As economic globalization and regional integration continue to advance, and as China's audio/video (AV) and related electronic equipment manufacturers grow increasingly mature, a rising number of domestic manufacturers are setting their sights on overseas markets. Yet any enterprise entering international markets must first obtain the relevant "passports" to satisfy the regulatory and standard requirements of each target country and region.
For both household and professional audio/video products, certification requires compliance with two equally indispensable sets of regulations: product safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
Audio/video products broadly refer to devices capable of processing, outputting and displaying audio and video signals, mainly including:
Category |
|
|---|---|
| Video Display | CRT TV, LCD TV, rear-projection TV, projection screen, monitor, in-vehicle display, digital photo frame |
| Audio Reproduction | Speaker, speaker system, amplifier, subwoofer, indoor speaker column, electro-acoustic horn, megaphone, loudspeaker, earphone, headset, microphone |
| Home AV Entertainment | Home theater, DVD player, VCD player, EVD player, disc player, optical disc player, optical disc recorder, VCR, karaoke machine, song-ordering machine, automatic record player, gramophone, game console |
| Portable Players | MP3, MP4, MP5 player, portable player, multimedia video player, USB entertainment AV stick |
| Recording & Radio | Tape recorder, voice recorder, radio, telephone answering machine, cassette player, cassette tape recorder/player |
| In-Vehicle AV | Car player, car DVD player, car MP4 player, headrest DVD player, in-vehicle advertising player |
| Learning, Education & Imaging | Language repeater, learning device, electronic keyboard, electric guitar, digital camera, digital camcorder |
The fundamental requirement for the electrical safety of audio/video and similar electronic products is to prevent the various potential hazards that may arise during use, thereby avoiding unnecessary personal injury and property damage. These hazards mainly include: electric shock, excessive temperature, fire, mechanical hazards, radiation and chemical hazards.
At the same time, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an equally critical market-access threshold. A product must neither emit excessive electromagnetic interference to the outside environment, nor lack a reasonable level of immunity — so that it can operate reliably in a complex electromagnetic environment.
The international regulatory requirements relevant to audio/video product certification (product safety) are as follows:
Region / Country | Previous Standard (withdrawn / being withdrawn) | Current Standard | Key Transition Milestones and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | IEC 60065 | IEC 62368-1 (current edition: 4th edition, published 2026-05-26) | Widely adopted worldwide since the 2nd edition (2014); the 4th edition explicitly no longer accepts components certified to IEC 60065 or IEC 60950-1 |
| European Union | EN 60065 | EN IEC 62368-1:2023 (aligned with IEC 62368-1 4th edition) | Mandatory from 20 December 2020; EN 60065 was withdrawn on the same date, after which products may no longer enter the EU market on the basis of EN 60065; the presumption of conformity for the 2nd edition (EN 62368-1:2014) ended on 6 July 2024 |
| United States | UL 60065 | ANSI/UL 62368-1 (4th edition, published 31 July 2026) | From 20 December 2020, all new applications must use 62368-1; existing certified products may retain their original certificates with no mandatory conversion; the 3rd edition (2019) remains valid during transition |
| Canada | CSA C22.2 No. 60065 | CSA C22.2 No. 62368-1 (4th edition, published 31 July 2026) | Aligned with the US: mandatory for new applications from 20 December 2020; enforcement of the 4th edition begins 30 April 2026 |
| Japan | J 60065 | J62368-1 (2023) (identical to IEC 62368-1) | J62368-1 (2020) remains valid until 30 April 2026; adopted under the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (DENAN). After the switch, technical documentation must additionally include detailed hazard analysis and risk assessment |
| Australia / New Zealand | AS/NZS 60065 | AS/NZS 62368.1:2026 (published 6 May 2026, effective immediately; aligned with IEC 62368-1:2023, 4th edition) | AS/NZS 62368.1:2018 became mandatory from 15 February 2022; the 2026 and 2022 editions run in parallel for a three-year transition ending 6 March 2029, after which only test reports based on the 2026 edition will be accepted |
| China | GB 8898-2011 | GB 4943.1-2022 (modified adoption of IEC 62368-1:2018) | Published 19 July 2022, effective 1 August 2023, fully replacing both GB 8898-2011 and GB 4943.1-2011; conversion of existing CCC certificates should be completed by 31 July 2024 — certificates not converted will be suspended, and revoked if still outstanding by 31 October 2024 |
| South Korea | K 60065 | KC 62368-1 (based on the 3rd edition) | IEC 62368-1 is accepted for KC certification; the accepted edition is subject to the latest official announcements |
Global United Technology Services Co., Ltd. holds the internationally recognized CNAS (L5775) laboratory qualification, US FCC NVLAP qualification, and domestic CMA inspection and testing qualification, enabling it to issue internationally mutually recognized test reports. It is also authorized by major institutions including the UK's ITS, Germany's TÜV and Belgium's Eurofins. Focusing on the core testing fields of EMC, electrical safety, wireless RF and chemical testing — together with export compliance certification agency services — GTS provides a one-stop service of "testing · rectification · technical training", making it your ideal partner.
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