GCA | Korea KC Mark Certification

Satisfied, voluntary mark   How to Report an e-Standby Program   The e-Standby Program is a mandatory reporting system to expand the distribution of excellent standby power reduction products that reduce the standby power consumed when electronic products are not in use and to promote the development of related technologies.   1. A domestic manufacturer (for domestic products) or domestic importer (for imported products) requests a test, and a test report is issued in the name of the person who requested the test. 2. On the website of the Korea Energy Agency, domestic manufacturers (domestic products) and domestic importers (imported products) directly report their products. They must complete the report within 60 days from the date of issuance of the test certificate by the designated test organization for standby power, or from the date of issuance of the test certificate by themselves.   👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  Waste batteries - Freepik The Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced that it will launch a pilot project for the certification of recycled materials from electric vehicle waste batteries in collaboration with EV waste battery recycling companies. The pilot project for the certification of waste battery recycled materials will be operated through a council composed of recycling industry and experts, and plans to establish and improve the certification system by specifying the certification method for recycled materials. Recycling waste batteries to produce recycled materials can contribute to the stable supply of key minerals such as nickel and cobalt, which are currently heavily reliant on imports, and can also contribute to the realization of a circular economy. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced that it aims to create a model case for the circular use of waste batteries by cooperating with the EV waste battery recycling industry through this pilot project. Additionally, t

unsplash Motor Vehicle Management Act Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly plenary session   The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced that the amendment to the Motor Vehicle Management Act passed the plenary session of the National Assembly on January 25th.   -       Automobile manufacturers are required to establish a cybersecurity management system before production and obtain certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The cybersecurity management system refers to the organization, means, and procedures for monitoring cyber threats at all times from vehicle production to operation and responding quickly to threats when they occur. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport is authorized to verify and certify the cybersecurity management system and require the submission of relevant data to confirm safety and reliability even after certification.   -       Before updating software, automobile manufacturers shall chec

  Freepik The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the revised Radio Wave Act Enforcement Decree, which relaxes regulations on radio wave utilization, will come into effect from March 26th. The main contents of the revised Radio Wave Act Enforcement Decree are as follows. 1. The full exemption of spectrum usage fees for small and medium-sized MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) has been extended until 2024. Starting from 2025, spectrum usage fees will be gradually imposed. 2. The Unified Wireless Station Inspection Schedule System will be implemented. Multiple wireless stations located in the same installation site or operated by the same facility owner with different inspection schedules will be improved to allow for joint regular inspections. 3. The approval process for public 5G Integrated Repeaters (i5G) installed or equipped on robots, intelligent CCTVs, and others will be relaxed from a permit system to a notification system. 4. Reduction of Safety Assessment Fees for

  Photo credit to freepik The differences between the Safety Certification System and the Safety Confirmation System   Safety certification is a system where electrical appliances subject to safety certification must receive certification from a safety certification body before shipment (for domestically manufactured products) or before customs clearance (for imported products) on a model-by-model basis. Safety confirmation is a system introduced to apply safety management procedures differentially according to the level of risk.   Unlike safety certification, safety confirmation does not require factory inspection (manufacturing and inspection facilities, raw materials and process inspections, product inspections) after conducting safety tests. While safety certification requires regular post-management including product testing and factory inspections, safety confirmation does not require regular inspections. If you have any inquiries regard

  Korea Agent Services If the KC EMC certification applicant is a manufacturer with a foreign address, they must designate a representative with a domestic address. You can designate a representative for each of the following KC EMC applications 1. Application for Conformity Certification 2. Application for Conformity Registration 3. Application for Interim Conformity 4. Notification of Changes 5. Application for conformity certification or conformity registration of the same equipment 6. Revocation of certification 7. Reissue of certificate GCA KOREA serve as a local representative for applying for KC certifications and managing the procedures. KC - EMC / RF / SAR 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity Process Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity Process Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity(SDoC) refers to a system where the manufacturer or importer of a product conducts direct product testing by model or commissions a third party to conduct product testing to independently confirm that the product meets safety standards before distribution or customs clearance. The compliance with supplier’s Declaration of Conformity(SDoC) criteria is confirmed by selecting one of the following documents: certified test reports from accredited testing agencies, in-house test reports, test reports from raw material suppliers, test reports from accredited agencies or companies abroad, or other evidence proving compliance with safety standards.   After confirmation, the manufacturer or importer marks the supplier’s Declaration of Conformity(SDoC) number and mark. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

walkie-talkie, two-way radio In accordance with the Ministry of Science and ICT's Notice of Technical Standards for Radio Facilities for Radio Stations that Can Be Opened Without Notification, effective March 20, 2024, analog walkie-talkies will be removed from the list of walkie-talkies using radio waves in the 400 MHz frequency band. Analog radios in use under the previous regulations are permitted to be used until December 31, 2026. KC - EMC / RF / SAR 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

The procedure for Minimum Energy Performance Standard Program The procedure for Minimum Energy Performance Standard Program Items subject to efficiency ratings must undergo measurement of energy consumption and standby power, and the measurement results must be reported.   The procedure for reporting under the efficiency rating system is as follows:   l    Confirm the scope of application for efficiency management equipment and request testing. l    After receiving the test report from the testing agency, register the test report in the reporting system. l    Submit the product registration within 90 days from the date of issuance of the test report. l    Receive the registration from the Korea Energy Agency and obtain certification. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  MFDS Inspects Overseas Manufacturing of Medical Devices The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that 16 overseas manufacturing plants producing medical devices imported into Korea that are deemed to be in need of fact-checking on harm prevention and safety and efficacy information will be selected as targets for on-site inspections in 2024 and will conduct on-site inspections starting in March. To this end, MFDS has revised its guidelines detailing administrative procedures, inspection contents and methods, and follow-up measures to internalize overseas due diligence work and improve industry understanding, and has strengthened specialized training for medical device inspectors to thoroughly prepare for local inspections. The MFDS expects that local due diligence will help increase the reliability of imported medical device quality, and has stated that it will continue to do its best to strengthen safety management so that people can use medical devices that are safe from the

MEPS label Obligations of the Minimum Energy Performance Standard Program   The MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standard) Program imposes three obligations on domestic manufacturers (for domestically produced products) and domestic importers (for imported products) to promote the spread of energy-saving products: labeling with energy efficiency rating labels, product reporting, and compliance with minimum energy efficiency standards.   -       Products are classified into grades 1 to 5 based on their energy consumption efficiency or usage, and an energy efficiency rating label is displayed accordingly. For products subject to minimum energy efficiency standards, a separate label is applied. -       After undergoing energy efficiency testing at an efficiency management testing organization, product registration with the Korea Energy Agency must be completed within 90 days. -       Prohibition of production and sale of products that do not meet the minimum energy efficiency

  KC Certification KC stands for "Korea Certification" and is a mandatory certification system established by the Korean government to ensure that products manufactured in Korea or imported from abroad comply with domestic safety and technical standards so that only certified products can be distributed and sold. It plays an important role in ensuring the safety and performance of products in Korea, protecting users and the environment. For companies looking to enter the Korean market, KC certification is a prerequisite for customs clearance and product sales. With KC certification, companies can lower the barriers to entry, gain a competitive edge, and successfully enter the Korean market. KC certification is broadly categorized into electromagnetic certification and safety certification. Since these fall under different government ministries, companies need to undergo separate certification processes for each. ✅ KC EMC ✅  KC Safety 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email:

Changes are possible after safety certification application Changes are possible after safety certification application   Manufacturers of safety-certified electrical products may make the following changes to their safety certification. If you make changes, you can apply for a safety certification change application by attaching documents that prove the change.   Here's what you can change. - Name and address of the manufacturer of the electrical appliance subject to safety certification - Location of the manufacturing plant (In the case of OEM production, it refers to the actual place where the product is manufactured) - Contents of the certified product (including rating, and derivative model name) - Safety standards - List of parts that directly affect electrical safety - Contents of the basic model and derivative models and their differences (only if there are derivative models) 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global W

  Korea and Indonesia The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on March 8 that it signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Indonesia's Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) for cooperation on conformity assessment of broadcasting and telecommunications equipment. This letter of intent aims to confirm the willingness of the two countries to sign a mutual recognition agreement for the conformity assessment of broadcasting and telecommunications equipment, and to promote education and training on related technologies and exchange of experts in the future, which is expected to further strengthen the ICT partnership between the two countries. * Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA): A system that mutually recognizes conformity assessment procedures, enabling exporters to conduct testing (Stage 1) or certification (Stage 2) in Korea, eliminating language barriers, reducing testing costs (airfare, testing fees, etc.), and shortening timeframes. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Ema

KC Mark Safety certified products must display the KC mark on the product or packaging. The KC mark must be marked on the product or its packaging so that it can be easily recognized, and methods such as sticking, printing, or engraving can be used to prevent it from falling off. The method of displaying safety certificates, safety standards, and matters prescribed by the Director of the National Institute of Technology and Standards shall be in Korean. However, in the case of electrical appliances, it may be written in Korean or English. The design color of the safety certification light is black in principle, but complementary colors can be used. It can be used after the approval letter is issued. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  Baby Food The MFDS said it will conduct intensive inspections from March 11 to 15, targeting a total of 1,600 companies that manufacture processed foods mainly consumed by children. The inspections will cover manufacturers of baby food for infants and toddlers, food labeled and marketed for consumption by infants and toddlers, dried foods that children often snack on (such as dried apples, pears, strawberries, tangerines, sweet potatoes, etc.), and chocolate, candy, and beverages that are favorites of children. The main inspections include standards for labeling raw materials and contents, standards for storing and using expired or unmarked raw materials, workplace hygiene management, documentation of production and raw material payments, medical examinations, and compliance with the use of sanitary hats and masks. Additionally, along with the inspection, there are plans to randomly collect around 100 processed food items and conduct tests for criteria and specifications. The MFDS pl

Application and processing procedures for safety certification of electrical appliances   Application and processing procedures for safety certification of electrical appliances The safety certification system is a system in which a person who manufactures an electrical appliance subject to safety certification or who intends to export an electrical appliance manufactured in a foreign country to Korea must obtain safety certification for each model of the electrical appliance subject to safety certification from a safety certification organization before the product is shipped (domestic manufacturing) or before customs clearance (imported products). The application and processing procedures for safety certification are as follows.   1. Apply for safety certification with required documents 2. Submission to the certification body 3. Inspection after review of documents (supplementary inspection and resubmission) 4. Issuance and delivery of certificate after inspection 👉 Conta

  Improved Korean medical device import declaration The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service have announced that the Medical Device Standard Pre-Clearance Notification, a pre-approval process required for importing medical devices, will become easier from 29 February. Previously, the complainant had to manually enter 13 types of medical device licence information to the Korea Customs Service for the standardised pre-clearance notification of medical devices, but in the future, the information will be automatically entered by sharing the information with the Korea Medical Device Industry Association. The improvements are the result of five months of inter-ministerial co-operation to make it quicker and more convenient for importers to import medical devices, which will help ensure a smooth supply of medical devices. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and Korea Customs Service (KCS) have announced plans to expand the simplification of standardised custo