Japan's Revised Product Safety Laws: Lighting Products Must Comply by December 25, 2025

With only days left until December 25, 2025, Japan’s market is undergoing its most stringent regulatory upgrade. The revised "Four Product Safety Laws" by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will officially take effect on that date, marking the first time cross-border e-commerce sellers are explicitly brought under the same regulatory framework as domestic Japanese importers.

For lighting manufacturers and exporters, this signifies a fundamental shift in existing compliance pathways. After the new regulations take effect, lighting products without PSE certification and METI registration will no longer be eligible for sale on platforms like Amazon Japan.

Regulatory Upgrade: Tightened Oversight Across Four Laws

Japan’s "Four Product Safety Laws" are not a single piece of legislation but a collective term for four key product safety regulations. The core goal of this revision is to address regulatory gaps in cross-border e-commerce, ensuring products sold directly to Japanese consumers meet the same safety standards as those sold through traditional channels.

This revision represents a profound shift, indicating that the Japanese government has elevated cross-border e-commerce regulation to the same level of importance as physical trade.

The Electrical Appliances Safety Law (DENAN Act) governs the safety of electrical equipment and materials, covering 457 product categories including LED lighting, home appliances, and lithium batteries. The Consumer Products Safety Law regulates the safety of general consumer goods such as toys for children under 36 months and baby cribs. The Gas Business Law focuses on the safety of city gas appliances like domestic gas stoves and heaters. The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Law oversees the safety of LPG equipment including portable gas stoves and camping gas devices.

PSE Certification for Lighting: Diamond or Round Mark?

PSE (Product Safety of Electrical Appliance & Materials) certification is Japan’s mandatory safety certification system for electrical products, covering approximately 450 categories. For lighting enterprises, the first step is to accurately determine their product classification.

Japan categorizes regulated electrical products into two types: "Specific Electrical Appliances" (Class A) and "Non-Specific Electrical Appliances" (Class B).

Specific Electrical Appliances are high-risk products (116 categories) that require strict testing and factory audits by METI-authorized third-party certification bodies to obtain the Diamond PSE mark. These products typically pose inherent risks due to their design or usage, such as certain power adapters.

The vast majority of common LED lighting products, including bulbs and ceiling lights (341 categories), fall under Non-Specific Electrical Appliances. These require self-declaration of compliance with Japanese technical standards and affixation of the Round PSE mark.

Core New Obligations: METI Registration & Japanese Domestic Administrator

For cross-border e-commerce sellers, the most significant changes under the new regulations are two mandatory obligations: completing METI registration and appointing a "Japanese Domestic Administrator."

The Japanese Domestic Administrator, commonly referred to as a "Japanese agent," serves as the legal representative of overseas sellers in Japan. Similar to the EU Authorized Representative, this role acts as the sole official communication channel between sellers and Japanese regulatory authorities such as METI.

Key responsibilities of the Japanese Domestic Administrator include retaining product technical documentation, receiving and relaying government regulatory notices, and assisting with reporting and handling product safety incidents. Under the new regulations, overseas sellers must complete five critical steps by December 25, 2025: submitting a business notification to METI, appointing a qualified Japanese Domestic Administrator, ensuring products pass testing and meet technical standards, updating product labels to include the PSE mark and importer information, and conducting and retaining inspection records as required.

Timeline & Non-Compliance Risks: Window Closing Imminently

The new regulations set clear timelines. Japanese registered conformity assessment bodies began accepting applications for Specified Importers on September 25, 2025. All compliance procedures must be completed by December 25, 2025.

Products listed before this date in compliance with old regulations may continue to be sold. However, all new regulated products created and listed after December 25 must fully comply with the new rules, including the requirement for a Japanese Domestic Administrator, otherwise, they will be prohibited from sale.

Consequences of non-compliance are severe. Under the regulations, non-compliant products will be forcibly removed from e-commerce platforms, and goods may be detained or destroyed by customs. Additionally, enterprises may face heavy fines, and responsible parties could be subject to imprisonment. Brands will be publicly blacklisted for up to 10 years, causing irreparable damage to reputation.

Action Roadmap: Five Steps to Compliance

Faced with the urgent timeline, lighting exporters must take systematic action immediately.

Step 1: Conduct a thorough self-assessment to confirm whether all lighting products for sale fall under PSE regulation and determine if they require Class A (Diamond) or Class B (Round) certification.

Step 2: Obtain PSE certification. For Class B lighting products requiring Round PSE, prepare samples for testing in accordance with Japanese JIS standards (e.g., J60598 series) and compile conformity declaration documents.

Step 3: Appoint a Japanese Domestic Administrator. This is the core of the new regulations. Sellers must find and sign a formal authorization agreement with a reliable administrator who has a fixed address in Japan, Japanese language proficiency, and familiarity with product safety regulations.

Step 4: Complete METI registration. With the assistance of the Japanese Domestic Administrator, submit a business notification through METI-designated systems or e-government channels to register as a "Specified Importer."

Step 5: Update labels and list products. Ensure the correct Round PSE mark is affixed to product bodies or packaging, along with importer information. Compile all compliance documents (registration certificates, test reports, administrator authorization letters, etc.) and submit them to Amazon for review.

Finding a qualified Japanese Domestic Administrator for LED lighting products and completing complex declarations through the new registration system are common challenges for sellers under the new regulations. With the December 25, 2025 deadline fast approaching, regulations and platform reviews wait for no one.

Contact GTG Testing Group immediately. Our expert team provides one-stop compliance solutions covering PSE certification testing and full assistance with METI registration, ensuring your lighting products transition smoothly and continue to be sold in Japan’s market without disruption.