Market approval for radio products in Japan is granted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) on the basis of the Japanese Radio Law and the Japanese Telecommunication Business Law and is a prerequisite to market products in Japan.
The exact certification process for market approval in Japan depends on the device itself or the technologies and interfaces used in the device. If the product contains radio technology, the certification process according to the Radio Law is necessary.
Japanese Radio Law
Products with radio technologies must be tested and certified in accordance with the Japanese Radio Law for market approval in Japan. This includes the following technologies:
The Radio Law offers three certification procedures, ranging from self-declaration to third-party certification:
Certificate of Construction Design or Type
In this case, the product, including the construction and design, is certified on the basis of representative samples. An approval is granted if the product complies with the technical standards specified in Clause 24 of Article 38 of the Radio Law.
This approval process is intended in particular for manufacturers of radio products that are produced in large quantities.
Technical Regulations Conformity Certification
The devices are tested for conformity in accordance with the standards defined in § 38 Para. 6 No. 6 of the Radio Law. The tests and certification are carried out for each product. This process is primarily designed for devices that are only produced in small batches (typically less than 100 units).
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
If the manufacturer own suitable test equipment, the test reports may be used for a declaration of conformity. In any case, a local Japanese representative must apply to the MIC for approval.
Japanese Telecommunication Business Law
The Telecommunication Business Law is an additional hurdle for the market approval of technical equipment in Japan and must be seen separately from an approval under the Radio Law.
Testing according to the requirements of the Business Law relates primarily to products that can be connected to the state communications network in Japan. It does not matter whether this connection is wired or wireless:
Prodcuts in this category are mobile phones, fax machines, landline telephones and WLAN routers.
Manufacturers who wish to market these types of products in Japan are therefore required to certify their devices in accordance with the requirements of the Radio Law and the Telecommunication Business Law. For both methods, it makes sense to use a so-called Registered Certification Body (RCB) for manufacturers.
The role of the RCB
In an effort to establish a more efficient Radio Law and/or Telecommunications Business Law certification for manufacturers in and outside Japan, the MIC has appointed Registered Certification Bodies (RCB).
An RCB therefore has the authority to process a customer’s application for certification on behalf of MIC and to issue a certificate following successful testing.
EMC and safety approvals
As part of the market approval for Japan, manufacturers must also comply with the MIC requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electrical safety. While the VCCI approval certifies the conformity of the device in terms of EMC, the PSE approval stands for compliance with the electrical safety requirements of the “Product Safety Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law” in Japan.
We as CETECOM offer our customers all services for market approval of devices with radio technology in Japan. We perform all the tests required for MIC approval (including VCCI and PSE) in our 17025 accredited laboratories or in our partner network. We handle the entire testing and certification process for you, ensuring an efficient certification process and rapid approval to the Japanese market with all services from a single source.
We are also officially listed at NANDO (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) as RCB for the sector “Sectoral Annex on Radio Equipment” for the following areas:
Do you have any further questions on the subject of MIC certification?
Please do not hesitate to contact us directly: https://www.cetecom.com/en/contact/
