BSMI Announces Mandatory Inspection of LED Light Source Controlgear; Businesses Should Prepare in Advance for Safety, EMC, and Registration of Product Certification

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), Ministry of Economic Affairs, has announced that light-emitting diode (LED) light source controlgear will be included among commodities subject to mandatory inspection. The scope covers LED light source controlgear intended for general lighting that is either independent or built-in with enclosure protection, with a rated input voltage not exceeding 300 V AC and a rated output power not exceeding 500 W.

LED light source controlgear is an important power-supply and control component in lighting products and is commonly used in indoor lighting, commercial lighting, luminaire modules, and related power-control applications. Inadequate product design, component selection, testing, or certification may create issues involving electrical safety, overheating, insulation, fire protection, electromagnetic interference, and restricted-substance labeling. Businesses should therefore complete the necessary inspection and Registration of Product Certification procedures before placing products on the market.

LED Light Source Controlgear Officially Included within the Scope of Mandatory Inspection

The announcement includes LED light source controlgear intended for general lighting within the inspection system. The applicable inspection method is Registration of Product Certification, and the conformity assessment procedure consists of the type-test module combined with the declaration-of-conformity-to-type module. Businesses must therefore complete type testing and the relevant documentation review and obtain a Registration of Product Certification certificate before displaying and selling the products in the domestic market in accordance with the applicable requirements.

The BSMI announcement also states that inspection of imported and domestically manufactured products will take effect on January 1, 2027. BSMI may accept applications for Registration of Product Certification for these products from the date of the announcement. Businesses planning to introduce, import, or sell LED drivers, LED controlgear, or lighting power-supply products should begin testing and certificate application procedures in advance.

Inspection Standards Cover Safety, EMC, and RoHS Marking of Presence

According to the announcement, LED light source controlgear must comply with CNS 61347-1, CNS 61347-2-13, CNS 14115, IEC 61000-3-2, and the Marking of Presence requirements under Section 5 of CNS 15663.

This means that product certification involves not only basic electrical safety but also electromagnetic compatibility, harmonic current, marking of the presence of restricted substances, and related documentation management. During the initial product design stage, businesses should confirm whether the circuit design, enclosure construction, power cord set, component selection, heat-dissipation conditions, marking locations, and instruction contents comply with the applicable inspection standards.

The Commodity Inspection Mark and RoHS Marking Should Be Planned Concurrently

After obtaining Registration of Product Certification, LED light source controlgear must still bear the Commodity Inspection Mark correctly in accordance with the applicable requirements. The mark should include the letter designation, applicant code, and information on the presence of restricted substances, such as RoHS or RoHS(Pb).

Information on the presence of restricted substances may be displayed on the product itself, packaging, label, or instructions. If the information is disclosed through a webpage, the URL must be clearly stated on the product itself, packaging, label, or instructions. Businesses should not prepare this information only during the testing stage but should also confirm that mass-production labels, outer packaging, instructions, and website disclosures are consistent.

Supply-Chain Businesses Should Manage Components and Product Models Carefully

LED light source controlgear is commonly used in different luminaires, modules, or lighting systems. Products within the same series or with the same appearance may produce different test results because of differences in output specifications, circuit designs, component sources, or enclosure construction. If key components, power cord sets, enclosure materials, control circuits, or manufacturing plants are subsequently changed, businesses should assess whether the changes affect the original Registration of Product Certification.

Luminaire brand owners, importers, and system integrators should also confirm whether the LED light source controlgear supplied by their suppliers has completed the necessary inspection procedures. They should also verify that the Commodity Inspection Mark, certificate model, technical documentation, and products actually shipped are consistent to avoid inadequate component certification affecting the market launch of complete products or subsequent market inspections.

Product Certification Recommendations

Action Technology recommends that manufacturers, importers, brand owners, luminaire businesses, and supply-chain companies involved in LED light source controlgear review in advance whether their products fall within the scope of mandatory inspection and incorporate safety, EMC, RoHS marking, and Registration of Product Certification into pre-market planning.

• Confirm Whether the Product Falls within the Scope of Inspection: Determine whether the product is subject to mandatory inspection based on its intended use, structural type, rated input voltage, rated output power, and whether it is intended for general lighting.
• Arrange Type Testing in Advance: Sufficient time should be allowed for testing related to safety, EMC, harmonic current, and restricted-substance marking to avoid beginning certification only shortly before shipment or importation.
• Prepare Complete Technical Documentation: Product specifications, circuit diagrams, bills of materials, information on critical components, label samples, instructions, and RoHS marking-of-presence information should be organized concurrently.
• Confirm the Commodity Inspection Mark: After obtaining Registration of Product Certification, the letter designation, applicant code, and information on the presence of restricted substances must still be correctly displayed in accordance with the applicable requirements. The marking should be clear, durable, and consistent with the product information.
• Control Changes to Product Models and Components: If power cord sets, circuit boards, enclosures, critical electronic components, or manufacturing plants are subsequently changed, businesses should assess whether retesting or certificate modification is required.
• Verify Consistency between Supplier Certificates and Actual Products: When brand owners or importers purchase LED controlgear, they should confirm that the certificate model, specifications, markings, and products actually shipped are consistent to avoid market-inspection risks.

Compliance Management for LED Lighting Products Should Begin at the Component Stage

The safety and quality of LED lighting products depend not only on the design of the luminaire itself but are also closely related to the light source controlgear, power supply, heat dissipation, insulation, enclosure materials, and electronic components. After LED light source controlgear becomes subject to mandatory inspection, relevant businesses should introduce compliance management from the component-selection stage to avoid discovering test nonconformities or insufficient documentation only after product development has been completed.

Action Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to monitor changes to BSMI commodity inspection requirements and related standards, assisting businesses with product testing, EMC testing, SAFETY compliance testing, BSMI certification assessment, technical documentation review, and pre-market compliance planning to help LED lighting-related products enter the market more smoothly.

Source: Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of Economic Affairs｜Inspection Requirements for LED Light Source Controlgear Subject to Mandatory Inspection