SCEA is composed of 47 groups and institutions including manufacturers, distributors, consumers, certification bodies and academic experts. As the only council operating a third-party certification scheme for electrical and electronic appliance safety in Japan, SCEA engages in a number of activities to promote the S-mark certification scheme.
S-mark certification provides objective proof of compliance with technical safety standards through the inspection of products and factories by a fair and neutral third party. It also supplements self-confirmation by manufacturers or importers in accordance with the principles of self-accountability. Ensuring better safety of electrical and electronic appliances plays an important role in the improvement of society. As such, SCEA continuously strives to enhance the S-mark certification scheme.
There are presently four certification bodies participating in SCEA; Japan Electrical Safety & Environmental Technology Laboratories (JET), Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA), UL Japan Inc., and TUV Rheinland Japan Ltd.
The S-mark certification scheme is a third-party certification scheme for safety of electrical and electronic appliances to supplement the requirements of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE Law). The S-mark is proof that the product has been tested and the quality control of the factory has been checked by a third-party certification body.
1) S-mark certification standards
The in-scope products of the S-mark certification scheme are mainly products regulated by the PSE Law. Accordingly, the certification standards are defined as the technical requirements of the PSE Law. For products outside the scope of the PSE Law, JIS, IEC, or equivalent standards accepted by the certification body can be used. Additionally, an initial lot inspection and factory inspection are required to check whether the production system maintains consistent quality.
2) Certificate holder eligibility
Domestic and foreign manufacturers, importers, distributors, etc… are all eligible to be certificate holders.
3) In-scope products
In-scope products are electrical products regulated under the PSE Law and not regulated products by the PSE Law such as low-voltage electrical products not connected to commercial power supply directly or battery-operated products,, and components used in such products. Certificates are issued on a per model basis. For further details, please contact the following certification bodies.