[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Japan Product Labeling Requirements JapanLabeling # Japan Product Labeling Requirements: Consumer Product Information Act and Mandatory Fields Labeling for the Japanese market is governed by a stack of overlapping statutes — not a single unified regulation. The PSE and PSC marks, the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act, country of origin rules, and the Japanese language requirement all apply simultaneously and independently. Getting the label wrong is one of the most common reasons electronics shipments are held at Japanese customs or recalled from retail shelves. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fjapan-labeling-requirements) At a glance Key laws CPSA, HGQLA, DENAN Language Japanese mandatory PSE label Required for designated products Origin Mandatory on all imports ## The labeling laws that apply to hardware products ### Consumer Product Safety Act — PSC and PSE marks The Consumer Product Safety Act (消費生活用製品安全法 / CPSA) designates certain high-risk consumer products as 'specified' products requiring a PSC (Product Safety Consumer) mark before sale. A broader set of electrical products requires a PSE (Product Safety Electrical Appliance & Material) mark under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (電気用品安全法 / DENAN). PSE-marked products must display the mark alongside the rated voltage, current or wattage, and the name or trade name of the importer/manufacturer. The PSC mark applies to products outside the electrical appliance scope — including certain gas appliances, pressure vessels, and child safety products. ### Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (HGQLA) The Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (家庭用品品質表示法) requires quality and composition labelling for designated categories of household goods — primarily textiles, plastics, and electrical household appliances. For electrical household appliances within HGQLA scope, mandatory label content includes the product's rated power input, voltage, and frequency; whether it is for indoor or outdoor use; materials of principal components; and handling/maintenance precautions. Labels must be in Japanese. The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) administers HGQLA and publishes the designation orders that define which products are in scope. ### Country of origin — Customs Law Japan's Customs Law requires that all imported goods display the country of origin (原産国) in a manner visible to the consumer at the point of purchase. For electronics, the country of origin is typically the country where the last substantial transformation occurred — usually the country where the PCB was assembled into the finished product, regardless of where components were manufactured. 'Made in \[country\]' or '原産国：\[国名\]' are both acceptable formats. Misrepresenting country of origin is a customs offence and also exposes the importer to liability under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. ### Japanese language requirement Multiple Japanese laws — HGQLA, CPSA, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act for relevant products, and the Food Sanitation Act for food-contact materials — independently require that mandatory label content appear in Japanese. There is no consolidated single-statute Japanese language requirement, but the cumulative effect is that all mandatory fields must be in Japanese. Optional fields (brand names, marketing text) may be in any language. Product instructions and warning manuals must also be in Japanese for regulated product categories — English-only documentation is not sufficient. ## Building compliant product labels for Japan 01 Identify all labelling laws applicable to your product category. A single electronics product may be subject to overlapping obligations under DENAN (PSE mark), HGQLA (quality labelling), CPSA (PSC mark for certain categories), and Customs Law (origin). Run the product through each framework's scope definitions before designing the label. 02 Translate all mandatory fields into Japanese. Engage a native Japanese technical translator — not a general translation service — to ensure that technical terms (rated voltage, frequency, material names) are rendered correctly and consistently with JIS terminology. Consumer Affairs Agency inspection notices have cited incorrect Japanese technical terminology as a labelling defect. 03 Include the PSE or PSC mark where applicable. PSE marks come in two forms: the diamond PSE mark (for products subject to third-party certification) and the round PSE mark (for products subject to self-certification). Display the mark at the required minimum size adjacent to the rated electrical specifications. The name of the importer or manufacturer, as registered with METI, must appear alongside the PSE mark. 04 State the country of origin clearly. Use the format '原産国：\[国名\]' or an equivalent clear statement. The origin statement must be on the product or its packaging in a location visible before purchase. For e-commerce, the origin must be disclosed on the product listing page. 05 Include the importer's name and Japanese address. For foreign-manufactured products, the importer's name and address in Japan must appear on the label or product documentation. A P.O. box is not acceptable — a physical Japanese address is required. This is a HGQLA requirement for electrical household appliances and a CPSA requirement for specified products. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Japanese always required on product labels sold in Japan? For all mandatory label fields — PSE/PSC marks, rated specifications, country of origin, safety warnings, quality information required under HGQLA — Japanese is required. The requirement arises from multiple separate laws rather than a single language mandate, but the practical effect is universal: mandatory information must be in Japanese. Optional information such as brand names, model numbers, and marketing descriptions may appear in any language. A common approach is to produce a Japan-specific label overlay or separate Japan packaging insert that covers all mandatory Japanese-language fields. ### What information must appear next to the PSE mark? For products bearing the PSE mark under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (DENAN), mandatory adjacent information includes: the rated voltage (e.g. 100V), rated current or wattage, rated frequency (50/60Hz as applicable), and the name or trade name of the manufacturer or importer as registered with METI. For diamond PSE products (requiring third-party certification), the certification body name or code must also appear. The PSE mark itself must meet minimum size requirements — typically no smaller than 3mm in height. Placing the PSE mark without the required accompanying information is a DENAN violation. ### What is the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act and which electronics does it cover? The Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (HGQLA / 家庭用品品質表示法) requires quality and performance labelling for household goods designated by ministerial order under the Act. For electronics, the Act covers electrical household appliances including televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, and small electrical appliances used in the home. For each designated category, the ministerial order specifies exactly which label fields are mandatory — commonly including rated power, voltage, frequency, usage environment (indoor/outdoor), and maintenance precautions. Products not in the designated categories are not subject to HGQLA, though they may be subject to other labelling obligations. ### How is country of origin determined for assembled electronics? Country of origin for assembled electronics follows the 'substantial transformation' test under Japanese customs rules. The origin is the country where the last substantial transformation occurred — meaning the manufacturing process that created the finished product and gave it its essential character. For electronics, this is typically the country where PCB assembly, final product assembly, and testing took place, regardless of where individual components (semiconductors, screens, batteries) were manufactured. If a product is assembled in Vietnam from Korean, Chinese, and Japanese components, the country of origin is Vietnam. The determination should be documented with manufacturing records to support customs declarations. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇯🇵 Japan roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇯🇵 Japan compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/42-japan-pse-marking-ecommerce-electronics-sellers)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/42-japan-pse-marking-ecommerce-electronics-sellers) Related guides * [Japan Compliance OverviewJapan's multi-agency compliance framework: PSE electrical safety, radio certification, medical devices, and consumer safety.](/guides/japan-compliance-overview) * [Japan PSE CertificationComplete guide to Japan PSE certification under DENAN — diamond vs circle PSE categories, technical standards, self-declaration…](/guides/japan-pse-certification) * [Japan Product Liability ActJapan's strict liability Product Liability Act for hardware companies: defect definition, importer-as-manufacturer rule, and the development risk defense.](/guides/japan-product-liability-act) * [Canada Bilingual LabelingCanada's Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act: mandatory bilingual English/French declarations, net quantity font size rules, and Quebec Bill 96 overlay.](/guides/canada-bilingual-labeling)