Japan TELEC certification (Telecom Engineering Center Certification) is a mandatory certification system stipulated by Japan's Radio Law, executed by certification bodies authorized by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). All radio equipment sold or used in the Japanese market must pass this certification to ensure compliance with Japanese frequency regulations, radio frequency safety, and electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

1.TELEC Certification Overview and Core Value

The core purpose of TELEC certification is to ensure that radio equipment does not cause interference to other devices during use and complies with technical standards set by Japan. According to Japan's Radio Law, any equipment with wireless communication functions must obtain TELEC certification and relevant certificates; otherwise, import and sale are prohibited.

Regulatory System and Certification Names

TELEC certification is regulated by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and the Telecom Engineering Center (TELEC) is one of the primary certification bodies designated by the MIC. This certification is often referred to in the market as MIC certification, GITEKI certification, or Technical Compliance Certification, essentially referring to the same mandatory compliance requirement.

Compared to PSE certification (for Electrical Appliance and Material Safety) and VCCI certification (voluntary electromagnetic compatibility certification), TELEC certification is a unique mandatory certification for radio equipment. In some cases, products may require mandatory PSE certification and/or JATE certification in addition to TELEC.

  2.TELEC Certification Applicable Product Scope

TELEC certification applies to all radio equipment sold or used within Japan, covering multiple product categories and frequency bands:

·Short-range communication devices: Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices (earphones, speakers, keyboards), ZigBee products, wireless microphones, etc.

·Cellular network equipment: Smartphones, laptops, IoT terminals supporting 2G/3G/4G/5G, etc.

·Radio frequency identification systems: RFID tags, credit card readers, check-in kiosks, etc. (including LF, HF, UHF bands).

·Specialized radio equipment: Drone remote controllers, vehicle-mounted communication devices, radar systems, industrial applications, etc.

·Wireless modules and chips: Pre-certification of these core components can simplify the final product certification process.

The key to determining whether a product requires TELEC certification is whether it has a wireless transmission function. Notably, products with only receiving functions (e.g., pure GPS trackers, standard FM radios) do not require TELEC certification.

  3.TELEC Certification Types and Application Process

TELEC certification mainly offers two certification modes:

·Test Certification: Verification for a single device, valid only for the tested unit.

·Type Certification: Based on sample testing from a batch of devices; certification covers the entire batch. If design or production changes, re-application is required.

The TELEC certification process can be divided into several key stages:

·Preliminary Preparation: Confirm the product category and applicable technical standards; prepare product technical data.

·Testing Stage: Send samples to an accredited laboratory for testing, including RF performance, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), etc.

·Document Submission: Submit test reports and other relevant documents to the TELEC certification body, which reviews the documents and confirms compliance with Japan's Radio Law requirements.

·Certificate Issuance: After approval, the certification body issues the TELEC certificate.

For TELEC approval of final products, companies can use radio chips or modules that are pre-certified according to TELEC standards within their products, simplifying or even bypassing the certification process. If all components have been tested and approved according to Japanese standards, re-evaluation of the final product according to TELEC standards might be completely unnecessary.

  4.TELEC Certification Required Materials List

Applying for TELEC certification requires preparing a series of technical documents and application materials. All documents must be in English or Japanese:

·Application and Compliance Documents: Technical model specification sheet, application form, power of attorney/letter of authorization.

·Quality Management System: Quality management system statement, quality control confirmation letter, or manufacturer's ISO 9001 certificate.

·Technical Construction Documents: Block diagram, schematics, material list, component placement, IC data sheets, internal and external photos.

·Product Information Documents: Product description, user manual, operational/technical descriptions, accessory descriptions.

·Testing and Identification Documents: Antenna report, test report (including test results, test setup photos, and inspections performed), label information (label location, label content).

Notably, if the company does not have an ISO 9001 certificate, a quality control statement must be provided.

  5.Test Items and Technical Requirements

TELEC certification test items are quite comprehensive, mainly divided into the following categories:

RF Tests

RF testing is the core part of TELEC certification, mainly including:

·Frequency Error Test: Ensures the accuracy of the device's transmit frequency, preventing excessive frequency deviation from interfering with other devices.

·Coupling Bandwidth/Carrier Bandwidth Test: Controls the signal duty cycle and the device's continuous occupancy time in specific bands, ensuring reasonable sharing of spectrum resources.

·Spurious Emission Test: Detects spurious signal emissions outside the normal operating frequency of the device, preventing interference to other bands.

·Antenna Power Error Test: Equipment must strictly comply with bands and power limits allocated by Japan.

·EIRP Antenna Power Test: Strict limits for different bands.

Other Test Items

·Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing: Ensures the device operates normally in the electromagnetic environment without causing harmful interference.

·Electrical Safety Testing: Some devices need to comply with Japan's Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE certification) requirements.

Test items for WiFi and Bluetooth products are basically similar to the European standard EN300 328, but some specific bands may require additional tests and reports. For 5GHz WiFi products, test standards may be updated, requiring special attention.

  6.TELEC Certification Timeline Comprehensive Analysis

Time Allocation by Stage

Under smooth testing conditions, the TELEC certification cycle is generally 3-4 weeks. However, considering the entire process of testing, modification, and review, the total cycle may extend to 4-8 weeks.

Specifically, the testing phase usually takes 2-4 weeks (including modification time), while certification review takes 1-2 weeks. If expedited service is selected, the cycle can be shortened to 6-8 weeks, but costs increase by 30%-50%.

Key Factors Affecting the Certification Timeline

Multiple factors affect the total TELEC certification timeline; understanding these helps companies plan time effectively:

·Product Complexity Level: Technically complex products require more test items and man-hours, leading to a longer certification cycle.

·Document Preparation Status: Complete and compliant documents can significantly shorten review time.

·Utilization of Pre-certified Modules: Using certified wireless modules can significantly simplify the final product certification process, saving time and costs.

  7.Post-Certification Considerations

Mark Usage Requirements

After obtaining TELEC approval, for most product categories, the so-called "GITEKI" mark and certificate number must be affixed to the product. The mark size can be adjusted appropriately according to the product involved but must always ensure clear legibility.

Specifically, the certification number and other information need to be marked on the product label, with a font height ≥1.5mm.

Certificate Maintenance

TELEC certificates have no fixed validity period, but product hardware changes or regulation updates require re-certification. Hardware modifications like changing the antenna design require re-testing.

Companies need to retain test reports for at least 5-10 years for possible spot checks. If Bluetooth module software upgrades affect RF parameters, a description document needs to be submitted for filing.

Although the Japan TELEC certification process presents challenges, companies can complete the certification efficiently and compliantly by understanding the requirements, preparing in advance, and planning reasonably, thereby smoothly entering the Japanese market. BLUEASIA: +86 13534225140 will provide you with professional certification consulting services