PSC Mark

Overview

The PSC Mark is a Japanese safety mark used for specified consumer products regulated under the Consumer Product Safety Act. PSC means Product Safety of Consumer Products.

For import practice, the PSC Mark is important when consumer products manufactured overseas are sold in Japan. If a product is subject to the PSC Mark system but the required procedures, inspections or labeling have not been completed, the product may not be sold in Japan.

Why the PSC Mark Matters

The Consumer Product Safety Act is designed to prevent accidents involving consumer products that may cause injury, burns, death or other harm to consumers. Certain products that may pose a higher risk to the life or body of consumers are designated as specified products.

For specified products, the manufacturer or importer must confirm compliance with technical standards and complete the required procedures before placing the PSC Mark on the product. Products that require the PSC Mark generally cannot be sold or displayed for sale in Japan without the proper mark.

Specified products are divided into specified products and special specified products. In practice, these categories correspond to the circle PSC Mark and the diamond PSC Mark. Special specified products generally require conformity inspection by a registered inspection body.

Circle PSC Mark and Diamond PSC Mark

There are two main types of PSC Mark: the circle PSC Mark and the diamond PSC Mark. The difference is not simply a design difference. It reflects the product category and the level of conformity assessment required.

The circle PSC Mark is generally used for specified products. The diamond PSC Mark is used for special specified products that require conformity inspection by a registered inspection body because of higher safety risk.

Before shipment, the importer should confirm whether the product is a specified product, whether it falls under the circle PSC Mark or diamond PSC Mark category, and whether third-party inspection is required.

Products Where This Issue Often Arises

PSC Mark issues often arise in consumer products that may create safety risks during ordinary household or personal use. The product list may change due to legal amendments, so the latest official information should be checked before import or sale.

• Household pressure cookers and pressure pots
• Riding helmets
• Climbing ropes
• Oil heaters and other oil-burning appliances
• Baby beds
• Portable laser-applied devices, such as laser pointers
• Lighters and utility lighters
• Bathtub water circulators
• Magnet entertainment products
• Absorbent synthetic resin toys
• Specified children’s products, where applicable

As of the METI guidance available in May 2026, the Children PSC Mark system applies to certain children’s products, including baby beds and infant toys for children under three years old. Child bed guards and strollers are also being added as specified children’s products and specified products, with the new rules scheduled to take effect on July 8, 2026. Importers of children’s products should confirm the current list of applicable products, technical standards, warning-label requirements, age indications, transition rules and effective dates before shipment or sale in Japan.

Main Points to Check

• Is the product a specified product under the Consumer Product Safety Act?
• Is the product subject to the circle PSC Mark or diamond PSC Mark?
• Is the importer required to file a notification as a manufacturer or importer?
• Has conformity with Japanese technical standards been confirmed?
• Is inspection by a registered inspection body required?
• Are the product body, packaging, instructions and warning labels properly marked?
• Is the product intended for children, infants or toddlers?
• Has the importer checked the latest product list and amendment status before sale?

Import and Sale in Japan

For business import and sale in Japan, overseas compliance alone is not enough. A product may comply with foreign safety standards, but that does not automatically mean that it can be sold in Japan with a PSC Mark.

The Japanese importer must confirm whether the product is covered by the Consumer Product Safety Act, whether technical standards apply, whether inspection records must be kept, whether third-party inspection is required and whether the correct PSC Mark can be displayed.

EC sales, small-lot imports and direct purchases from overseas manufacturers can also create PSC Mark issues. If the product is subject to the PSC Mark system, the required Japanese procedures must be checked regardless of the sales channel or shipment size.

Common Problems

• The overseas manufacturer says that the product is safe, but Japanese PSC requirements have not been checked.
• The importer assumes that CE, UL or another foreign standard is enough for sale in Japan.
• The product is imported before confirming whether it is a specified product.
• The wrong mark type is assumed, such as treating a diamond PSC product as a circle PSC product.
• Required inspection by a registered inspection body has not been completed.
• Japanese warning labels, age indications or instruction requirements are missing.
• The Children PSC Mark requirement is overlooked for products intended for infants or young children.
• The product is sold on an EC platform without confirming PSC Mark obligations.

Practical Notes for Shipments to Japan

For shipments to Japan, overseas suppliers and origin-side forwarders should not decide PSC applicability based only on the product name or HS code. The product structure, material, intended use, user group and risk profile may all matter.

This is especially important for children’s products, laser devices, pressure products, heaters, lighters and other consumer products where safety standards and warnings are important. If the product is intended for infants or young children, the importer should confirm whether children-specific PSC requirements apply.

Before shipment, it is useful to confirm whether the Japanese buyer has checked the Consumer Product Safety Act, PSC Mark category, inspection requirements, labeling requirements and sale restrictions.

Relationship with Logistics and Customs

Forwarders and customs brokers are not expected to make final legal judgments on PSC applicability. However, they should notice warning signs when cargo involves consumer products that may cause injury, burns, fire, choking, suffocation, falling accidents or other safety risks.

For logistics practice, this is partly a document-control issue. The invoice, packing list, product catalogue, manual, warning label, age indication and product photos should not create conflicting impressions. If the product appears to be a regulated consumer product, the importer should be asked to confirm the PSC position before shipment or domestic sale.

Customs clearance alone does not mean that the product can be legally sold in Japan. A product may arrive in Japan but still face sale restrictions if the required PSC Mark, inspection or labeling has not been completed.

Accidents, Recalls and Post-Sale Responsibility

PSC Mark products are regulated because they may involve risks to consumer life or health. If an accident, defect or safety issue is found after sale, the business operator may need to consider accident reporting, recall, repair, warning, suspension of sale or other safety measures.

For importers, product safety responsibility does not end at customs clearance. They should also consider whether they have a system to respond to product defects, consumer complaints, accident reports and recall actions after sale in Japan.

Relationship with PSE Mark and Other Product Safety Marks

The PSC Mark is different from the PSE Mark. The PSE Mark is used for electrical appliances and materials regulated under the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act, while the PSC Mark is used for specified consumer products under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Some imported products may require review under more than one product safety framework depending on their structure, power source, intended use and product category. Importers should confirm the correct law and mark before sale.

Key Takeaway

The PSC Mark is an important safety mark for specified consumer products sold in Japan. Importers and logistics parties should not rely only on overseas standards, product names or HS codes. Before shipment and sale, the importer should confirm whether the product requires a circle PSC Mark, diamond PSC Mark or Children PSC Mark, and whether notification, technical standard conformity, inspection, labeling and post-sale safety response are properly handled.