Introduction

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on March 27 that starting April 1, 2026, smart baby strollers, electric rockers, and monitoring beds with battery management, wireless charging, or Wi-Fi connectivity must obtain dual PSE diamond-mark (Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law) and JIS S 2021:2025 (infant product EMC/power anomaly protection) certifications. This impacts over 70% of China's high-end baby mobility exports, extending lead times by 4–6 weeks and increasing testing costs by 22%. The regulation directly affects smart nursery product manufacturers, exporters, and supply chain operators.

Event Overview

METI's updated Technical Guidelines for Imported Children's Products mandates dual certification for electrically enhanced baby gear from April 2026. Covered products include:

• Smart strollers with battery/Wi-Fi modules
• Electrically powered rockers/cribs
• Devices incorporating wireless charging

Impact on Sub-Sectors

Export Manufacturers

Chinese OEMs producing premium smart nursery products for Japan face 22% higher compliance costs due to added JIS S 2021 testing. Projects requiring circuit redesign for EMC compliance may incur 8–12 week delays.

Component Suppliers

Battery management system (BMS) and wireless charging module providers must verify component-level compliance with JIS S 2021's surge protection requirements (Clause 4.3). Non-compliant parts may trigger full product recertification.

Testing & Certification Services

Accredited labs should prepare for 35–40% increased demand for combined PSE+JIS testing from Q3 2025. METI-approved certification bodies currently number only 17 for JIS S 2021.

Key Action Points

Prioritize Product Portfolio Review

Identify SKUs requiring dual certification by Q1 2025. Products with detachable power adapters may qualify for PSE circle-mark (self-declaration) instead of diamond-mark, reducing some burdens.

Audit Technical Documentation Early

Pre-validate existing PSE test reports against JIS S 2021's additional requirements, particularly:

• Voltage fluctuation tolerance (±15%)
• Transient overvoltage protection (2kV surge)
• Wi-Fi/BLE radiofrequency stability

Adjust Production Scheduling

Factor in 6-week buffer for certification-related delays. Consider parallel processing—conducting JIS S 2021 testing during PSE certification rather than sequentially.

Industry Perspective

Analysis suggests this represents Japan's broader push to align smart childcare products with industrial equipment safety standards. The 22-month transition period indicates METI expects significant technical adjustments. Notably, the regulation doesn't yet cover non-powered accessories, leaving open potential future expansions.

Conclusion

This dual-certification mandate signals Japan's stringent approach to IoT-enabled nursery products' electrical safety. While increasing compliance costs, it also creates differentiation opportunities for manufacturers that achieve early certification. The regulation's focus on electromagnetic resilience may preview similar requirements in other developed markets.

Sources

• METI Notification No. 0327-2024 (March 27, 2024)
• JIS S 2021:2025 Standard Documentation
• Pending: Implementation guidelines for transitional arrangements (expected Q3 2024)