Can I be exempted from electrical appliance safety certification for goods to be imported for the purpose of technology development and research of products? Released

Regarding the exemption from electrical product safety certification, the following is an excerpt from the explanation provided by the Korea Product Safety Management Institute.

1. Purpose

The Korea Product Safety Management Institute issues exemption certificates for safety certification, safety confirmation report, and supplier conformity confirmation to support the smooth business operations of companies such as research, development, exhibition, and product testing for certification management target electrical products and household goods under the regulations of Article 6, Article 16, and Article 24 of the Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Management Act, and to prevent the pre-distribution of illegal products.

2. Scope of Application

The following electrical products and household goods are subject to exemption confirmation, which do not require safety certification, safety confirmation, or supplier conformity confirmation by receiving exemption confirmation from the exemption confirmation agency according to the regulations of Article 13, Article 31, and Article 43 of the Enforcement Rules of the Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Management Act.

1. Used for research and development by schools, research institutes, or research organizations

2.Used for research and development of facilities necessary for broadcasting according to Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 9 of the Radio Waves Act or Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Broadcasting Act

3.Used for research and development by manufacturers according to the Korean Standard Industrial Classification announced by the Commissioner of Statistics Korea under Article 22, Paragraph 1 of the Statistics Act

4. Intended for exhibition or fair entry and not for sale

5. Intended for product testing for safety certification, safety confirmation, supplier conformity confirmation, etc.

6. As parts for repair and maintenance of imported products subject to safety certification, safety confirmation, supplier conformity confirmation, etc.

  Imported within 2.5 percent of the import quantity of the target products (only applicable to those included in the products subject to safety certification, safety confirmation, supplier conformity confirmation, etc.)

7. Other products with limited use that are not sold or rented to the general public, as announced by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy as not requiring safety certification, safety confirmation, supplier conformity confirmation

7-1. Specially designed products with limited use, exempted by the Director of the Korea Product Safety Management Institute under Article 21-2 of the Basic Product Safety Act

7-2. Products with special uses recognized as necessary by the head of a central administrative agency (e.g., military supplies), exempted by the Director

7-3. Products imported for foreign currency acquisition and supplied to tourist hotels for sale to foreigners by the Korea Tourism Goods Center under Article 59 of the Foreign Trade Management Regulations, exempted by the Director

7-4. Products used for industrial purposes (limited to manufacturing and electric power industries as defined by the Korean Standard Industrial Classification announced by Statistics Korea) or other special purposes, exempted by the Director (excluding components of electrical storage devices)

7-6. Products imported for market research purposes, not for sale or rental, exempted by the Director

7-7. Products directly used in international conferences and international competitions, not for sale or rental, exempted by the Director

7-8. Products imported for legal mandatory certification product testing purposes under other laws, not for sale or rental, exempted by the Director

7-9. Products imported for overseas certification, exempted by the Director

Although it meets the condition of not being intended for sale or rental, the regulations do not explicitly mention exemption from electrical product safety certification for technical development and research purposes. However, it seems likely that the questioner's items, which are likely classified as manufacturing, could be eligible for exemption confirmation as they are clearly intended for special use only.

To be precise, it is advisable to clarify the purpose of each product and inquire with the Korea Product Safety Management Institute.

The application can be processed through the Korea Customs Service Uni-pass, and the basic preparation documents include product description, shipping documents (Invoice, packing list), business registration certificate, and if the supply of goods has already been made, a contract should be submitted, and a copy of the business registration certificate should be prepared to prove whether it is applicable to manufacturing.

If the purpose is certification, a test receipt for certification should be prepared, and if the purpose is market research, a market research plan should be prepared and submitted.

The processing period is a maximum of 5 days as per the guidance.