SIRIM ST certification applies to consumer electrical equipment and is a mandatory market access requirement in Malaysia, based on local national standards in the MS/IEC series, focusing exclusively on electrical safety. Products must undergo corresponding testing at SIRIM-accredited laboratories and obtain a qualified test report before applying for the ST COA customs clearance certificate.

Malaysia’s MS standards are generally adapted from IEC international standards but are not updated immediately upon release of new IEC editions. ST only recognizes currently valid versions. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest effective version with certification bodies before application, rather than directly applying the latest IEC year.

In June 2024, ST released a new COA guideline (GP/ST/No.37/2024), which mainly added several categories of regulated products, such as ice cream makers, air fryers, and electric vehicle chargers. This did not fully replace standard versions, nor did authorities announce that old reports would no longer be accepted starting January 2026—please avoid misinformation.

I. Common Consumer Product Standards & Test Items for SIRIM ST Certification

1. Household and Similar Electrical Appliances

Applicable Standards: MS IEC 60335 series (general safety + product-specific part standards)Applicable Products: Rice cookers, electric kettles, hair dryers, fans, humidifiers, microwave ovens, washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, air fryers, and other household consumer appliances.Main Test Items: Protection against electric shock, dielectric strength, leakage current, temperature rise, abnormal operation protection, mechanical strength, product stability, heat and flame resistance, power cord pull test, earthing continuity.

2. LED Lighting and Luminaires

Applicable Standards: MS IEC 60598 seriesApplicable Products: LED bulbs, tubes, desk lamps, ceiling lamps, panel lights, floodlights, light strips, recessed lights, fairy lights, and matching ballasts.Main Test Items: Electric shock protection, dielectric withstand voltage, temperature rise, structural strength, IP rating, lead pull force, suspension load capacity, heat and flame resistance of materials.

3. IT, Audio-Visual and Peripheral Equipment

Applicable Standards: MS IEC 62368-1Applicable Products: Monitors, laptops, set-top boxes, speakers, headphones, printers, cameras, projectors, and other consumer AV and IT devices.Main Test Items: Electrical safety, electric shock protection, energy hazard protection, enclosure strength, abnormal overheating protection, fire resistance, safety evaluation of key components.This standard has gradually replaced the older IEC 60950-1 and IEC 60065. The specific enforced version in Malaysia shall be subject to ST announcements.

4. Power Adapters and Chargers

Applicable Standards: MS IEC 61558 series, MS IEC 62368-1Applicable Products: Switching power supplies, LED drivers, mobile/laptop chargers, car chargers, general consumer linear power supplies.Main Test Items: Input/output parameter verification, overload protection, short-circuit protection, dielectric insulation, leakage current, temperature rise, fire resistance, component consistency inspection.

5. Plugs, Sockets, Switches

Applicable Standards: MS 589, MS 1577, MS 1578, BS 546, BS EN 50075Applicable Products: 13A plugs and sockets, 15A plugs, household power strips, wall switches, two-pole plugs, couplers, connectors.Main Test Items: Insertion and extraction life, temperature rise, insulation resistance, withstand voltage, grounding reliability, dimensional compliance, mechanical strength, flame retardancy of materials.

6. Electric Wires, Cables and Cord Sets

Applicable Standards: MS 628, MS 603, MS 700 seriesApplicable Products: Power cords, extension cords, internal wiring, cable assemblies.Main Test Items: Conductor resistance, insulation performance, sheath strength, temperature and voltage resistance, tensile properties, dimensional compliance.

  II. Is EMC Testing Required?

Many assume ST only covers safety and EMC is optional. In reality, a clear distinction must be made.SIRIM ST COA certification only mandates electrical safety and does not assess EMC. However, under Malaysia’s overall market access rules, many electronic products must still meet mandatory EMC standards under the MS IEC 61000 series. EMC is not part of the ST safety scope, but this does not mean it can be omitted—otherwise products cannot fully access the market.

  III. Additional Requirements for Wireless / Networked Products

Products with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication functions must obtain MCMC Type Approval (TA) in addition to SIRIM ST safety certification. IPv6-related requirements also fall under MCMC, not SIRIM ST. Such products generally require dual certification; neither can be omitted for legal sale in Malaysia.

  IV. Certificate and Report Validity

·ST COA certificate is valid for 1 year. Renewal must be processed before expiration; expired certificates are invalid and products cannot be cleared or sold.

·Test reports do not have a fixed validity period and mainly depend on product risk level. Re-evaluation or supplementary testing is required if standards are updated or product design is modified.

  V. Products Not Covered by ST COA

Industrial electrical products (circuit breakers, contactors, relays, motor controllers, industrial switches, distribution accessories, etc.) are classified as industrial equipment and are not within the ST COA consumer electrical scope, so this certification is not required.Energy storage battery products fall under the SIRIM PCS certification system and are not covered by ST COA.

  VI. Key Practical Operational Points

1.Do not arbitrarily add years to standard versions; follow the effective versions published by Malaysia ST and SIRIM QAS.

2.MS 628 applies to wires, cables and conduits—do not apply it to plugs and sockets, a common mistake.

3.Although EMC is not mandatory for ST, many products still require it; confirm requirements in advance by product type.

4.Industrial electrical appliances do not require ST COA to avoid unnecessary testing costs.

5.Model numbers and parameters on documents, reports and nameplates must be consistent to avoid rejection during review.

All content is compiled from frontline practical experience in 2026. Final standards and testing requirements shall be subject to real-time announcements by Malaysia’s Energy Commission ST and SIRIM QAS International.Contact BLUEASIA Testing & Certification Consultant: +86 13534225140