Lower-risk products eligible for the circular PSE mark. Self-declaration of conformity is permitted; no mandatory third-party certification or factory inspection is required, though testing records must be maintained.

Critical point: PSE certification alone is insufficient. METI filing is also mandatory. Products without both valid PSE certification and completed METI registration are prohibited from sale in Japan and may be subject to confiscation and penalties.

2. Power Supply Products — Classification and Scope

The vast majority of power supply products fall under Category A and must obtain the diamond-shaped PSE mark. The following product categories are confirmed as specified electrical appliances:

• AC/DC Power Adapters — Wall-mount and desktop adapters for consumer and industrial electronics
• Switching Power Supplies (SMPS) — Open-frame, enclosed, and DIN-rail power supply units
• Battery Chargers — Lithium-ion chargers, NiMH chargers, and multi-chemistry charging systems
• Transformers — Power transformers, isolation transformers, and adapter transformers
• Power Banks — Portable lithium battery packs, subject to both PSE and battery-specific requirements

3. Technical Standards — Two Conformity Pathways

Japan maintains two parallel sets of technical standards for PSE conformity assessment. Manufacturers must choose one pathway — mixing between the two is not permitted:

Appendix 8/10 — Japan's National Standards　Domestically developed technical standards with significant differences from IEC requirements. Suitable for products designed exclusively for the Japanese market.

Appendix 12 — IEC-Harmonised Standards　Introduced in 2002, these are J-prefix standards harmonised with IEC international standards. Key standards for power products include J 62368-1/H31 (audio/video and IT equipment), J 60950-1/H14 (IT equipment safety), and J 60335 series (household appliances). This is the recommended pathway for manufacturers with existing CB reports, as only Japan-specific deviations need to be added.

Core test categories for power supply products include:

• Electrical safety: Dielectric withstand, insulation resistance, grounding continuity, leakage current, temperature rise
• Protection testing: Overload, short circuit, abnormal operation, single fault conditions
• Mechanical and material safety: Enclosure strength, flammability (UL 94 V-0/V-1), material heat resistance
• EMC compliance: Conducted emissions, radiated emissions, ESD immunity, surge immunity

4. Diamond vs. Circular PSE — Side-by-Side Comparison

5. Japan's 2025 PSE Regulatory Update

Effective 25 December 2025, Japan's updated PSE enforcement regime is now in full effect. The transition period has ended and the new requirements apply across all sales channels, including Amazon Japan, Rakuten, TEMU, and independent Japanese e-commerce stores. Key changes include:

Mandatory Japanese domestic representative　All overseas manufacturers must appoint a verified Japanese representative with a physical address, Japanese language capability, and the capacity to cooperate with regulatory investigations and accept liability. "Shell company" registrations are no longer accepted.

Enhanced METI filing requirements　All product information must be registered in the METI regulatory system. Filing must be completed by a registered Japanese entity — typically the importer or authorised local agent.

Label-product consistency enforcement　Product nameplate information (PSE mark, importer name, electrical parameters) must match METI filing records exactly. Store or brand names on labels are no longer sufficient — the registered Japanese business entity name must appear.

Power supply products, as Category A items, are among the most closely monitored product categories under the new regime. Non-compliant products face immediate removal from Japanese marketplaces.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

This article was generated with AI assistance. Content is for reference only and does not constitute any certification commitment or legal advice. Please refer to the latest official Japanese regulations.

Contact: net01@gtggroup.com