Korea Certificate Mandatory (Electric Appliances Safety)

Regime Overview

Compulsory certification
In order to prevent consumers from potential hazards such as a fire or a electric shock,
the Electrical appliances which are sold and manufactured are controlled in accordance with Article 3 of Enforcement Rules of the Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act
Application procedure
Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation System
• The self-regulatory safety confirmation system is intended for electrical appliances according to Paragraph 1 of Article 11 of the Act aforementioned, and is applicable to the manufacture and sale of those products which are subject to self regulation safety confirmation according to Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of Enforcement Rules of the said Act.
• Application procedure
1. Voluntary safety check application form
2. Voluntary safety check report for electric appliances
3. Applicable articles for voluntary safety checks

Multiple certification system
Objective
The multiple certification procedures were intended to streamline certification procedures and apply the KC mark labeling effectively to products that are subject to multiple compulsory certifications as stipulated in the National Standards Act, by introducing a standards certification review system and using the integrated national certificated mark(KC mark)
Regime Overview
1) Applicants can be allowed to apply for multiple certification applications with one certification body for products that are subject to package certification.
2) If there are multiple items intended for product testing and factory inspection, the respective results are deemed to be applicable reciprocally to ensure against redundant certification agency testing and inspection.
3) Certification bodies may cooperate with each other to carry out joint factory inspections or regular inspections at the request of applicants.
4) For multiple certification products, the KC mark labeling is to be determined as specified by the applicable legal regulations of individual certification systems.

Full text download of multiple certification system’s documents

Safety certification labeling
- Description of safety certification labeling and self-regulatory safety confirmation labeling (Paragraph 1 of Article 15 and Paragraph 1 of Article 25)
- KC mark (safety certification, self-regulatory safety confirmation registration)
EMI/EMS mark

Factory inspection for safety certification
Safety certification shall be subject to an ‘initial factory inspection’ according to Article 6 (Issuance of electric appliance safety certificate) of the Enforcement Rules of Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act if electric appliances are subject to Article 3 (safety certification) and Article 15 (safety certification other than electrical appliances applied to safety certification) of the said Act. Safety certified electric appliances’ manufacturers are subject to regular inspection once or more annually at factory sites according to Article 4 (regular inspection & self inspection) after acquisition of safety certificates.
- Factory inspection report
- Inspection facilities inventory criteria
- Self inspection (factory inspection & product testing) items and inspection period .
- Handling criteria for non-conformable products