Certification is essentially a form of quality and credibility assurance. According to the definitions provided by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), certification refers to a conformity assessment activity in which an accredited certification body verifies that a company’s products, services, or management systems comply with relevant standards, technical specifications (TS), or mandatory requirements.
The benefits of certification are clear:
- It serves as the “credit passport” of a product,
- a “health check report” of a company’s management practices, and
- a “ticket to enter” international markets.
Around the world, certification systems vary widely. Different countries, industries, and even individual customers may impose different certification requirements on the products they purchase.
To help clarify these requirements, EPI has compiled an overview of the major international certifications related to magnetic materials and downstream magnetic products, especially those relevant to product safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
EU CE Safety Certification
The CE mark focuses solely on the basic safety requirements necessary to ensure that a product does not endanger humans, animals, or property. It is not a general quality certification. Instead, it acts as a safety compliance mark, indicating that the product meets EU safety regulations.
The CE mark is widely regarded as a manufacturer’s passport to the European market.
The initials “CE” stand for Conformité Européenne (“European Conformity”).
Any product bearing the CE mark can be sold throughout all EU member states without needing additional approvals from each country, enabling free circulation of goods within the European Economic Area.
EU EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Certification
EMC is one of the mandatory directives under the CE framework.
EMC stands for Electro Magnetic Compatibility, defined as:
The ability of a device or system to operate properly in its electromagnetic environment without creating intolerable electromagnetic disturbances to anything else in that environment.
This definition has two key aspects:
- The device must be able to function correctly in the presence of external electromagnetic interference — this is known as Electromagnetic Immunity (EMS).
- The device must not generate electromagnetic noise that adversely affects other electronic products — this is referred to as Electromagnetic Emission (EMI).
For electronic and electrical products, EMC performance is a critical quality indicator.
It affects:
- product reliability,
- user safety,
- the normal operation of other equipment, and
- the overall electromagnetic environment.
Since January 1, 1996, all electrical and electronic devices sold in the EU must pass EMC certification before entering the market.
EU RoHS Certification
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The purpose of the RoHS directive is to eliminate or limit six hazardous substances commonly found in electronic products:
- Lead (Pb)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Cadmium (Cd)
- Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
RoHS testing applies to any electrical or electronic product that may contain these substances in either its production process or raw materials. This includes a wide range of categories, such as:
- Home appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, water heaters)
- Consumer electronics (audio/video devices, DVD/CD players, televisions, IT equipment, digital products, communication devices)
- Power tools
- Electronic toys
- Medical electrical equipment
How RoHS Testing Is Performed?
In accordance with the EU’s WEEE & RoHS directives, accredited third-party laboratories test products by separating them by material type and analyzing each material independently.
Typically:
- Metal components are tested for four heavy metals:
Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr⁶⁺ - Plastic components must be tested for the same four heavy metals plus brominated flame retardants:
PBB and PBDE - Packaging materials are also tested separately for heavy metals (Directive 94/62/EC).
Is RoHS Mandatory?
Unlike CE certification—which is a legally required compliance standard for entering the EU market—RoHS is not mandatory for all products. In theory, a product can be sold in the EU with only CE compliance.
However, not having RoHS certification may affect a product’s safety reputation and market acceptance, especially for buyers who prioritize environmental compliance and hazardous substance control.
EU REACH Certification
REACH is the abbreviation for the EU regulation Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the chemical regulatory framework established by the European Union and officially implemented on June 1, 2007.
REACH is a comprehensive law covering the production, trade, and safe use of chemicals. Its goals are to:
- protect human health and the environment,
- maintain and enhance the competitiveness of the European chemical industry,
- and encourage the development of safer, non-toxic substances.
Under the REACH regulation, all chemicals that are manufactured within the EU or imported into the EU must undergo a set of procedures — registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction — to ensure their composition is clearly identified and that their use poses no unacceptable risks.
Although REACH directly targets chemical manufacturers, it also affects all downstream industries, including:
- textiles,
- electronics and electrical equipment,
- toys,
- furniture,
- and many more industrial sectors.
More than one million products fall under its scope. Every product must maintain a chemical composition dossier, describing how each substance is used and including toxicological assessments. All information is submitted to and managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
U.S. UL Certification
UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) is one of the most authoritative safety testing organizations in the United States and a globally recognized independent certification body.
UL certification in the U.S. is voluntary, not mandatory, and focuses primarily on product safety, fire risk, and hazard prevention. It does not cover EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) requirements.
Using rigorous scientific testing methods, UL evaluates whether materials, components, devices, equipment, or buildings present hazards to:
- human life,
- property,
- the environment,
- or recyclability.
Although voluntary, UL certification is widely respected globally and is considered comparable to major international certifications such as EU RoHS and Australia SAA. For many products entering the North American market, UL certification significantly enhances market acceptance and customer confidence.
U.S. FCC Certification
FCC stands for the Federal Communications Commission of the United States.
FCC certification is a mandatory EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) requirement for many wireless, communication, and digital electronic products entering the U.S. market.
FCC approval applies to products such as:
- computers, fax machines, and digital devices
- radio transmitters and receivers
- wireless remote-control toys
- telecommunication equipment
- personal computers
- and any device that may generate electromagnetic interference
Products intended for sale in the U.S. must be tested and approved by FCC-authorized laboratories according to FCC technical standards. Importers and customs brokers must declare that each radio-frequency device complies with FCC requirements—this is the basis for obtaining an FCC license for market entry.
Canada CSA Certification
CSA stands for the Canadian Standards Association, established in 1919 as Canada’s first non-profit organization dedicated to developing industrial standards. Today, CSA is the largest safety certification body in Canada and one of the most recognized certification agencies in the world.
CSA provides safety certification services for a wide range of products, including:
- mechanical equipment
- building materials
- electrical appliances
- computer and office equipment
- environmental and medical devices
- fire safety equipment
- sports and recreational products
Any electrical or electronic product sold in the North American market generally requires safety certification. Products that obtain CSA certification may also enter the U.S. market.
If a CSA mark includes “US” or “NRTL”, it indicates that the product meets the applicable U.S. safety standards as well.
Japan PSE Certification
PSE is Japan’s mandatory safety certification mark for electrical and electronic products.
Under Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law, 498 categories of products must obtain PSE certification before they can be sold in Japan. This makes PSE one of Japan’s key market-access requirements.
PSE covers both:
- EMC (electromagnetic compatibility), and
- product safety requirements
Products listed under the category of “Specified Electrical Appliances” must be tested and certified by third-party laboratories accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Certified products must display the diamond-shaped PSE mark on their label to indicate compliance.
ISO 9000 and ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification
ISO 9000 refers to a family of quality management standards. It includes four core standards:
- ISO 9000:2005 — Quality management systems: Fundamentals and vocabulary
- ISO 9001:2008 — Quality management systems: Requirements
- ISO 9004:2009 — Quality management systems: Performance improvement guidelines
- ISO 19011:2011 — Guidelines for auditing quality and environmental management systems
Among these, ISO 9001 is the most widely used standard worldwide. ISO 9001 certification evaluates the supplier’s quality management system, rather than any individual product or service. In other words, what is being certified is the system, not the product itself.
Of course, the scope of the quality management system is tied to the products or services covered by it. Some companies apply for ISO 9001 certification that covers all of their products or services, while others certify only a specific product line or a subset of their operations.
Regardless of the coverage, the certification always focuses on the supplier’s quality system.
Companies typically pursue ISO 9001 certification to demonstrate that they have an effective system for:
- ensuring consistent product quality,
- maintaining traceable processes,
- and meeting customer requirements.
This makes ISO 9001 an important assurance standard for both domestic and international buyers.