BSMI Proposes Amendments to Inspection Requirements for Power Supply Equipment; Charger and Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Businesses Should Confirm Certification Schedules in Advance

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Ministry of Economic Affairs, has proposed amendments to the Inspection Requirements for Off-Board Chargers for Electric Motorcycles and Other Power Supply Equipment Subject to Mandatory Inspection. The proposed amendments cover multiple power-supply and charging-related products, including off-board chargers for electric motorcycles, off-board chargers for electric bicycles, off-board chargers for electric power-assisted bicycles, electric motorcycle charging system equipment, electric motorcycle battery swapping system equipment, and AC and DC/combined conductive charging equipment for electric vehicles.

These products are closely associated with everyday transportation, parking facility charging, community charging facilities, electric motorcycle battery swapping systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. They involve requirements relating to electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, charging interfaces, system stability, cybersecurity, restricted-substance marking, and the Commodity Inspection Mark. Manufacturers, importers, brand owners, and equipment suppliers should determine as early as possible whether their products fall within the scope of mandatory inspection and plan their testing and certificate application schedules.

Proposed Amendments Cover Chargers and Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment

The product types covered by the proposed amendments can be divided into two principal categories. The first consists of off-board chargers used for electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, and electric power-assisted bicycles. The second consists of stationary electric motorcycle charging systems, battery swapping systems, and electric vehicle charging equipment using conductive power supply.

For charger businesses, although these products may appear to be simple power conversion equipment, they are subject to requirements relating to input and output electrical safety, charging control, abnormal-condition protection, electromagnetic interference, restricted substances in materials, and labeling. If inspection standards and certification planning are not incorporated during the product design stage, circuit designs, enclosure construction, component specifications, or label contents may need to be modified only after testing has begun, thereby affecting the market launch schedule.

Inspection Methods Include Registration of Product Certification and Type-Approved Batch Inspection

Under the proposed amendments, most relevant products may follow either Registration of Product Certification or Type-Approved Batch Inspection. Products following Registration of Product Certification must obtain a Registration of Product Certification certificate before importation or release from the factory. Products following Type-Approved Batch Inspection must first apply for type approval and obtain a Commodity Type Approval Certificate before applying for inspection prior to importation or release from the factory.

For businesses, this means that products cannot be placed directly on the market after internal testing has been completed. Type testing, technical documentation preparation, certificate applications, the Commodity Inspection Mark, and subsequent inspection application procedures must be completed in accordance with the applicable requirements. For imported products, businesses should also confirm with suppliers in advance that test reports, component information, product specifications, label samples, and relevant technical documentation are complete.

Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Requires Attention to Capacity and Implementation Schedules

According to the proposed amendments, AC conductive charging equipment for electric vehicles is limited to an inspection capacity of 30 kW or below. The inspection capacity for DC/combined conductive charging equipment for electric vehicles would be revised from the previous limit of 30 kW or below to 750 kW or below. This adjustment has practical implications for fast-charging equipment, parking facility charging stations, commercial charging facilities, and related equipment suppliers.

Different implementation schedules have already been arranged for certain product categories. Businesses selling or introducing electric vehicle charging equipment should confirm the applicable inspection date, certificate application method, and version of the inspection standards based on the equipment capacity, power-supply type, whether the product has network connectivity, and the date of sale to avoid incorrect schedule determinations affecting importation, installation, or shipment arrangements.

Connected Charging Equipment Requires Attention to Cybersecurity Requirements

Under the proposed amendments, AC and DC/combined conductive charging equipment for electric vehicles with network connectivity must address cybersecurity-related testing requirements. This means that charging equipment is not only an electrical safety product but may also involve communication connectivity, equipment control, data transmission, remote management, and cybersecurity risks.

If equipment provides app control, cloud management, backend monitoring, remote firmware updates, member identification, payment functions, or connectivity to an operating platform, equipment suppliers should confirm cybersecurity testing, communication modules, firmware versions, data transmission methods, and user instruction content during the design stage to avoid discovering insufficient documentation or test items only during certification.

RoHS Restricted Substances and the Commodity Inspection Mark Must Not Be Overlooked

In addition to safety, EMC, and functional testing, the listed products must display information on the presence of restricted substances on the product itself, packaging, label, or instructions in accordance with the Marking of Presence requirements under Section 5 of CNS 15663. If the information is disclosed through a webpage, the URL must also be clearly stated on the product itself, packaging, label, or instructions.

The Commodity Inspection Mark must also be displayed in a conspicuous location on the product itself in accordance with the applicable requirements and must be made from materials that do not readily deteriorate. Its contents must be clearly legible and durable. Passing product testing is only one part of compliance. Incorrect handling of subsequent labels, packaging, instructions, RoHS marking, or the Commodity Inspection Mark may also affect product compliance.

Product Certification Recommendations

Action Technology recommends that businesses involved in power supply equipment, chargers, electric vehicle charging equipment, and battery swapping systems plan BSMI certification, type testing, technical documentation, and labeling content concurrently before product design, importation, mass production, or market launch to avoid shipment delays caused by regulatory changes.

• Confirm the Product Category and Capacity Range: Determine whether the product falls within the scope of mandatory inspection based on its intended use, output type, power-supply method, charging target, and equipment capacity.
• Arrange Safety and EMC Testing in Advance: Chargers and charging equipment involve electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and abnormal-condition protection requirements. Sample testing and corrective modifications should be completed before mass production.
• Review the Completeness of Technical Documentation: Product specifications, circuit diagrams, bills of materials, information on critical components, user instructions, label samples, and test reports should be prepared concurrently.
• Address Cybersecurity Requirements for Connected Products: If equipment provides remote management, app control, cloud connectivity, payment functions, or backend monitoring, businesses should confirm the cybersecurity testing and related documentation requirements.
• Confirm RoHS Marking and the Commodity Inspection Mark: Information on the presence of restricted substances must be correctly disclosed on the product itself, packaging, label, or instructions, and the Commodity Inspection Mark must be displayed in accordance with the applicable requirements.
• Manage Certificate and Market Launch Schedules: Different product categories may have different implementation dates and methods for calculating certificate validity periods. Businesses should plan their application, testing, review, and shipment schedules in advance.

Certification of Power Supply and Charging Equipment Should Begin at the Design Stage

Certification risks for power supply equipment and charging products generally arise not only from final test results but also from an insufficient understanding of regulatory requirements during the initial design stage. If inspection standards are not considered when designing circuits, selecting enclosure materials and cable specifications, developing charging controls and network connectivity, preparing labeling content, or selecting supply-chain components, subsequent redesign or retesting may be required.

Action Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to monitor changes to BSMI inspection requirements for power supply equipment, chargers, electric vehicle charging equipment, and related products, assisting businesses with SAFETY compliance testing, EMC testing, BSMI certification assessment, type testing, technical documentation review, and pre-market compliance planning to help products enter the market more reliably, efficiently, and in compliance.

Source: Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs｜Proposed Amendments to the Inspection Requirements for Off-Board Chargers for Electric Motorcycles and Other Power Supply Equipment Subject to Mandatory Inspection