Application & Reporting Process

The method for obtaining a conformance label differs depending on the conformance requirements.

Important Notice

Applications for conformance labels must be made in Japanese. Please assign a person in charge who can understand Japanese.

Documents necessary for Application

• Application Confirmation (Form 2-1)
• JC-STAR Conformance Label Application
• Checklist (in case of applying STAR-1 (Level 1) or STAR-2 (Level 2))
• Authorization Letter (in case of application by proxy) (Form 2-3)
• Document proving the corporate status (in case of not using the corporate number)

Application Fee

• The application fee for STAR-1 (Level 1) is 198,000 yen (including tax).
• The application fee differs depending on the level of conformance requirements.
  Note that it does not include the evaluation fees paid to the Evaluation Body or Assessment Body, etc.
• The application fee shall be paid after the application has been accepted.
  Note that the application fee is not refundable once it has been paid.

Application Process

JC-STAR Application Section, IT Security Technology Evaluation Department, ISEC,
Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA)

New Application

• “New application” refer to the process of applying for a conformance label for an IoT product that is acquiring a conformance label for the first time.
• The applicant shall obtain an application number before submitting an application.
  Please use the following link to apply for an application number:
  
  • “JC-STAR Application Number Request Form”(in Japanese only)
• The applicant shall send an e-mail including the obtained application number in the body of the message and attach the complete set of application documents.
• The validity period of the conformance label is up to 2 years from the date of issue, regardless of the level.
• [Note] Submission of an application does not ensure that the application will be accepted or that a conformance label will be issued. Since applications may be rejected during the verification process for reasons such as non-compliance with requirements, please refrain from using wording on the company website, etc., which implies the applicant has acquired a “conformance label” (such as “JC-STAR conformance to be acquired”) before the label has actually been issued.
• If the applicant wishes to apply for mutual recognition at the same time, additional procedures are required. Make sure to confirm the following sections regarding the applications for mutual recognition.　
• For STAR-3 (Level 3) and STAR-4 (Level 4), the decision to grant a conformance label is determined based on the Conformance Assessment Report by the Evaluation Body. If it is determined that the IoT product does not meet the conformance requirements, it will not be able to obtain the conformance label. Note that the application fee, once paid, will not be refunded even if the conformance label cannot be obtained.

Application related to Mutual Recognition

• If the applicant wishes to apply for certification of compliance with the Product Security & Telecommunication Infrastructure Act (PSTI Act), additional procedures are required to obtain PSTI-compliance certification. Please refer to “Regarding Mutual Recognition Application for PSTI Compliance Certification & JC-STAR” below. 　
• For applications related to mutual recognition, prescribed administrative fees will be charged for each application.　
  • IPA does not permit the use of statements such as “Compatible with conformance label,” “JC-STAR conformance to be acquired,” or “Application of acquiring conformance label in progress,” except in cases where an application has been accepted, and where a provisional registered ID has been issued by IPA. Descriptions such as “Compatible with conformance label without including a provisional registered ID,” “JC-STAR conformance to be acquired,” or “Application of acquiring conformance label in progress” without a provisional registered ID mean “unauthorized representations” not permitted by IPA. Therefore, IPA will ask the applicants to refrain from making such unauthorized representations, including any similar statements. Please be advised that if unauthorized representations are discovered, IPA may take appropriate measures during the conformance label application process, including public disclosure of the facts, as necessary.

Extension Application

• It refers to the case where an application is submitted to extend the validity period for an IoT product that has been granted a conformance label.
• The applicant can apply for an extension only when meeting the conditions for extending.
• Once an extension application has been accepted, and the extension application fee has been confirmed, the validity period will be extended for up to 2 years for STAR-1 (Level 1) and STAR-2 (Level 2), and for up to 1 year for STAR-3 (Level 3) and STAR-4 (Level 4).

Security Information Reporting Procedure

If any of the following events occur, the applicant shall submit a “Notification/Report of Updates to Security Information” (Form 2-10) to the IPA without delay.

• When the supported firmware is updated (Information on firmware with vulnerability fixed)
• When the applicant desires to have security information published through the Product Information page.
• When the applicant discovers or obtains information related to vulnerabilities of a product that has obtained a conformance label (vulnerability information)

Application Procedure after Obtaining the Conformance Label

• If the applicant needs to make changes to the information on the application form for an IoT product that has obtained a conformance label, please follow the “Application procedures after obtaining a conformance label” and complete the necessary procedures.
• There are two types of application procedures: one that can only be conducted within the validity period of the conformance label, and one that can be conducted even after the conformance label has expired or has been withdrawn.

• New application procedures for STAR-1 and STAR-2

• Regarding Mutual Recognition Application for PSTI Compliance Certification & JC-STAR