## Background Japan's Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (DENAN Law, a Japanese domestic regulation stipulating safety requirements for electrical appliances and materials) classifies electrical appliances and materials into "Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials" and "Non-Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials." The former requires the diamond-shaped PSE mark (must be certified by a conformity assessment body registered in Japan), while the latter requires the circular PSE mark (self-declaration is permitted, but a test report based on the Ministerial Ordinance on Technical Standards is required).
Since 2026, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan has significantly tightened its review of PSE certification, especially for electrical products sold through cross-border e-commerce channels. Frontline feedback shows that sellers exporting to Japan on Amazon Japan, AliExpress Japan, and Alibaba.com are increasingly encountering cargo detention at customs or platform delisting due to incorrect PSE mark types, missing METI registration, or incomplete technical documents.
## Frontline Observations **1. Choosing the wrong diamond vs. circular PSE is a high-frequency problem** Many sellers mistakenly use the circular PSE for non-specified electrical appliances and materials (such as some small household appliances), while some products actually fall under specified electrical appliances and materials (such as power adapters and chargers) and must use the diamond PSE. Choosing the wrong mark type will directly lead to customs clearance failure.
**2. Missing METI registration has become a customs clearance checkpoint** Japan requires manufacturers or importers of electrical appliances and materials to submit a "Notification of Commencement of Business" (business commencement notification, i.e., registration) to METI. Some cross-border sellers have not completed registration, and their goods are detained at customs. The reference registration period is 2–4 weeks.
**3. Technical documents do not meet the requirements of the Ministerial Ordinance** Although the circular PSE permits self-declaration, technical documents must be prepared in accordance with the Ministerial Ordinance on Technical Standards (Appended Tables 1/2/3), including test items, limit values, and judgment criteria. In recent reviews, the proportion of returns due to technical documents missing key test items (such as temperature rise and withstand voltage) has increased.
**4. Platform reviews have tightened simultaneously** Amazon Japan has strengthened listing reviews for the electrical category, requiring PSE certificates or test reports, METI registration numbers, and declarations of conformity. Some sellers have been delisted for rectification due to incomplete materials, with a reference rectification period of 1–2 weeks.
**5. Reference test cycles and costs** The reference certification cycle for diamond PSE is 21–45 working days, with reference costs of 3,000–25,000 yuan; circular PSE self-declaration requires a test report, with a reference cycle of 5–15 working days and reference costs of 1,000–8,000 yuan. Actual timelines are subject to the institution and scheduling.
## What Companies Should Do **Step 1: Accurately determine the product category** Refer to Appended Table 1 (Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials) and Appended Table 2 (Non-Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials) of the DENAN Law to confirm whether the product falls within the diamond or circular PSE scope. If uncertain, a professional institution may be commissioned to make the determination.
**Step 2: Choose a compliance pathway** - Diamond PSE: Certification by a conformity assessment body registered in Japan (such as JET or JQA) is required, with a longer cycle and higher costs. - Circular PSE: Self-declaration is permitted, but it must be based on a test report conforming to the Ministerial Ordinance on Technical Standards. It is recommended that testing be completed by a qualified partner laboratory to ensure the report is recognized by Japanese regulatory authorities.
**Step 3: Complete METI registration** The manufacturer or importer must submit a Notification of Commencement of Business to METI and obtain a registration number. Cross-border sellers may complete this through a local responsible person or agent in Japan.
**Step 4: Prepare technical documents** Technical documents should include: product description, circuit diagrams, component list, test reports (based on Appended Tables 1/2/3), declaration of conformity, label samples, etc. Ensure that test items cover all key items required by the Ministerial Ordinance.
**Step 5: Submit materials to the platform** When listing on platforms such as Amazon Japan, submit PSE certificates/reports, METI registration numbers, and declarations of conformity as required. It is recommended to prepare in advance to avoid delisting and rectification.
The Shuwang Testing and Certification Platform can assist sellers with PSE category determination, connecting with partner laboratories to complete testing, coaching on technical document preparation, and coordinating METI registration. For more information, visit https://www.shuwangtc.com.
## Notes The cycles and costs described in this article are public industry reference ranges; actual timelines are subject to engineer assessment and institution scheduling. PSE certification requirements are subject to the official original text of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
> **Service Boundary Statement**:
Shuwang Testing and Certification Platform is an export certification solution service provider. It does not engage in testing activities and is not a certification body. The tests described on this page are completed by partner laboratories with CNAS/CMA or equivalent qualifications, and certificates are issued by EU Notified Bodies (NB) or institutions authorized by the standards bureau of the destination country. The timelines and fees on this page are public industry reference ranges; actual values are subject to engineer assessment and institution scheduling.