Taiwan’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, sets the type approval requirements for electrical and electronic products entering the Taiwanese market. First issued in 2002 and most recently amended on May 20, 2026, these key points define the technical documentation, testing procedures, and certificate validity rules manufacturers must follow.
The requirements span consumer electronics, information security products, and emerging categories such as EV charging equipment and stationary energy storage systems. For companies exporting to Taiwan, understanding this updated framework is essential to securing and maintaining product certification.
Overview of BSMI Type Approval for Electrical and Electronic Products
BSMI’s key points establish how the Bureau processes type approval applications for electrical and electronic products. The guidelines distinguish between three categories of goods that receive different handling: large goods that are bulky and difficult to move, complex products that require professional installation or operation, and small quantity goods made to a customer’s special specifications. This classification determines how and where product testing takes place, giving manufacturers of oversized, specialized, or custom-built equipment a clearer path to compliance.
Technical Documentation Required for Product Certification
Applicants must submit technical documentation aligned with four main compliance categories: electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), digital receiving function, and information security. Each category calls for a Chinese-language user manual, color photographs of the exterior and internal structure, and supporting technical records such as circuit diagrams, component specification lists, or verification certificates.
- Electrical safety filings require circuit or wiring diagrams and specification lists for critical components.
- EMC filings require circuit block diagrams and a list of interference sources and countermeasure components.
- Digital receiving function filings require the decoding IC’s serial number and manufacturer name.
- Information security filings require a software bill of materials (SBOM), functional block diagrams for hardware and software, and a completed information security self-checklist.
The information security requirements reflect a broader global shift toward supply chain transparency and cybersecurity accountability in product certification. Starting January 1, 2028, this documentation will also apply to electric vehicle charging equipment, power conversion systems, solar photovoltaic converters, and stationary lithium energy storage devices. With the Bureau’s consent, documentation for electrical safety, EMC, digital receiving function, and information security may be submitted in English.
Product Testing and Foreign Laboratory Provisions
Large or complex products may be tested on-site by a designated laboratory rather than transported to a test facility. When the equipment needed to test these products is not available domestically, or when only a small quantity of goods requires testing, manufacturers may apply to BSMI for supervised testing at a foreign laboratory. This requires submitting an application form along with the overseas laboratory’s testing equipment and calibration data, and the Bureau may invite the applicant to discuss implementation details.
Certificate Validity, Renewals, and Series Applications
A product type approval certificate is generally valid for three years. When reviewing repeat applications, series applications, or renewal cases, BSMI or its subordinate inspection authorities may request additional supporting documents, technical records, or test reports. Certificate holders that want to extend approval to a related product series must first obtain a test report or certification document identifying the differences between the series and the original prototype, then submit an application with the original certificate, the series test report, and relevant technical documentation.
Post-Certification Sampling and Compliance Monitoring
Type-approved products remain subject to ongoing market surveillance. Information-related products and products tested only for electromagnetic compatibility face random sampling at a rate of one in twenty batches, while other product categories are sampled at one in ten batches. First-time submissions of an approved product are checked against the original prototype’s markings, internal structure, and components.
Batches not selected for sampling go through a simplified written review, which escalates to full random sampling or testing if the review raises concerns. If a product fails sampling inspection, two consecutive passing batches are required before the simplified review process resumes. BSMI may also order direct sampling and testing at any time if reports or other information raise doubts about a product’s consistency with approved standards. Products released to market ahead of formal type approval must undergo sampling and verification against the original prototype once the certificate is issued.
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
Taiwan
Certification Body: National Communications Commission (NCC)
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: English
Legal License Holder: Manufacturer
In-Country Testing Requirement: Product Specific
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