Amendments to Japan’s Product Safety Laws Introduce New Obligations for Overseas Sellers
26. February 2026Amendments to Japan’s Four Product Safety Acts, including the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (PSE) and the Consumer Product Safety Act (PSC), took effect on December 25, 2025. The revised framework establishes clearer responsibilities for foreign businesses that sell regulated products directly to consumers in Japan, particularly through cross-border e-commerce platforms. Overseas sellers that import and distribute products subject to PS Mark requirements are now classified as “Specified Importers” when conducting business involving designated goods. These entities must fulfill obligations comparable to those imposed on domestic manufacturers and importers, including filing notifications with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and ensuring compliance with applicable technical safety standards. Products regulated under PSE/PSC usually require PSE certification/PSC certification in order to be approved for import and sale in Japan.
To strengthen regulatory oversight, Specified Importers are required to appoint a Domestic Administrator in Japan. This representative must maintain a registered address in Japan, be capable of communicating in Japanese, and enter into a written agreement defining delegated responsibilities. The regulatory scope covers multiple product categories under the Four Acts, including electrical appliances such as AC adapters under PSE, consumer goods such as infant toys, baby beds, and laser pointers under PSC, as well as gas appliances and LPG-related equipment regulated under PSTG and PSLPG. Within the PSE framework, designated electrical appliances bearing the diamond-shaped PSE mark are subject to mandatory conformity assessment by a Registered Conformity Assessment Body and require a Certificate of Conformity prior to market entry, while non-designated items bearing the circular PSE mark are not subject to mandatory third-party assessment but must still comply with technical standards.
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