About Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE)

This page provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (PSE) in regard to AC adapters and switching power supplies. At UNIFIVE, we have extensive knowledge based on many years of experience and achievements, and can offer Products that give customers peace of mind.

About PSE Regulations

The Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (PSE) was enacted in April 2001, replacing the former Electrical Appliance Control Law, and is regulated as follows.

Electrical products used in general households, shops, offices, etc. that are specified by government ordinance (designated electrical appliances) cannot be sold unless they display the PSE mark, the name of the business operator, rated voltage, rated power consumption, etc., confirming compliance with technical standards set by the government. If unsafe products without these indications are distributed in the market, the government can order the manufacturer to recall them. These regulated items must undergo self-verification for compliance with technical standards, and products deemed particularly dangerous or prone to failures must be inspected by a third-party organization as Specified Electrical Appliances.

Initiatives by UNIFIVE

The AC adapters we handle are classified as Specified Electrical Appliances (DC power supplies) and comply with the technical standards defined by PSE. We provide products that meet these standards.

In this article, we will introduce and explain the handling of "Extension cord set with appliance plug" and "Extension cord set with built-in AC adapter" based on the public information titled "Applicable and non-applicable products under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act" released on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s website on July 25, 2017.

Even if electrical appliances look similar, their use determines their name under PSE and the applicable technical standards. Wiring devices used to extend power from a wall outlet to distant electrical appliances are commonly referred to as power strips or multi-outlet taps, but under PSE terminology, they are classified as "extension cord sets."

A product that adds an appliance plug to such a multi-outlet tap is also classified as an "extension cord set." However, a product that additionally includes USB ports for charging smartphones is treated as a "DC power supply" and is handled in the same category as the AC adapters provided by our company.

Importers that bring electrical appliances into Japan are obligated by PSE to ensure that the products comply with PSE technical standards, so caution is necessary.

If you are interested in our charging AC adapters for smartphones and tablets, which are part of our product lineup, or if you are looking for other items, please download our product online catalog or feel free to contact our sales team.

PSE Classification: Electrical product category "wiring devices", Electrical product name "extension cord set"

PSE Classification: Electrical product category "AC electrical machinery and appliances", Electrical product name "DC power supply"

URL of the public information from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry introduced in this article

Please refer to the following pages for details.

"Extension cord set with appliance plug"

"Handling of extension cord set with built-in AC adapter"

Also, inquiries regarding AC adapters or consultations about obtaining PSE certification are accepted through the contact form on our website. Thank you for your attention.

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