What is the Malaysia ST COA Certification?

Introduction to ST COA Certification

The Malaysia ST COA (Certification of Approvals) is a mandatory safety certification managed by the Energy Commission of Malaysia (ST, Suruhanjaya Tenaga). ST enforces a conformity certification system for electronic and electrical products in accordance with the Electrical Equipment Supply Act (1990) and the Electrical Equipment Regulations (1994). Products under regulation must obtain the COA (Conformity of Approval) before entering the Malaysian market.

Scope of ST COA Certification

ST COA certification covers 34 types of products, primarily in the following categories:

1. Home Appliances: Such as rice cookers, microwave ovens, toasters, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, electric water heaters, electric fans, hair dryers, irons, etc.

2. AV Products: Including hi-fi devices, audio/video players, radios, etc.

3. Adapter Products.

4. Lighting Products: Including LED lights, table lamps, Christmas lights, fluorescent lamps, ballasts, etc.

5. Component Products: Including plugs, switches, sockets, wires and cables, ceiling light boxes, etc.

6. Household Power Tools.

ST COA Certificate Application Process

1. Prepare Required Documents:

- Product Information: List detailed product information such as product name, quantity of imported products, model, shipping details, etc.

- Importer Information: The importer must be a registered Malaysian company under the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

- Test Report: The test report must be in English or Malay and include the qualification of the testing laboratory. The report should meet the safety standards recognized by the national authorities.

- Authorization Letter: A letter from the applicant authorizing the importer as the representative in Malaysia.

2. Pay Fees:

The application for the ST COA certificate may incur certain fees, such as audit fees, issuance fees, etc. The exact cost will depend on the certifying agency and the complexity of the application.

3. Wait for Review and Issuance:

The certification body will review the submitted documents and perform necessary verifications. Once the review is approved, the ST COA certificate will be issued.

4. Download the Certificate:

After passing the SIRIM QAS review, ST will issue the ST COA certificate, which is valid for one year.

5. Labeling Requirements:

- The SIRIM-ST label or sirim certification mark should be clearly visible on the regulated electrical device itself. The label should not be applied to the packaging.

- SIRIM label types:

 1) PCS (Product Certification Scheme): This label, shown in the left image, can be directly applied at the factory but requires a factory inspection.

 2) BTS (Batch Testing Scheme): As shown in the right image, goods are sampled for testing upon arrival at the port. After passing the batch testing, the ST COA certificate can be issued, and the label can be purchased from SIRIM QAS without the need for a factory inspection. The label will include the word "BATCH" to indicate that the imported device passed batch testing.

Important Notes:

- The COA certificate is a customs clearance document. After the product clears customs, the importer can use the COA certificate to purchase the MS label from SIRIM based on batch testing.

- If the label needs to be applied directly at the factory, a factory inspection by SIRIM is required, which can be more costly. This method is generally used by manufacturers with high shipment frequencies.

Note: The COA certificate is valid for one year. Applicants must complete the COA renewal 14 days before the certificate’s expiry. The labels must be purchased from SIRIM based on the actual import or production volume of the product.