PSE & Radio Act Importer of Record in Japan (電安法 / 電波法)
Selling IT equipment, wireless gear, or AC-powered electronics into Japan but have no local company to clear and certify them? Importing regulated electronics into Japan takes three stacked roles: Importer of Record (関税法, Customs Act), Notifying Supplier (電安法 / Electrical Appliance Safety Act), and, for wireless devices, Radio Act type certification (電波法 / 技適). Aplash provides all three in one engagement, so you are not juggling separate vendors for customs, product safety, and radio certification.
How it works
An Importer of Record (IOR) is the company legally responsible for bringing goods through customs. Aplash takes that role so you can sell into Japan without a local entity.
- 1Free commodity assessmentSend your product details. We confirm whether Aplash can be your importer and give you a quote, at no cost.
- 2We import as your Importer of RecordAplash clears customs in its own name under the Customs Act (関税法) and arranges any permits or certifications your goods need.
- 3Delivered to your Japan buyerWe hand the goods to your Japan-side buyer and invoice transparently, so you sell in Japan with no company of your own there.
What Aplash handles
- Importer of Record for PSE-regulated electronics (Diamond PSE and Circle PSE under the Electrical Appliance Safety Act (電気用品安全法)).
- Notifying Supplier (届出事業者) role: Aplash registers with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業省, METI) as the responsible entity on the PSE label, with ongoing record-keeping and audit-readiness obligations.
- Radio Act type certification (技適, Giteki) coordination via TELEC (Telecom Engineering Center) or another Registered Certification Body (登録証明機関) under the Radio Act.
- Construction-design certification (工事設計認証) coordination for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular, NFC, and RF devices.
- Three-layer service stack: Importer of Record, Notifying Supplier, and distribution coordination.
- Annual PSE maintenance and audit-readiness record-keeping for the device category Aplash is notified on.
What we do not handle
- Perform the actual 技適 testing itself. TELEC and other Registered Certification Bodies run the test; Aplash coordinates the submission.
- Issue PSE marks on goods Aplash has not been notified on, and cannot retroactively label goods imported before notification.
- Make hardware design changes or firmware modifications to bring a product into compliance. We refer this to the OEM.
- Handle items outside the 116-item Diamond PSE list and the 341-item Circle PSE list. The item must fall within scope.
- Cover industrial or commercial high-voltage equipment outside the Electrical Appliance Safety Act (電気用品安全法) scope. We route this to the industrial-equipment subpage.
How the three layers work together
| Layer | Aplash role | Fee structure |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Importer of Record | Named importer; buy-and-sell contract chain; qualified invoice (適格請求書) issued to the Japan-side buyer | Per-shipment fee, banded by CIF value |
| 2. Notifying Supplier (PSE / Radio Act) | METI-registered responsible party on the PSE label, with ongoing record-keeping | Initial certification plus annual maintenance |
| 3. Distribution coordination | Invoices the Japan-side buyer with a transparent service-fee disclosure | Distribution coordination fee, a percentage of CIF |
Diamond PSE vs Circle PSE
Diamond PSE covers 116 specified electrical appliances, higher-hazard products such as AC adapters and water heaters, and requires third-party certification. Circle PSE covers 341 non-specified items and requires manufacturer self-declaration instead. Aplash holds the Notifying Supplier role for both categories on engaged products.
When Radio Act certification (技適) applies
Any product with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, or RF transmission needs Radio Act type certification (技適, Giteki) before commercial use in Japan. Aplash coordinates the certification through TELEC or another Registered Certification Body (登録証明機関) and confirms the mark-display requirements, whether that is a visible label or an in-software display.
Timeline: IOR, PSE, and 技適 combined
Plan for 6 to 10 weeks from engagement start to your first cleared commercial shipment, depending on whether 技適 testing is needed in addition to PSE notification.
Pricing band
IOR only, when no PSE notification is needed: from $2,800 per shipment. IOR plus PSE Notifying Supplier coordination: from $4,800 per shipment, plus annual PSE maintenance of $1,800 to $2,400 per category. IOR plus 技適 plus PSE bundle: quoted on inquiry. The distribution coordination fee is a percentage of CIF, disclosed transparently in the engagement letter.
Customs duty and Japanese consumption tax (JCT) are passed on at cost. Aplash earns no margin on the goods, only on the service.
Not sure if your goods qualify?
Send the product details. We confirm whether Aplash can import it and quote against the public pricing band before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Does IOR include PSE certification?
No. PSE certification and Importer of Record are separate functions. Aplash provides both, stacked: Aplash imports as your named IOR, and Aplash registers with METI as Notifying Supplier so its name appears on the PSE label.
What is a Notifying Supplier (届出事業者)?
The Notifying Supplier (届出事業者) is the METI-registered entity that places a PSE-marked product on the Japanese market. It carries ongoing record-keeping, audit-readiness, and product-safety obligations. Aplash can act as Notifying Supplier on the client's behalf.
Is 技適 required for Bluetooth headphones?
Yes. Any product with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC, or RF transmission needs Radio Act type certification (技適, Giteki) before commercial use in Japan. Aplash coordinates the certification via TELEC or another Registered Certification Body (登録証明機関).
Can Aplash maintain PSE after the initial import?
Yes. Annual PSE maintenance covers record-keeping, label-version updates, and audit-readiness. This is the recurring layer of the three-layer offer.
What is the difference between Diamond PSE and Circle PSE?
Diamond PSE covers 116 specified electrical appliances with higher hazard, such as AC adapters and water heaters, and requires third-party certification. Circle PSE covers 341 non-specified items and requires manufacturer self-declaration.
What is the distribution coordination fee?
A separately disclosed service fee for invoicing the Japan-side buyer and coordinating collection. It compensates the distribution layer, not a markup on goods, and is itemized transparently in the engagement letter.
Applicable law and standards
- Customs Act (関税法)
- Electrical Appliance Safety Act (電気用品安全法)
- Radio Act (電波法)
Related pages
Engagement begins with a free product-classification review. We confirm PSE scope, the 技適 trigger, and IOR feasibility before quoting.