EMC regulation in Japan: VCCI and the Radio Act
How EMC emissions from information technology equipment are handled in Japan through the voluntary VCCI scheme, and how radio equipment is regulated under the Radio Act.
Japan handles EMC in two ways: a voluntary industry scheme for information technology equipment (ITE), and legal technical regulations for radio equipment.
VCCI: voluntary control for IT equipment
The VCCI Council (Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment) was formed in 1985 by industry. Its Technical Requirements are based on CISPR documents (the multimedia standard CISPR 32), with two classes:
- Class A: equipment for business use;
- Class B: equipment for non-business (residential) use, with stricter limits.
Manufacturers and importers join the council, test their equipment (in laboratories whose measurement facilities are registered with the council), and make a declaration of conformity with the VCCI statement. The council runs market sampling tests on reported equipment, and publishes the current Technical Requirements, the list of exempt equipment and the procedures on its website.
Radio equipment: the Radio Act
Equipment that transmits radio waves is regulated by the Radio Act, administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). Radio equipment of the types specified in the law must obtain a Technical Regulations Conformity Certification from a registered certification body before being used in Japan, and carries the Giteki mark. EMC aspects of such equipment are covered by the technical regulations for radio equipment.
Other equipment
For electrical products outside ITE and radio, EMC is largely addressed by customer and market requirements and by sector rules. Check the competent ministry for specific categories.
Where to check
The VCCI website (English pages exist) publishes the Technical Requirements and membership information; MIC publishes the Radio Act and the technical regulations.