Certifications Needed for Exporting to Asia
2025-06-12 17:09
1. KC/KCC (Korea Certification/Telecom Certification)
· KC and KCC share the same certification mark.
○ KC: Mandatory safety certification for electrical products and daily necessities, emphasizing product safety.
○ KCC: Mandatory electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) certification for IT, telecom, and RF wireless products.
· Exported products to South Korea must obtain KC or KCC certification to enter the market.
2. KS (Korean Industrial Standards)
The KS Certification System is managed and supervised by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS). It is a national standard certification system designed to ensure that products comply with the relevant standards and regulations set by South Korea. The evaluation criteria typically cover aspects such as product safety, quality, performance, and environmental impact.
Unlike KC Certification, which focuses primarily on electrical and electronic products, KS Certification has a broader scope and applies to a wide range of products and services—not limited to electronics or electrical items.
In the South Korean market, products that conform to KS standards are generally more readily recognized and prioritized by consumers. Therefore, obtaining KS certification can effectively enhance a product's market competitiveness and consumer trust when entering the South Korean market.
3. PSE (Japan Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law) / PSC (Consumer Product Safety Certification)
PSE (Product Safety of Electrical Appliances & Materials) is a mandatory safety certification for electrical and electronic products in Japan. Under Japan's Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (DENAN Law), electrical and electronic products listed in the DENAN Directory—such as wiring cables, fuses, household appliances, current limiters, transformers, ballasts, and wiring devices—must obtain PSE certification to be sold in Japan. Specifically, designated products must bear the PSE diamond mark, while non-designated products must display the PSE circle mark.
PSC (Product Safety of Consumer Products) shares a similar mark with PSE but is a mandatory safety certification for consumer goods. It applies to products such as pressure cookers, bicycle helmets, baby cribs, lighters, kerosene water heaters, kerosene stoves, and portable lasers.
4. TELEC/MIC (Japan Wireless Certification)
TELEC Certification is a mandatory certification for wireless products entering the Japanese market. It is sometimes also referred to as MIC Certification (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Certification). The certification applies to a wide range of wireless products, including but not limited to:
· 2.4 GHz devices
· Bluetooth products
· Wi-Fi devices
· RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) products
· Wireless modules
· Communication equipment
This certification ensures that wireless products comply with Japan's radio frequency and telecommunications regulations.
5. VCCI (Voluntary Council for Control of Interference)
VCCI (Voluntary Control Council for Interference) is a Japanese electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) certification managed by the Voluntary Control Council for Interference from Information Technology Equipment. Although it is a voluntary certification, IT equipment sold in Japan is generally required to obtain VCCI certification to demonstrate product quality. Due to market pressure, this certification has effectively become a de facto requirement for IT equipment exported to Japan.
Additionally, it is important to note that membership in VCCI is mandatory before applying for this certification.
6. TISI (Thai Industrial Standards Institute)
The TISI (Thai Industrial Standards Institute) certification system in Thailand combines both mandatory and voluntary certifications. The voluntary certification mark is blue (applicable only to products manufactured locally in Thailand), while the mandatory certification mark is red.
Currently, 144 product categories have been included in the mandatory certification scope, covering 19 sectors, including:
· Chemicals
· Plastics
· Rubber products
· Machinery
· Motor vehicles
· Electrical appliances
· Power equipment
· Lighting
· Building materials
· Consumer goods
...and etc.
7. NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission)
The NBTC Certification is a mandatory certification issued by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand. It applies to radio equipment and wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones, RF (radio frequency) devices, drones, etc. Products subject to NBTC certification must obtain this certification before they can be legally sold and used in Thailand.
8. CR (Vietnam Compliance Mark)
The CR Certification is a safety certification regulated by the Vietnam Standards and Quality Department (VSQD). According to regulations, all electrical and electronic products within the scope of CR Certification must undergo conformity testing—including safety and EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)—and obtain a Certificate of Conformity before being allowed to enter the Vietnamese market. These products must also bear the CR mark.
Products requiring mandatory CR Certification include:
· Gasoline, diesel, and biofuels
· Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
· Motor vehicle helmets
· Toys
· Electrical and electronic products
· Steel materials
· Lubricants
· LED lights
· Stainless steel products
Depending on the product type and technical standard requirements, CR Certification is divided into three certification modes:
1. System 1 (Batch Certification): Applied by Vietnamese importers for individual batches of products.
2. System 5 (Product Certification): For products regulated by technical regulations other than EMC and energy efficiency standards.
3. System 7: For products subject to EMC and energy efficiency regulations.
(Note: Manufacturers or exporters typically work with authorized certification bodies to complete the required procedures under the applicable system.)
9. MIC/VNTA (Vietnam Telecom Certification)
The MIC/VNTA Certification is issued by the Vietnam Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA). It ensures that telecommunications and information technology products comply with Vietnam's relevant regulations and technical standards, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), radio frequency (RF) performance, and safety requirements.
10. IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority)
Mandatory wireless certification for Singapore.
11. SIRIM (Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia)
Mandatory certification for electrical and electronic products in Malaysia.
12. SNI (Indonesian National Standard)
The SNI (Standar Nasional Indonesia) is the sole national standard applicable within Indonesia. It mandates certification for a wide range of products, including household appliances, electronic devices, building materials, children's products, chemical products, food, lighting fixtures, wires and cables, and automotive parts.
Products that fail to obtain SNI certification are prohibited from being sold in the Indonesian market. Those already in circulation are subject to mandatory removal. All controlled products exported to Indonesia must bear the SNI mark.
13. SDPPI (Indonesia Wireless Certification)
The SDPPI (Directorate General of Post and Telecommunication Standardsization of Indonesia) certification is a product access certification in Indonesia designed to ensure that telecommunications and information technology products comply with Indonesian regulations and technical requirements. It applies to a wide range of products, including communication equipment, IT devices, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) equipment, electronic devices, wireless devices, as well as their accessories and related technologies.
Products subject to SDPPI certification must obtain this certification before they can be legally sold and used in Indonesia.
14.BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification system, overseen by the Bureau of Indian Standards, is a significant certification framework in India. It is categorized into three types: mandatory certification (ISI mark), compulsory registration scheme (CRS), and voluntary certification.
The ISI mark mandatory certification involves an initial inspection and assessment of the factory's quality management system, sample testing, and post-certification surveillance. It primarily covers products such as cement, food, automotive components, steel, wires and cables, transformers, and household appliances.
In contrast, the CRS compulsory registration does not require factory inspections. Instead, it focuses on regulating electronic and electrical products, including tablets, microwave ovens, inverters, LED lights, batteries, and mobile phones.
15. TEC (Telecom Engineering Center)
The TEC (Telecom Engineering Centre) certification is a mandatory requirement issued by India's Telecom Engineering Centre for telecommunications equipment, such as communication or networking devices used for public network or wide-area network (WAN) service interfaces.
As mandated by the Telecom Equipment Mandatory Testing and Certification Scheme, all telecommunications products manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold in the Indian market are required to obtain TEC certification starting from October 1, 2019.
16. ARAI/AIS (Automotive Research Association of India)
The ARAI certification is a mandatory requirement for the export of complete motor vehicles and automotive components to the Indian market. It is also referred to as the AIS certification (Automotive Industry Standard certification).
17. WPC (Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing)
The WPC (Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing) Certification is a mandatory certification issued by India's Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing. It applies to all products equipped with wireless transmission devices, such as devices operating on WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and other wireless technologies.
18. NTC (National Telecommunications Commission)
The NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) is the market access system implemented by the Philippines for telecommunications and wireless products. It is divided into two types of approval processes:
1. Type Approval – Applies to telecommunications products.
2. Type Acceptance – Applies to wireless products.
19. ICC (Import Clearance Certificate)
The ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) Certification is a mandatory certification program implemented by the Philippine Bureau of Standards (BPS). It regulates key product categories, including:`
· Electronics and electrical products
· Building materials
· Vehicles and auto parts
· Chemicals
· Other consumer goods
Under the regulations, the BPS conducts inspections of each shipment of imported goods upon arrival at the port. Importers are only issued an ICC Certificate and permitted to use the ICC Mark if the products meet the relevant standards. Additionally, the BPS performs random post-market surveillance testing on imported goods to ensure ongoing compliance with the required standards.
20. FORM E (ASEAN-China FTA Certificate of Origin)
Exporters can enjoy tariff reduction benefits within the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) by presenting a Certificate of Origin. Goods exported to the ten ASEAN countries—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—receive an average tariff reduction of 5%.
21. SASO (Saudi Arabian Standards Organization)
The SASO Certification (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization Certification) is a mandatory certification system for imported products in Saudi Arabia, covering multiple sectors including electrical goods, automotive products, building materials, and more.
The certification primarily consists of two types of certificates:
1. Product Conformity Certificate (PCC)
2. Shipment Conformity Certificate (SCC)
All regulated products entering the Saudi market are required to obtain SASO certification before they can be imported and sold.
22. TRA/TDRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, UAE)
All radio and telecommunications equipment sold or distributed in the UAE must obtain TRA/TDRA certification.