Introduction to BSMI Certification
BSMI is the abbreviation for "Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection" of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. According to the announcement of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, since July 1, 2005, products entering Taiwan region must comply with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety regulations. Under the leadership of government economic departments, BSMI formulates product inspection specifications for electronic and electrical products entering the Taiwanese market. Products must meet safety, EMC testing and related inspections to be authorized to use the BSMI mark. BSMI certification is mandatory and has requirements for both EMC and SAFETY.
Application Methods
BSMI application methods: Currently there are three application methods.
Type Approval
Includes two types:
1. Type approval (EMC+Safety), since January 1, 2004, 178 kinds of electronic and electrical products need to apply for this approval. Applicable standards: EMC+Safety, required documents include (product type approval application, company or factory license, test report, technical documents for electromagnetic compatibility: photos, labels, components with electromagnetic interference, block diagrams and user manuals, as well as safety technical documents). Certificate validity period: three years, renewable once.
2. EMC type approval (replacing the original EMC application), enforced since November 1, 2002. Applicable products: 61 electronic and electrical products have only EMI requirements, 124 electronic and electrical products only require EMI+Safety reports (if the product has safety requirements). Applicable standards: EMI only. Required documents include (electromagnetic compatibility type approval application, test report, technical documents: photos, labels, components with electromagnetic compatibility, block diagrams and user manuals).
Certification Registration
Enforcement date: Not yet announced, applicable standards: EMI+Safety. Required documents include (product type approval application, company or factory license, test report, technical documents for electromagnetic compatibility: photos, labels, components with electromagnetic interference, block diagrams and user manuals, as well as safety technical documents, declaration of conformity). Certificate validity period: three years, renewable once.
Declaration of Conformity
Enforcement date: January 18, 2002. Applicable products: 19 types of information technology equipment components. Applicable standards: CNS13438 (ONLY EMC). Required documents include (declaration of conformity, test report, technical documents: photos, labels, components with electromagnetic interference, block diagrams and user manuals). No certificate.
Characteristics of Three Application Methods
1. Declaration of conformity is only applicable to some components of information technology equipment (please refer to the product description on the website of the Bureau of Standards).
2. Product cost manufacturers decide on their own whether to apply for certification registration or type approval.
3. The differences between certification registration and type approval are:
(1) Inspection method: If the product has obtained type approval, the customer inspection will be simplified. For products applying for certification registration, no customer inspection is conducted, and market random sampling is adopted.
(2) Cost difference: The application fee for certification registration is higher than that for type approval, and annual fees are charged, while type approval does not charge annual fees.
Product Types
Certified products, if your products fall within the following scope, need to apply for verification to expand the domestic market:
1. Mandatory commodity inspection mark (CI MARK): Motor products (such as household appliances), electronic products (such as information equipment and entertainment audiovisual equipment), mechanical products (such as power tools), chemical products (such as tires and toys).
2. Voluntary CNS mark (CNS MARK): Industrial products, building materials, wires, household appliances, automotive parts, industrial raw materials, or those with CNS marks on competitor products.
3. Voluntary product verification mark (VPC MARK): Safety important components, digital set-top boxes, lamp holders, battery chargers, restricted hazardous substances, lithium batteries, vehicle electromagnetic compatibility, sports and fitness equipment, etc.
BSMI Certification Document Preparation
1. Application form
2. Copy of applicant's proof
3. Relevant technical documents (product circuit diagram, Layout, Label, Chinese manual, transformer specification, inductor specification, product appearance dimension drawing, component list)
Certification Process
BSMI Certification Factory Inspection Requirements
Factory inspection not required
BSMI Certification Cycle
6-12 weeks cycle
