Executive Summary
Expanding into Asia’s vast markets requires navigating a patchwork of national regulations, from China’s Compulsory Certification (CCC) to India’s evolving BIS and telecom standards. Even experienced enterprises feel the complexity: compliance rules shift frequently, and each country enforces unique approval schemes. This blog provides a clear roadmap for Asia-Pacific market access. We outline key regulatory trends like China’s CCC expansions and India’s new telecom rules, backed by data and expert insight. We also compare how major testing and certification firms approach Asian approvals, and highlight Nemko’s distinct advantage as a nimble, expert partner in the region. The result is a confident strategy for enterprises to achieve fast, hassle-free compliance across Asia. In short: with the right guidance, Asia’s regulatory maze becomes a gateway to growth.
The Asian Regulatory Landscape: Complexity and Opportunity
Asia-Pacific spans mature markets like Japan and Korea and fast-growing economies across ASEAN and South Asia. Each has its own regulatory regime, making market access a complex puzzle. For example, China mandates the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) for many products, while India enforces BIS registration and a Mandatory Testing & Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE) program. Japan’s PSE mark, Korea’s KC mark, and numerous other national certifications add to the tapestry. Understanding these diverse requirements is essential for any company selling products in this vast region.
The challenge is not just diversity but change. In 2025, China broadened CCC to new product categories (e.g. EV chargers, lithium batteries) and moved certifications to a digital e-certificate system. At the same time, China tightened RoHS substance limits effective 2026. India, too, updated its telecom certification process (TEC 93009:2024), refining the scope, fees, and labeling rules to streamline approvals. These shifts signal Asia’s regulators are raising the bar on safety, cybersecurity, and environmental compliance. The opportunity for global businesses is huge, but so is the complexity. Manufacturers must adapt designs and documentation to each country’s rules, or risk costly delays at customs or even denial of market entry.
Nemko’s insight: Many companies are overwhelmed by Asia’s compliance maze. Without local knowledge, even well-engineered products can hit roadblocks. That’s why Nemko’s approach in Asia is both global and local. We maintain 17 labs across different countries and participate actively in international schemes like the IECEE CB Scheme. This gives us first-hand knowledge of each market’s technical requirements. As regulations evolve, our experts on the ground in China, India, and beyond alert clients early and help integrate new requirements into the product development cycle. The result? Fewer surprises and a smoother path to certification.
Key Trends in Asia: Data-Driven Compliance Strategies
For manufacturers elsewhere in Asia, this trend has two implications:
(1) global compliance is becoming the norm. To compete, companies must design products to international standards from the start; and
(2) using the CB Scheme can accelerate approval in many Asian countries that honor these certificates, reducing duplicate testing.
Beyond safety, radio/cellular approvals and cyber requirements are surging. For instance, markets like Japan and Singapore now
Savvy manufacturers use a data-driven strategy: maintain a “regulatory requirements matrix” for target countries and update it continuously. Nemko supports clients with a global regulation database and expert updates, so they know, for example, when China announces a new standard or India revises a test method – and can act proactively. As a result, our clients avoid last-minute design changes and stay on schedule for Asian product launches.
Competing Approaches: How Nemko Differentiates in Asia
Major testing and certification providers offer global market access services in Asia, but their approaches differ. Some of the largest multinational providers promote their broad footprint and emphasize familiarity with thousands of standards and certification schemes across the world.
These large organizations bring scale, yet scale can mean rigidity. Enterprise clients often find that while a large provider has a presence everywhere, projects may get bogged down in process. In contrast, Nemko combines global reach with agility. We are a top issuer of CB certificates worldwide (5,812 CB certificates in 2023, among the leaders), which means Asian certification bodies know and trust Nemko reports. This can smooth the acceptance of test results from Nemko labs, minimizing re-testing locally.
Nemko has also built a network covering over 150 countries since 1933, excelling in challenging markets like India and Brazil where many competitors rely on indirect partnerships or third-party agents. In Asia, Nemko often provides a one-stop service in countries where others must depend on intermediaries.
Furthermore, Nemko’s consultative model is a differentiator. Some larger agencies may simply provide a checklist of requirements; Nemko works side-by-side with clients from design through testing. For example, when a client needed approvals in both Japan and China for a wireless device, we identified a single test plan to satisfy both, avoiding duplicate testing, and leveraging the CB Scheme and our relationships with Asian authorities. Our experts don’t just cite regulations; we interpret how local authorities apply them in practice, including unwritten nuances.
This ongoing support is why clients trust Nemko “to get it right the first time,” avoiding costly delays or redesigns. Industry observers often note Nemko’s strength in integrating testing, certification, and market access services with pre-compliance testing that catches issues early. This nimble, partnership-based approach is perfectly suited to Asia’s dynamic markets.
Conclusion: Succeeding in Asia’s Markets with Nemko’s Guidance
Conquering Asia’s regulatory maze is doable and highly rewarding when you have the right partner. The region’s diversity no
longer needs to be daunting. By understanding local requirements, leveraging international schemes like the CB Scheme, and engaging experts who stay ahead of regulatory changes, companies can turn compliance into a competitive advantage. Nemko offers that edge: technical excellence, regional know-how, and a commitment to guide you through every step, from prototype to product launch.
Asia’s booming markets are within reach for enterprises that approach compliance strategically.
Ready to unlock Asia-Pacific for your products?
Book a consultative Asia Market Access readiness review with Nemko’s specialists. We’ll assess your product’s compliance against key Asian regulations, identify any gaps, and map out the quickest path to approvals across your target countries. With Nemko as your global market access partner, you can expand in Asia with confidence and speed. Contact us today to start your journey to hassle-free Asian approvals.