Malaysia ST COA Certification: Essential Guide for Market Access

What is ST COA Certification?

ST COA (Certificate of Approval) is Malaysia's mandatory safety certification for electrical and electronic products, regulated by the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga, ST) under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994.

This certification ensures products meet Malaysia's safety and energy efficiency standards and is essential for market access.

Scope of Applicable Products

• Household appliances: Refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, microwaves, rice cookers, water heaters
• Lighting products: LED lights, table lamps, Christmas light strings, fluorescent lamps, ballasts
• Audio-visual equipment: Media players, radios, soundbars
• Power adapters & chargers: Portable battery chargers under 24V, power banks, special-purpose adapters
• Components: Plugs, sockets, switches, cables, ceiling boxes, power track systems
• Household power tools: Animal clippers, etc.
• Gas appliances: Gas stoves

Certification Process and Requirements

Applications must be submitted by a locally registered Malaysian company (importer or manufacturer) through Dagang Net's e-permit system.

Key Documentation

• Test reports: Safety reports from SIRIM-accredited labs and energy efficiency reports if required
• CB certification: Helps shorten approval time and reduce costs if product models match
• Product information: Name, model, quantity, shipper details
• Importer information: Company registration documents
• Authorization letter: From manufacturer to local importer

Labeling Requirements

After obtaining ST COA, products must display SIRIM labels on the product itself (not packaging):

• PCS label (Product Certification Scheme): Applied at factory after facility audit, suitable for high-volume shipments
• BTS label (Batch Testing Scheme): Applied after arrival and sampling, no factory audit required

Timeline and Costs

• Timeline: 6-10 weeks normally, 4-6 weeks with valid CB report
• Fees: Include testing, application, annual certificate fee, and SIRIM labels
• Validity: 1 year, renewable annually

Common Issues and Tips

1. Local representation: Foreign manufacturers must use local registered company
2. Product consistency: Maintain design consistency; changes may require re-testing
3. Energy efficiency: Certain products require MEPS compliance
4. Special requirements: Some products need DOE COA before ST COA
5. Document accuracy: New guidelines limit technical report revisions to 3 times

Advice for Lighting Manufacturers

• Standard identification: Determine applicable Malaysian standards (e.g., MS IEC 60598)
• Component compliance: Ensure all components meet relevant standards
• Photobiological safety: Address blue light hazard concerns for LED products
• Choose partners wisely: Select experienced certification bodies familiar with Malaysian requirements

SEO Title Options

• Malaysia ST COA Certification: Complete Guide for Electrical Products
• How to Obtain ST COA Certification for Malaysia Market Access
• SIRIM Certification Requirements for Electronics in Malaysia