In Taiwan, the general regulatory framework applicable to the most imported electrical and electronic products is based on:

• BSMI's (The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection) approval for EMC, Safety, and RoHS-related regulations  
• NCC (National Communications Commission) approval for the Telecom and Radio transmission equipment  
• Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) and/or Energy Efficiency Rating Labeling requirements

The Bureau of Standard, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) is the authority, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). It is responsible for standardization, metrology, and product inspection in Taiwan. The authority is aimed to protect the rights and interests of consumers and ensure the commodities produced for the domestical use or import comply with inspection requirements before they are placed on the market. The BSMI is dedicated to promoting standardization, metrology, and inspection systems in line with international practices.

The Taiwan Commodity Inspection System consists of four schemes introduced by BSMI. They are applicable to all regulated products. The BSMI certification process covers safety regulations, electromagnetic compatibility, and related tests. It must be completed before the product is authorized to use the BSMI Commodity Inspection Mark.

There are four mandatory inspection schemes which require compliance with product inspection requirements:

• Type Approval Batch Inspection (TABI) - an application with documentation and test reports are submitted to BSMI  
• Monitoring inspection (MI) - a simplified batch-by-batch inspection system  
• Registration of Product Certification (RPC) - an application with documentation and test reports are submitted to a designated Certification Body  
• Declaration of Conformity (DoC) - an application with DoC are submitted to BSMI. The applicant maintains a technical file.

The choice of the appropriate conformity assessment procedure depends on the product characteristics as well as other factors.

An applicant must be registered as a company in Taiwan. Products must comply with Chinese National Standards (CNS) for specific products. A test report from laboratories accredited by BSMI is accepted. For some products, EMC compliance can be additionally required.

The products covered by the BSMI approval include:

• Information technology equipment  
• Audio and video equipment  
• Household and similar-use appliances  
• Lighting products  
• Electric tools  
• Laboratory, test, and measurement equipment  
• Low-voltage electrical equipment  
• Electrical wires and cables  
• Switches for circuits, installation protective, and connection devices  
• 3C (Computer, Communication, and Consumer Electronics) secondary lithium cells/batteries, power banks, battery chargers, etc.

The BSMI Safety Mark is mandatory for electrical and electronic products under the Commodity Inspection Act.

According to the BSMI, various types of products entering Taiwan should comply with a new RoHS requirement as mandatory conformity starting from July 1, 2017. Evaluation of RoHS requirements based on Taiwan’s RoHS standard CNS 15663 Section 5 has to be performed in addition to the current Safety and EMC requirements.

The word “RoHS” must be included into BSMI Commodity Inspection Mark for such products. The mark shows the presence and absence of RoHS restricted substances in the product. The detailed requirements for the RoHS evaluation process and results should be documented and marked on the products and must be included on the package as well.

Two types of conformity assessments schemes are available for the products: the BSMI RPC Scheme or the BSMI TABI Scheme. It requires the manufacturer to submit a Declaration of Presence to the BSMI indicating the status of compliance with the RoHS requirement in order to obtain a BSMI certificate.

The following products are under the scope of the rules:

• Automatic data process machines  
• Printing and Photocopying machines  
• Televisions  
• Monitors  
• Network media players (wired network media players)  
• Projectors  
• Self-ballasted fluorescent lamps  
• Plugs and socket-outlets for fixed wiring  
• Radio keyboards  
• Motor class goods, e.g. single-phase AC motors  
• Home appliances, e.g. Electric Blankets and Water Dispensers;  
• Power supplies, battery chargers for computer, communication, and consumer electronics  
• AC -supplied electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps  
• Digital video cameras, digital video cameras for vehicle use  
• audio amplifiers, DC power supply audio amplifiers, etc.

For existing BSMI certified products, the BSMI mark on the product must be revised to indicate conformance with the RoHS “Marking of Presence” requirement.

Each mark bears a 5-digit identification number starting with “R” or “T” and indicates the scheme used for the conformity assessment procedure. The identification number and RoHS sign shall be placed to the below or right of the graphic symbol.

“RoHS” (under the identification number) indicates the content of restricted substance(s) does not exceed the reference percentage value of the present condition.

“RoHS(XX,XX)” (under the identification number) indicates that the product contains certain hazardous substances that have exceeded specified concentration limits. For example, RoHS (Pb, Hg) indicates that the product contains Pb and Hg that have exceeded concentration limits.

The proper label must be affixed on the body of the product, packaging, stickers, and/or the accompanying instruction manuals for the product.

Taiwan RoHS currently restricts 6 hazardous substances:

• Lead (Pb) and its compounds: 0.1%  
• Mercury (Hg) and its compounds: 0.1%  
• Cadmium (Cd) and its compounds: 0.01%  
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) and its compounds: 0.1%  
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): 0.1%  
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): 0.1%

Telecommunication requirements

The Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF) is the only national accreditation body in Taiwan recognized by the government for the accreditation of conformity assessment against international standards.

Taiwan’s National Communication Commission (NCC) is an authority responsible for regulating telecommunications and broadcasting services. Together with the recognized Certification Bodies, it issues type approval for all telecommunications terminal equipment and low power radio devices to be imported or sold in Taiwan. The equipment must comply with Taiwan's standards. All products should be able to connect to the public switched communication network. Products emitting radio frequency require approval and registration before they can be sold in Taiwan. EMC compliance is required for the above, where applicable.

Categories of telecommunication terminal equipment that are in the scope of NCC type approval:

• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) product example: Telephone set, including VOIP phone, Cordless phone, Automatic alarming equipment, Key telephone system (KTS) equipment, Telephone answering machine, Data equipment, including ADSL (ATU-R) terminal equipment and POTS splitter, Fax machine, Caller ID terminal equipment, Remote control equipment, 2.4GHz radio-frequency telecommunications terminal equipment;  
• Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) product example: GSM cellular phone and mobile equipment, The third generation mobile telecommunication terminal equipment, DCS1800 cellular phone and mobile equipment, Wireless Broadband Access (WBA) station equipment (WiMAX), Mobile Broadband Subscriber Station;  
• Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN)  
• Low-Power Radio-Frequency Device (LPD) product example: Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad), UMII, 60GHz Wireless HD Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Bluetooth, 5GHz Bluetooth, RFID, Zigbee, Wireless Keyboard, Wireless Mouse, Wireless Remote controller, Baby monitor, Wireless microphone and wireless earphone, FM transmitter, Immobilizers, Family Radio Service (FRS), Citizens Band Radio Service, Walkie-Talkie, Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS).

The NCC Certification Label should be affixed on the product after the approval is granted. In addition, the NCC logo must be affixed on the product packaging.

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The NCC logo should be in a single color and can also be black. There is no restriction on the size and place on the package but it should be clearly marked. Affixing the NCC logo to the product packaging as a sticker is also acceptable.

E-labeling is now accepted to replace the physical NCC label on a product. However, it will also be necessary to affix the NCC logo to the product packaging.

Energy Efficiency requirements

The Bureau of Energy (BOE), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is responsible for formulating energy policies and energy-related regulations in Taiwan.

Three principal policies have been employed in the promotion of energy efficiency management for energy-consuming equipment:

• Determining allowances for product energy consumption with a Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) benchmark  
• Voluntary energy efficiency labeling program  
• Mandatory energy efficiency rating labeling

The Taiwanese mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) requirements for various product categories which prohibit the importation or sale of products in Taiwan with low energy efficiency or high energy requirements are part of Taiwan's Energy Efficiency Management System.

The MEPS benchmarks and energy consumption of products formulated by the BOE is required to be included in the labeling, as specified by the Chinese National Standards (CNS) and they are incorporated into the Commodity Inspection Act by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI).

The information has been prepared by the GMA Consult Group team.

GMA Consult Group provides a full cycle of international type approval and global market access services for IT, Telecom and industrial electrical products in all countries throughout the world. With proven expertise in worldwide regulations, compliance, certification, and conformity assessment, GMA Consult Group can help your company speed up the access to any market with almost zero efforts from your side.

Need your own guide to the world of certification and approvals? Don't hesitate to contact us via info@gma.trade.

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