GCA | Korea KC Mark Certification

  Korea RRA Update (AI-generated image) RRA Notification of conformity assessment of Broadcasting and Communication Equipment is going to be revised. Public comments will be accepted until June 26, 2024, and the scheduled effective date is from July 24, 2024. Preparation of detailed procedures according to the introduction of the self-conformity system Classification of lighting equipment as equipment subject to self-conformity Exemption from conformity assessment of railway vehicles and railway supplies that have been formally approved under the Railroad Safety Act Exemption from conformity assessment for meters with type approval under the Measurement Act Establishment of Detailed Procedures for Reporting and Corrective Action on Non-Conforming Equipment Designation of domestic representatives of overseas manufacturers and clarification of matters of representation Improve the display method so that the conformity evaluation display method that should have been displayed on both ...

Convening a technical committee meeting in the field of nano-electronics / freepik Convening a technical committee meeting in the field of nano-electronics   The National Institute of Technology Standards simultaneously held the Technical Committee (IEC/TC 113) meeting on nano-electronics from April 22nd to 26th, with the participation of over 50 standard experts from 7 countries including Korea, the United States, Japan, and Germany, both online and offline.   At the conference, Korea proposed four new international standards for nanomaterials aimed at improving the efficiency of electric vehicles and batteries. Graphene and carbon nanotubes can enhance efficiency and reduce charging times. These standards focus on evaluating electrical properties and shielding performance, contributing to stability and efficiency improvements in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and batteries. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device (IVD) In vitro diagnostic medical device manufacturers and importers who fail to comply with corrective orders will be subject to administrative sanctions, including - 1st violation: Business suspension for 1 month - 2nd violation: Business suspension for 3 months - 3rd violation: Business suspension for 6 months - 4th or more violations: License revocation This rule will take effect on April 26, 2024. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  AI International Standardization Open Workshop Held / freepik AI International Standardization Open Workshop Held   The National Institute of Technology Standards, along with ISO and IEC, organized an 'AI International Standardization Open Workshop' on April 24th. Leaders from international AI standardization working groups (WGs) like Google and NVIDIA, along with over 140 domestic AI experts from KT and Naver, attended the event.   At the Reliability Working Group, Google's Lenora Zimmerman discussed standards for addressing societal and ethical concerns related to AI harm, while NVIDIA's Riccardo Mariani outlined safety requirements for AI systems at the AI Safety Working Group.   Presentations included introductions to AI machine learning performance evaluation and healthcare information standards. Updates on AI initiatives by domestic organizations like KT, Naver, and the Korea Testing Laboratory were also announced. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8...

  Regulations for the Enforcement of the Medical Devices Act (Freepik) On April 24, 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced a draft revision of the Enforcement Rules of the Medical Device Act to expedite the introduction of necessary medical devices in the event of a national emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Provisions will be established to exempt medical devices deemed necessary for the temporary introduction to prevent and control infectious diseases from the approval, certification, or notification process. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

International Standardization Meeting on Automotive Functional Safety Standards Held / unsplash International Standardization Meeting on Automotive Functional Safety Standards Held The National Institute of Technology Standards will host an international standardization meeting on automotive functional safety standards in Pangyo from April 22nd to April 26th, with the participation of 110 experts from 22 countries including Korea, Germany, the United States, and Japan.   To prevent malfunctions and accidents caused by design flaws in automotive electronic/electrical systems or autonomous driving systems, automobile manufacturers have long required compliance with functional safety standards such as ISO 26262 from their suppliers. Recently, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) WP.29 adopted ISO 26262 for demonstrating the safety of autonomous driving functions.   At this conference, global experts will discuss various technical issues, including t...

  IEC International Conference to be held (AI-generated image) The National Radio Research Agency (RRA) under the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) will host an international conference from April 22 to 26 in Jeju Island, South Korea. The conference will focus on the standardization of on-site electromagnetic field measurement methods for large and high-power products, such as wireless charging systems for electric vehicles, MRI machines, and solar power generation systems. The National Radio Research Agency aims to complete the development of international standard documents for on-site measurement methods for large and high-power products by the end of this year, with the goal of publishing actual applicable standard documents next year. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

Revision notice for safety management guidelines of electrical and household goods / freepik Revision notice for safety management guidelines of electrical and household goods   The National Institute of Technology Standards has announced partial revisions to the operation guidelines for safety management of electrical appliances and household goods.   -       If a manufacturer of household goods relocates their address, they were previously required to indicate 'ch' to confirm its association with the existing number. However, as it can now be distinguished through the reissued identification code, this phrase is being removed. -       Items related to disposable diapers that have been transferred to the Food and Drug Administration are being removed. -       Modifications to the names of certain countries in the Asia, Europe, and Africa regions.   This notification shall take effe...

  KC Electromagnetic Compatibility Certification Products (Freepik) Products that require KC electromagnetic wave certification are broadcasting and communication equipment that cause radio wave interference and electromagnetic interference or are affected by electromagnetic waves, such as wireless devices, wired devices, electrical devices, motorized devices, information devices, industrial devices, lighting devices, automotive digital devices, etc. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

Wi-Fi 7, over four times faster, opens the door to commercialization in Korea / freepik Wi-Fi 7, over four times faster, opens the door to commercialization in Korea   The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it has completed the reallocation of frequencies for fixed and mobile broadcasting relays in the 6 GHz band for the commercialization of Wi-Fi 6E, and it is also pushing for institutional improvements for the introduction of Wi-Fi 7.   Wi-Fi 7, which utilizes the same spectrum as Wi-Fi 6E and other previous standards, is known for potentially offering speeds up to 4.8 times faster than Wi-Fi 6/6E due to its doubled channel bandwidth compared to Wi-Fi 6E, improved modulation and streaming methods, and the introduction of MLO. Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to revise the technical standards (notification) to expand the bandwidth per channel from the current 160 MHz to 320 MHz to align with the Wi-Fi 7 standard by the first half of this year. 양식의 맨 ...

  Introduction of GMP for Cosmetics (Freepik) The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has published a compilation of key improvement cases in the evaluation of Cosmetic Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) to enhance the quality management capabilities of cosmetic manufacturers and help secure competitiveness in exports. CGMP is a standard for quality and manufacturing management of cosmetics, and upon passing on-site inspections, certificates are issued to establishments compliant with the standard. In Korea, CGMP has been in operation since April 1990 to meet consumer demands and ensure the manufacture and supply of excellent cosmetics, although it is not a legal requirement. Europe and ASEAN countries mandate Cosmetic GMP, and the United States is also planning to make Cosmetic GMP mandatory. Therefore, CGMP is essential for exporting products to these countries. In the case of China, CGMP-compliant companies can receive benefits such as exemption from submitting toxicology test repo...

Expert Technical Group Meeting under the auspices of the International Standards Setting Organization for Automobiles / Pexels Expert Technical Group Meeting under the auspices of the International Standards Setting Organization for Automobiles   A specialist technical group meeting under WP.29 will be held in Seoul from April 16th to April 20th. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced discussions on international standards for eco-friendly automotive performance, including battery lifespan criteria for electric vehicles and the A-LCA method for assessing greenhouse gas.   -       In March 2022, minimum standards and verification methods were set for battery performance degradation in electric vehicles weighing 3.5 tons or less. This meeting will discuss standards and methods for electric vehicles exceed 3.5 tons and gather opinions on hybrid vehicle battery lifespan standards. -       At the meeting, coun...

Medical Products (Freepik) The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced that it will provide the status of medical product licensing for March 2024 to enhance transparency and reliability in the approval process. In March, a total of 166 medical products were approved, consisting of 72 pharmaceuticals, 3 non-prescription drugs, and 91 medical devices. This represents 85% of the average monthly approval count of 195 items from last year. The number of approvals for pharmaceuticals and non-prescription drugs was lower than last year's monthly average, while there was little difference in the number of medical device approvals. Compared to the approval count of 121 items in February, there was a 37% increase, particularly with pharmaceuticals showing a significant 279% increase compared to February. The MFDS stated that it will continue to proactively discover and disclose information of high public interest, such as the status of medical product approvals on a regular basis....

Notice of revision of  Operating Guidelines for Conformity Assessment Management, etc / Pexels Notice of revision of  Operating Guidelines for Conformity Assessment Management, etc   KATS revises the Notice to reflect changes made in accordance with some amendments to the Enforcement Rules of the Act on the Management of Conformity Assessment, etc. and to reflect the integration of Korean regulatory bodies and the introduction of new scopes of recognition.   -       Certification bodies that have obtained recognition from management system accreditation bodies are excluded from being public agencies. -       Deletion of content regarding the method of management of the Korean Product Accreditation Organization following the integration of the Korean Accreditation Body and the Korean Product Accreditation Body. -       Introduction of new accreditation scopes (biological resource banks, plannin...

  Household chemicals (Freepik) Previously, the authority of the Minister of Environment to accept applications for approval, change of approval, and change of notification of household chemicals subject to safety confirmation, to approve biocidal substances and biocidal products, and to designate, change the designation, and evaluate testing and inspection institutes for safety confirmation of household chemicals was delegated to the President of the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). However, going forward, this authority will be transferred to the President of the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) to enhance the efficiency of chemical substances management. The revised enforcement decree will be implemented from April 30, 2024. Chemical Substances (K-REACH) 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

High Efficiency Certification Mark What is High Efficiency Certification Program?   The High Efficiency Energy Equipment Certification Program is a voluntary system that certifies energy-using equipment that meets the energy efficiency and quality test inspection results above certain standards notified by the government as high-efficiency energy equipment.   This certification Program is aimed at promoting the spread of high-efficiency products and establishing an early market, and the Korea Energy Agency issues high-efficiency energy equipment certificates upon voluntary application by manufacturers or importers.   Manufacturers and importers who wish to obtain certification must test their products at a high-efficiency testing center according to the published technical standards and measurement methods, obtain a test report, and apply online within one year.   As the scope of application, test items, and required manufacturing and inspection facil...

  Korea RRA Updated (Freepik) The National Radio Research Agency (RRA) of Korea has partially revised regulations on the designation and management of testing laboratories such as broadcasting and communication equipment. This notice will take effect from April 5, 2024. Established criteria for determining review fees and revised the review fee to be paid directly by the applicant organization to the reviewer. Establishing a Basis for Clarifying the Payment Criteria for Inspection Allowances to be Paid to Inspectors Participating in Inspection Tasks such as Regular Inspections of Designated Testing Laboratories. Terminology change 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

Application and processing procedures for safety confirmation of electrical appliances / unsplash Application and processing procedures for safety confirmation of electrical appliances   The Safety confirmation System is a system that has been in effect since January 1, 2009 to apply safety management procedures differently. For electrical appliances subject to safety confirmation, factory audits and periodic inspection procedures of more than once a year are not applied to electrical appliances subject to safety certification.   1. complete and submit the notification with the required documents 2. Product testing 3. Issuance of declaration certificate after completion of declaration certificate 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

  Portable Medium and Large Batteries - KATS Starting March 21, 2024, KC marking will be mandatory on camping batteries and portable ESS batteries mounted on mobile electric vehicle chargers. This is to strengthen safety management with an increase in fire accidents and an increase in social demand. On March 20, 2023, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) revised the safety standard KC 62619 and expanded its scope to strengthen safety management of portable medium and large-sized batteries. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website

unsplash Penalties for Violating Product Labeling Requirements, Including the KC Mark   -       Recommendations for corrective action If the product labeling is violated, it will be subject to an order for remedial measures, and the product in stock or products to be imported, manufactured, and shipped in the future will be allowed to be newly released after the remediation is completed and approved by the KATS.   -       Criminal charges and fines If you are found to have random changes, removed, falsely labeled, or failed to label KC on electrical appliances and household products, you may be subject to criminal charges and fines under the Electrical Appliances and Household Products Safety Control Act.   -       Revocation of authentication and prohibition of use of marks, etc. If a company violates product labeling, the product subject to safety certification may be ordered to...

Electric Vehicle Energy Efficiency Rating System - Freepik, MOTIE Starting April 1, 2024, an energy efficiency rating system will be applied to all electric vehicles (EVs) sold in Korea. The existing energy efficiency labeling system has been converted to a rating system with 1 to 5 grades. (Grade 1 is the most efficient.) The electric vehicle (EV) grade label must be attached to the exterior and interior of the vehicle. With the rapid increase in the number of electric vehicle (EV) registrations and models, the introduction of the rating system is expected to make it easier for consumers to compare EV efficiency, which will in turn increase the competitiveness of high-efficiency EVs. 👉 Contact GCA Tel. +82-31-360-8180 Email: forest.lee@gca-kr.com GCA Global Website