Air purifier products enter the market access certification requirements of South Korea, Japan and other countries

The air purifier market is one of the growing markets in the electronic and electrical industry. Globally, the use of air purifiers is gradually increasing, especially in countries with high pollution concentrations. Industrial activities, urbanization, traffic pollution, factory emissions and family activities have become the main factors driving the growth of the air purifier market. In the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America, the market demand for air purifiers continues to grow. At the same time, due to the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, consumers pay more attention to the health of the home environment, and the market demand for air purifiers is increasing with the trend of upgrading consumption concepts.

Air Purifier

In 2020, the global air purifier market was valued at US$9.6 billion and is expected to reach US$19.33 billion by 2026. During this period, it is expected to grow at an average annual compound growth rate of 12.37%. In the Asia-Pacific region, air purifiers in China, Japan, South Korea and India are all growing rapidly. In 2020, the air purifier market in the Asia-Pacific region was valued at approximately US$3.81 billion, with an absolute growth rate of 103.41%. The air purifier market in the Asia-Pacific region is mainly dominated by China, Japan, and South Korea. As a major manufacturing country, China produces and supplies about 70% of the world's air purifiers. For Chinese air purifier manufacturers, understanding the regulatory requirements of each export destination and improving product compliance have become prerequisites for winning the international market.

The following is a summary of the market access requirements for air purifier products

out of East Asia, Taiwan, China,

Japan, and South Korea:

Taiwan market

BSM | Certification access and conformity assessment requirements

The "Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs" (BSMI for short) issued an announcement on November 16, 2021, announcing that the test standards for air purifiers will be revised from now on, and the energy efficiency test standard CNS16098 (108 edition) will be added. The implementation of this announcement means that air purifier products must meet safety regulations, EMC, ROHS, and energy efficiency standards before entering the Taiwan market to obtain BSMI certificates, and products must be affixed with BSMI certification marks and energy efficiency labels before they can be sold in the Taiwan market. If the air purifier has wireless and Bluetooth functions, it also needs to meet NCC certification requirements.

Air Purifier

Taiwan certification process:

1. Fill in the BSMI certification application form

2. Provide product technical data review (such as traditional Chinese manual, circuit diagram, traditional Chinese nameplate, explosion diagram, spare parts list and certificate, etc.) 3. Prepare the test sample and send it to the laboratory for safety, EMC, MEPS energy efficiency, NCC type test; ROHS can accept the manufacturer to fill in the self-declaration document 4. The laboratory arranges product testing and reviews and evaluates the technical data documents, and completes the BSMI/NCC report. After completing the relevant report, submit an application to BSMI/NCC for review.

5. After the product obtains the BSMI/NCC certificate, it must be affixed with the BSMI certification mark and NCC mark, certificate ID.

6. Starting from 2023, air purifier products will also need to submit energy efficiency registration with BSMI reports, MEPS energy efficiency reports and other information, and the product can be sold with energy efficiency labels. For detailed procedures for obtaining energy efficiency labels, please refer to the following Taiwan official website.

South Korean market: KC certification access and conformity assessment requirements

South Korea's KC certification will be divided into two independent parts according to the regulatory field: safety and electromagnetic compatibility. The government departments in charge of certification are the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Information Technology. Safety certification is divided into three modes according to the hazard level of the product. The National Radio Research Institute RRA is responsible for the EMC certification of electronic and electrical appliances and broadcasting communication products. Conformity assessment is carried out according to product types such as wired, wireless, SAR, etc. All regulated products must use the KC mark after completing the certification before they can be circulated in South Korea. According to regulatory requirements, air purifiers need to apply for safety, EMC and energy efficiency registration to fully meet the South Korean market access requirements.

Korean certification mark

Korean certification process:

1. Fill in the safety and EMC certification application form

2. Provide product technical data review (such as Korean manual, circuit diagram, Korean nameplate, explosion diagram, spare parts list and certificate, etc.)

3. Prepare the test sample and send it to the laboratory for testing. Safety and EMC can complete CB certification first, and then transfer KC certificate according to CB certificate. If the product has wireless or Bluetooth function, it needs to be tested in a Korean laboratory.

4. Energy efficiency registration

5. The final product needs to obtain three certificates for safety, EMC and energy efficiency registration confirmation, and affix the KC certification mark and energy efficiency grade label to the product to

smooth customs clearance and sales.

Japanese market: PSE certification access and conformity assessment requirements

From April 1, 2001, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry METI began to authorize third-party certification agencies to perform electrical appliance safety law conformity assessment certification. Controlled products are divided into "specific electrical appliances" and "non-specific electrical appliances". All products in the "Specified Electrical Appliances" catalogue must be certified by a third-party certification body authorized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan before entering the Japanese market, and obtain a certification certificate, and affix a diamond-shaped PSE mark on the label. For products in the "Non-Specific Electrical Appliances" catalogue, companies must comply with the requirements of the Electrical Safety Law through self-testing or commission by a third-party certification body, save the test results and certificates, and affix a circular PSE mark on the label. Air purifier products belong to the "Non-Specific Electrical Appliances" catalogue and need to meet the PSE circular regulations and standards requirements, with wireless or Bluetooth.

Japanese certification mark

Products with functions need to meet the radio wave law and complete MIC certification.

Japan Certification Process

1. Fill in the PSE circular/MIC certification application form

2. Provide product technical data review (such as Japanese manual, Japanese nameplate of circuit diagram, explosion diagram, spare parts list and certificate, etc.)

3. Prepare the test sample and send it to the laboratory for testing. Intertek laboratories can provide PSE and MIC testing

4. After completing the PSE and MIC test reports, Intertek can directly issue the PSE circular confirmation letter and MIC certificate

5. After completing the certification, the product must be affixed with the PSE circular/MIC certification mark according to the requirements of the Electrical Safety Law and the Radio Wave Law

6. All Japanese importers need to declare items at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry METI before importing electrical products.