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What is TELEC Certification for Radio Equipment for Japan?
TELEC certification (also known as MIC certification or Japanese Radio Law Approval) is a mandatory product approval for radios in Japan. It ensures compliance with the Japanese Radio Law and the Telecommunications Business Law. Unlike PSE certification, which is also mandatory, or voluntary VCCI certification, it is limited to intended radiation emissions.
TELEC certification ensures that domestically and foreign-produced radios meet Japan’s technical standards and do not interfere with or interfere with radio signals. The Telecom Engineering Center (TELEC) or the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is responsible for certification.
As part of the growing range of products with various telecommunications and radio technologies, Japan introduced TELEC certification as a basic requirement for market access in Japan in 1978. The frequencies covered have been continuously expanded and now include various bands between 9 kHz and 300 GHz.
Products that are subject to the TELEC certification requirement may not be imported into Japan without appropriate approval. This is strictly checked by Japanese customs. If products subject to approval are nevertheless imported or operated without TELEC certification, there is a risk of product recalls and penalties for the corresponding manufacturers. The testing of products for TELEC certification is therefore very important and must be completed before export.
Under certain circumstances, products may also require mandatory PSE certification and/or JATE certification in addition to TELEC approval .
Which products require TELEC certification?
The TELEC certification covers various product categories and frequency bands, including:
- Products with WLAN or Bluetooth, e.g. WLAN routers, Bluetooth headphones, mobile devices, …
- Products with RFID (LF, HF, UHF): credit card readers, check-in stations, labeling systems, …
- Products with LTE: smartphones, laptops, dash cams, …
- Products approved with other radio frequencies: drones, radar systems, industrial applications, …
- Wireless modules and chips
TELEC Certification Process
The TELEC certification process begins with an application, which usually includes two separate components for the test laboratory and for the certification authority. The first part of the application must be sent to a TELEC-accredited test laboratory, where the next step is to test the product according to Japanese standards. After successfully passing these tests, a test report is drawn up, which serves as the basis for the second application to TEREC. After a thorough examination, TELEC then issues the corresponding certificate. In the final step, the company is then responsible for ensuring the correct labeling of the certified products.
Application Preparation
Submission & Application Review at the Test Laboratory
Product Tests in TELEC-accredited Test Laboratories
Submission & Application Review at the Authority
Issuing Certificates and Marking
For the TELEC approval of a final product, companies can already use radio chips or modules pre-certified according to TELEC in their products in order to facilitate or even circumvent the certification process. If all such components have already been tested and approved according to Japanese standards, it may not even be necessary to re-evaluate the end product according to TELEC. However, this must always be verified on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, manufacturers of products with pre-certified radio chips or modules must ensure their compatibility with the structure and design of the product, as well as other labeling regulations to ensure compliance with TELEC regulations.
TELEC Certification Overview
After the TELEC approval has been successfully completed, the so-called GITEKI logo and certificate number must be affixed to the product for most product categories.
The size of the logo may be variably adapted to the product in question, but good legibility must always be guaranteed. This also applies to the choice of the type of marking. The color design of the logo is irrelevant.
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Clarification of the certification requirements
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Application preparation and communication with the authorities
Preparation and support for the audit
Organization of testing
Advice on how to mark your products, if needed
Complete organization of any follow-up certifications
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TELEC Certification Overview
| TELEC Certification | |
| Certification Duration | 3-4 months (assuming that all required documents are already available) |
| Marking | Yes |
| Tests required? | Yes, in accredited laboratories |
| Factory audit required? | No |
| Follow-Up Process | Not applicable |
TELEC FAQ
The process takes about 3-4 months, excluding the provision of external documents by you or, if necessary, your suppliers. For the product tests, 1.5-2 months should be planned, depending on how much coordination with the test laboratory is necessary for the respective product.
With the exception of a few devices, the use of a radio without certification and marking is a violation of the Radio Act. In addition, for some radio equipment (e.g. amateur radio), an additional license from the MIC is required, even if there is an existing marking. Using a radio in Japan without a license is a violation of the law and can be punished with a fine or, in the worst case, even imprisonment.
No, the information is provided in English only rarely and with a delay by the TELEC or MIC – most announcements are made exclusively in Japanese. Applicants must independently track changes in regulations or hire a consulting firm to monitor changes so that they are reliably aware of changes that affect the compliance of their products.
Unlike many other certifications, there are a number of test laboratories around the world that have permission to issue test reports that can then be used to apply for TELEC certification.
However, despite being accredited, many test laboratories have an inadequate understanding of the regulations and requirements for certification itself, so choosing the wrong test laboratory can lead to significant additional costs and delays.
Subsequent changes to products that have already been certified can affect the validity of the certificate. In the case of serious modifications affecting the radio characteristics, the conformity certification automatically expires and the equipment must be treated as an unmarked radio. However, minor hardware or software changes are usually insignificant. However, this must be examined individually for each case.
TELEC Certification Video
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Additional Radio Certification Services
In addition to support with radio approval in Japan, we offer comprehensive services for global radio certifications. We guide you through every step — from technical preparation and test coordination to successful approval in the respective target markets.
Our services include consulting on the preparation of application documents, submission of applications to the relevant authorities, product testing and communication with accredited laboratories, as well as support with any required requalifications.
Among others, we support approvals in the following countries and regions:
| Names of Electrical Appliances and Materials | Descriptions in the Order for Enforcement of the Electrical Appliances and Materials Act |
| Rubber insulated electric wires | Insulated electric wires with nominal cross-sectional area of conductors ≤ 100 sq mm |
| Cables | Nominal cross-sectional area of conductors ≤ 22 sq mm, ≤ 7 cores, rubber sheath |
| Single-core rubber cords | Cords |
| Twisted rubber cords | Cords |
| Textile braided rubber cords | Cords |
| Round braided rubber cords | Cords |
| Other rubber cords | Cords |
| Sheathed flexible cords | Cords |
| Rubber sheathed flexible cables | Nominal cross-sectional area ≤ 100 sq mm, ≤ 7 cores |
| PVC sheathed flexible cables | Flexible cables |
| Synthetic resin insulated electric wires | Insulated electric wires with nominal cross-sectional area of conductors ≤ 100 sq mm |
| Cables | Nominal cross-sectional area of conductors ≤ 22 sq mm, ≤ 7 cores, rubber/synthetic resin |
| Single-core PVC cords | Cords |
| Twisted PVC insulated cords | Cords |
| Textile braided PVC cords | Cords |
| Round braided PVC cords | Cords |
| Other PVC cords | Cords |
| Single-core polyethylene cords | Cords |
| Other polyethylene cords | Cords |
| Single-core polyolefin cords | Cords |
| Other polyolefin cords | Cords |
| Sheathed flexible cords | Cords |
| Tinsel cords | Cords |
| PVC sheathed flexible cables | Flexible cables |
| Flame resistant polyolefin sheathed flexible cables | Flexible cables |
| Thermal fuses | Thermal fuses |
| Link fuses | Fuses, rated current 1-200 A, excluding certain types |
| Cartridge fuses | Fuses |
| Other enclosed fuses | Fuses |
| Tumbler switches | Switches, rated current ≤ 30 A |
| Switches in flexible cord | Switches |
| Time switches | Switches |
| Rotary switches | Switches |
| Pushbutton switches | Switches |
| Pull switches | Switches |
| Pendant switches | Switches |
| Streetlamp switches | Switches |
| Photoelectric automatic switches | Switches |
| Other switches | Switches |
| Box switches | Switches, rated current ≤ 100 A |
| Float switches | Switches |
| Pressure switches | Rated operating pressure ≤ 294 kPa |
| Sewing machine controllers | Controllers |
| Circuit-breakers | Circuit breakers |
| Earth leakage circuit breakers | Circuit breakers |
| Cutout | Rated current ≤ 100 A with link/plug fuses |
| Attachment plugs | Connectors with rated current ≤ 50 A |
| Socket-outlets | Connectors |
| Multiple socket-outlets | Connectors |
| Cord connector bodies | Connectors |
| Flatiron plugs | Connectors |
| Appliance connectors | Connectors |
| Adaptors | Connectors |
| Cord reels | Connectors |
| Extension Cord sets | Connectors |
| Other plug couplers | Connectors |
| Lamp receptacles | Receptacles |
| Separable plug bodies | Connectors |
| Other screw couplers | Connectors |
| Fluorescent lamp holders | Holders |
| Fluorescent starter holders | Holders |
| Split sockets | Sockets |
| Keyless sockets | Sockets |
| Waterproof sockets | Sockets |
| Key sockets | Sockets |
| Pull sockets | Sockets |
| Pushbutton sockets | Sockets |
| Other sockets | Sockets |
| Screw-in rosettes | Rosettes |
| Hookup rosettes | Rosettes |
| Other rosettes | Rosettes |
| Joint boxes | Boxes |
| Meter rate current limiters | Current limiters, rated voltage 100-300 V, rated current ≤ 100 A |
| Flat rate current limiters | Current limiters |
| Transformers for toys | Transformers, single-phase, rated capacity ≤ 500 VA |
| Other household appliance transformers | Transformers |
| Electronic appliance transformers | Transformers |
| Ballasts for fluorescent lamps | Ballasts, rated power consumption ≤ 500 W |
| Ballasts for mercury vapor lamps | Ballasts |
| Ballasts for ozonizer | Ballasts |
| Electric heated toilet seats | Heating appliances |
| Electric hot cupboards | Heating appliances |
| Electric pipe freeze prevention heaters | Heating appliances |
| Glass dew-prevention heaters | Heating appliances |
| Electric storage water heaters | Heating appliances |
| Electric inhalators | Heating therapeutic appliances |
| Household heating therapeutic appliances | Heating therapeutic appliances |
| Electric steam baths | Heating appliances |
| Electric sauna baths | Heating appliances |
| Electric aquarium heaters | Heating appliances |
| Electric heaters for ornamental plants | Heating appliances |
| Electric heating-type toys | Heating appliances |
| Electric pumps | Pumps, rated power consumption ≤ 1.5 kW |
| Electric well pumps | Pumps |
| Refrigerating showcases | Refrigeration showcases, rated power ≤ 300 W |
| Freezing showcases | Refrigeration showcases |
| Electric ice cream freezers | Freezers, rated power ≤ 500 W |
| Electric food waste disposers | Disposers, rated power ≤ 1 kW |
| Electric massagers | Massagers |
| Automatically washing and drying toilets | Toilets |
| Vending machines | Vending machines with heating/cooling/electric discharge device |
| Electric bubble generators for bathtubs | Bubble generators, rated power ≤ 100 W |
| Other electric bubble generators | Bubble generators |
| Electric motor-operated appliances for children | Motor-operated toys |
| Electric vehicles | Vehicles |
| High-frequency depilators | Depilators, rated voltage 100-300 V, output ≤ 50 W, frequency 50/60 Hz |
| Magnetic therapeutic appliances | Therapeutic appliances |
| Electric insect killers | Insect killers |
| Power supply units for electric bath | Power supply units |
| AC/DC Power Supply | DC power supply, capacity ≤ 1 kVA, dual-use |
| Portable power generators | Generators, rated voltage 30-300 V |
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