Japan METI Registration & Japanese Agent Service

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan has revised the electrical appliance registration system, and the new regulations will be officially implemented on December 25, 2025. This regulatory update mainly targets product safety supervision for cross-border e-commerce, covering various common categories such as electronic devices and children's toys, and requires overseas sellers to assume more compliance responsibilities.

Scope of Application

The core of this meti registration system revision is to strengthen supervision over e-commerce channels and clarify the responsible entities.

Changes in Judgment Criteria

The new regulations first require determining whether the sales channel is online or offline. For online channels selling through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, it is now mandatory to appoint a domestic administrator in Japan, primarily to ensure that a responsible person can be contacted at any time.

Changes in Registration Entities

The registration subject has been changed from the original Japanese importer to the overseas merchant (Chinese e-commerce company). This means that Chinese e-commerce companies now need to act as the registration subject and appoint a representative in Japan to complete the registration process.

METI Registration Process

The previous METI registration process was relatively simple, basically consisting of two steps: "submission of documents + waiting for approval", and proficient agencies could usually complete it within two weeks. However, the new regulations have refined the process into three specific steps, with clear time and document requirements for each stage. The process cannot proceed if any step is missing.

(1) Cost Structure for Self-Application (Subject to Actual Conditions)

If the client already has a domestic administrator, the costs mainly include three parts:

1. GBiz-id Registration Fee: A one-time annual fee for the same company and the same responsible person.

2. Japanese Domestic Administrator Qualification Registration Fee: Required for each product registration and payable annually.

3. METI Registration Fee: Also required for each product registration and payable annually.

(2) Cost Structure for Agency Services (Subject to Actual Conditions)

If using the domestic administrator provided by the agency service provider, the costs include:

1. GBiz-id Registration Fee (including the domestic administrator agency fee).

2. The fees for the second and third steps are basically the same as those for self-application.

pse certificate Must Be Consistent with Registration Information

(1) Accurate Display of Applicant Information

The name of the e-commerce company (overseas entity) must be clearly indicated on the PSE conformity certificate, and this name must be completely consistent with the merchant identity submitted during METI registration.

(2) Accurate Display of Applicant Information

The name of the e-commerce company (overseas entity) must be clearly indicated on the PSE conformity certificate, and this name must be completely consistent with the merchant identity submitted during METI registration.

(3) Uniformity of Three Sets of Information

The PSE certificate, METI registration information, and the actual sales channel must be consistent. Even a single incorrect letter in the product model or a missing postal code in the manufacturer’s address may result in registration failure or a request to supplement and correct relevant documents.

Warm Reminder

December 25, 2025 is fast approaching, and the Japanese market is ushering in a new era of supervision. Overseas sellers without METI registration or a Japanese representative will completely lose their legal identity in the Japanese market. Their products may be removed from shelves at any time, and they may even face the risk of platform account suspension.

It is recommended that cross-border sellers take immediate action to complete compliance procedures such as product testing, certification application, and selection of Japanese representatives as soon as possible, and finish product compliance layout to avoid affecting normal sales.