[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Japan PSE Mark JapanElectrical Safety # Japan PSE Mark: Diamond vs Circle PSE Under the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act The PSE mark is mandatory for the 457 electrical items listed under Japan's Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (DENAN). The 116 higher-risk Specified items, such as AC adapters and power cords, carry the diamond PSE mark and need a certificate from a METI-registered body. The other 341 items carry the circle PSE mark based on the importer's or manufacturer's own inspection. This guide covers how to classify your product, who is legally responsible, what goes on the label, and what changed for overseas online sellers on 25 December 2025. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fjapan-pse-mark-electrical-safety) At a glance Law Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (DENAN) Mark ◇ PSE = Specified (third-party), ○ PSE = Non-Specified Regulator METI Scope 457 items (116 Specified + 341 Non-Specified) Latest change Overseas direct sellers in scope from 25 Dec 2025 ## PSE mark categories and product classification ### Two PSE categories: Specified and Non-Specified The Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (電気用品安全法, often called DENAN) designates 457 items as "electrical appliances and materials". 116 of them are Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials (特定電気用品) — higher-risk items that carry the diamond-shaped PSE mark and need a conformity assessment by a registered body. The other 341 are Non-Specified (特定電気用品以外の電気用品) and carry the circle-shaped PSE mark based on the manufacturer's or importer's own inspection. If your product is not on either list, DENAN does not apply and you must not apply a PSE mark. ### Diamond PSE: third-party conformity assessment Specified items are things that run unattended for long periods, are used by vulnerable people, or touch the body. Typical examples are AC adapters and other DC power supplies, power cords and cord sets, plugs and sockets, power strips, fuses, wiring devices, and many heaters. Before you sell, a METI-registered conformity assessment body (登録検査機関) tests a sample, inspects the factory, and issues a certificate. The certificate is valid for 3, 5 or 7 years depending on the item, and you must hold it (or a copy) while you sell. ### Circle PSE: self-inspection against technical standards Non-specified items include TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, LED lamps and lithium-ion batteries (including power banks). There is no mandatory third-party certificate, but you still must confirm conformity to the technical standards, run a completed-product inspection on every unit you ship, and keep inspection records. In practice most importers commission a test report from a lab, because "self" inspection still has to stand up when METI asks for evidence. ### Who is responsible: the notified business operator The legal duty sits with the manufacturer in Japan or the importer that brings the product in, called the notified business operator (届出事業者). It must file a business notification with METI within 30 days of starting to manufacture or import each product type category, meet the technical standards, inspect products, and keep inspection records for three years. Since 25 December 2025, overseas sellers that ship directly to consumers in Japan through online marketplaces carry these duties too (see below). ## Diamond PSE vs circle PSE at a glance Requirement ◇ Diamond PSE (116 Specified) ○ Circle PSE (341 Non-Specified) PSE mark Diamond-shaped PSE Circle-shaped PSE Notified business operator name Required (registered abbreviation allowed) Required (registered abbreviation allowed) Registered conformity assessment body name Required Not applicable Rated values (voltage, current or power) As set by the technical standards for the item As set by the technical standards for the item Third-party certificate Yes, valid 3, 5 or 7 years No Inspection records Keep for 3 years Keep for 3 years ## PSE compliance process step by step 01 Classify your product against METI's list of 457 items. Check whether it is a Specified item (diamond PSE), a Non-Specified item (circle PSE), or outside the list. A laptop computer, for example, is generally outside the list, but the AC adapter that ships with it is a Specified item. 02 Decide who will be the notified business operator. For conventional imports this is the Japanese importer of record. If you sell direct from overseas through a marketplace, you become a "specified importer" and need to appoint a domestic administrator in Japan. 03 File the business notification with METI (or the regional bureau) within 30 days of starting business, listing each product type category you manufacture or import. 04 Confirm conformity to the technical standards. METI's technical standards are performance-based; the Interpretation lists acceptable routes, including Japanese standards harmonised with IEC (for example J62368-1 for audio/video and IT power supplies). Test to the edition METI currently accepts. 05 For diamond PSE items, get a conformity assessment from a METI-registered conformity assessment body and keep the certificate. Renew it before it expires. 06 Run a completed-product inspection on every unit (for example, insulation and dielectric strength tests) and keep the inspection records for three years. 07 Mark the product with the correct PSE mark, the notified business operator's name, the conformity assessment body's name for diamond PSE items, and the rated values. Use METI's published mark artwork. ## December 2025: overseas online sellers now in scope ### What changed The Act to partially amend the Consumer Product Safety Act and related laws (promulgated 26 June 2024) took effect on 25 December 2025. It brings overseas businesses that sell directly to consumers in Japan, typically through marketplaces such as Amazon Japan or Rakuten, into the same framework as domestic importers. METI calls them specified importers (特定輸入事業者). ### What overseas sellers must do File the business notification within 30 days of starting business, meet the technical standards, inspect products, apply the correct PSE marking, and appoint a domestic administrator (国内管理人) who lives in Japan and acts as the contact point for METI and consumers. The administrator's name and address go into the notification. ### What marketplaces can be asked to do Where a product may harm consumers and the seller cannot be expected to fix it, METI can ask the online marketplace operator to delete the listing. METI can also publish the names of businesses that break the law or ignore its orders. Expect marketplaces to check notifications and PSE markings before allowing listings. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the PSE mark? The PSE mark is Japan's mandatory safety mark for electrical products covered by the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act. It shows that the notified manufacturer or importer has met the Act's technical standards and inspection duties. Products on METI's list of 457 items cannot be sold in Japan without it. ### What is the difference between diamond PSE and circle PSE? Diamond PSE (◇) is for the 116 Specified Electrical Appliances and Materials, such as AC adapters, power cords and plugs. It requires a conformity assessment certificate from a METI-registered body. Circle PSE (○) is for the 341 Non-Specified items, such as TVs, LED lamps and lithium-ion batteries. It relies on the business operator's own conformity check and inspection, with no mandatory third-party certificate. ### Does CE marking allow skipping PSE testing? No. CE marking has no legal standing in Japan. Your existing IEC-based CB or CE test reports can save time, because many of METI's accepted standards are based on IEC standards, but Japan has national differences, and a diamond PSE item still needs a certificate from a METI-registered conformity assessment body. ### Do laptops, phones and other IT products need a PSE mark? Most IT products powered by an external adapter are not on the PSE list themselves, but the AC adapter is a Specified item and needs diamond PSE. Lithium-ion batteries above the size threshold and power banks are Non-Specified items and need circle PSE. Check every mains-connected part and every battery separately. ### Can overseas sellers sell PSE products on Amazon Japan or Rakuten after December 2025? Yes, but with more obligations. From 25 December 2025, amendments to Japan's four product safety laws, including the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act, treat overseas businesses that sell directly to consumers in Japan through online marketplaces as "specified importers". They must file the business notification, meet all PSE duties, and appoint a domestic administrator (国内管理人) in Japan. METI can ask platform operators to remove listings for non-compliant products and can publish the names of violators. ### How long does diamond PSE certification take? Timing depends on the conformity assessment body, the product and how complete your test data is. A factory inspection is part of the process, so plan for several weeks to a few months, and book the body early if your factory is outside Japan. Circle PSE has no third-party step, but testing and inspection set-up still take time. **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? 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