Outdated half-year-old USB certification policy information leads to application failure as USB-IF, EU and Saudi Arabia rolled out intensive regulation revision spanning 2025~2026 with critical updated rules summarized below.
·Phase1 (Dec28,2024): 13 categories including smartphone, tablet, digital camera, headphone, portable game console, e-reader, Bluetooth speaker, keyboard, mouse and wireless router require fixed Type-C interface for EU market access;
·Phase2 (Apr28,2026 already effective): All newly-launched laptop computers sold in EU bound by mandatory Type-C port regulation with >15W fast-charging product needing compliant USB PD protocol support.
EU legal compliance standard adopts EN IEC62680 series: IEC62680-1-2 for USB PD specification & IEC62680-1-3 for Type-C connector/cable criteria. Current EU RED directive references 2022-version EN standard while updated PD3.2 V1.1 & Type-C2.4 specs maintain full backward compatibility for certification submission. Supplementary EU Ecodesign Regulation (EU)2025/2052 targeting external AC-DC adapter USB-C compliance takes mandatory effect Dec14,2028 with 3-year transition period from Nov2025 official release.
Key legal clarification: EU law only mandates IEC62680 standard conformity without compulsory USB-IF TID as customs clearance document; manufacturers can adopt accredited third-party lab IEC62680 test report + self-declaration to complete CE compliance without official TID certificate, though most European distributors voluntarily require TID as internal incoming QC threshold. USB-IF’s dedicated EU Conformity IEC62680 channel is commercial convenience service not legal mandatory requirement.
2.Saudi Arabia SASO & CST Type-C Mandate RuleTwo-stage local Type-C regulation issued jointly by Saudi Communications Commission (CST) & SASO standard bureau:
·Phase1 (Jan1,2025): Same portable electronic product list as EU enforces Type-C port;
·Phase2 (Apr1,2026 effective): Laptops added into mandatory Type-C scope for Saudi market entry via SABER certification platform complying with SASO IEC62680-1-2:2023 & SASO IEC62680-1-3:2023 latest standard (2017-edition test reports no longer accepted by local labs).
Distributor practical requirement difference from EU: Though Saudi law does not set TID as SABER PCoC/SC certificate mandatory file, major local hypermarket importers unilaterally demand valid USB-IF TID for inbound merchandise making TID de facto market access requirement for Saudi retail channel shipment. Saudi market supervision conducts random annual document audit revoking SC shipping certification against non-compliant products.
3.USB-IF Internal Regulation Update: D3 Power Test Mandatory from Sep1,2025All newly-submitted USB3.2 & USB4 host-side device certification adds non-exempt D3 deep-power-consumption inspection costing extra USD1,500~2,000 per single item with special exemption application requiring three-month advance USB-IF formal submission.
4.New PD3.2 V1.1 & USB4 V2.0 Certification Specification PD specification upgraded from PD3.1 to PD3.2 V1.1 with updated test specification effective Q4 2024 & Type-C cable spec upgraded to Release2.4 with four core mandatory test updates:
·AVS adjustable voltage supply becomes compulsory for >27W power adapter enabling dynamic 100mV-step voltage adjustment between 9~15V/9~20V replacing fixed discrete voltage gear;
·FRS Fast Role Swap Initial Sink test mandatory while Initial Source certification not yet opened;
·Multi-port charger claiming shared power capacity needs dedicated shared-load interoperability test fulfilling ≥7.5W instantaneous output for newly plugged peripheral within 3-second window;
·EPR 240W single-port source certification available with multi-EPR port approval pending future USB-IF announcement.
Transition grace period: 18-month for semiconductor chip, 24-month for finished end-product; PD3.1 & PD3.2 are temporarily parallel acceptable yet new project development recommended directly adopt latest PD3.2 version for long-term compatibility.
USB4 V2.0 (80Gbps bidirectional +240W PD power) follows updated packaging marking rule: Outer package must print explicit "USB 80Gbps"/"USB40Gbps" rate label allowing supplementary "USB4 Version2.0" technical marking while banning sole "USB440Gbps" mark on 80Gbps products; USB4 formal certification only available at PIL Platform Interoperability Lab instead of regular quarterly compliance workshop.
5.Microsoft WHCP Windows11 Device Extra USB-C Requirement Windows11 WHCP certified device needs full-function data+power Type-C port excluding charge-only truncated interface with extra proprietary USB protocol compatibility inspection for WHCP audit (new applicant enforcement without retroactive constraint on existing certified legacy equipment).
6.Upcoming #141 USB-IF Quarterly Compliance Workshop (Aug4~7,2026 Portland USA)Registration cutoff:Jul19,2026 exclusive for USB-IF member enterprise with free on-site official testing:
✅Acceptable certification items:USB2.0/3.1Gen1/Gen2, PD3.2 chip/power adapter(PPS optional), single/multi-port sink device(EPR compliant), power bank, shared-output charger, FRS Initial Sink, E-Marker EPR cable + exclusive EU IEC62680 conformity track;
❌Unavailable formal certification:USB4 device, PPS-enabled sink charger, multi-EPR source port product, FRS Initial Source (all only preliminary reference testing).Applicant preparation: Standard VIF V3.32 form + product picture + two-unit test sample (one full-charged, one empty-battery for battery-powered electronics).
7. QPRDv4 Similarity Qualification 180-Day Retest Exemption Policy Certified product enjoys 180-day partial-change exemption avoiding full retest for cosmetic adjustment including shell color, outer packaging and non-circuit auxiliary accessory replacement; PCB layout/control chip modification disqualifies exemption requiring full supplementary inspection. OEM arrangement allows finished product inherit pre-certified component vendor’s valid TID without duplicate testing via supplier’s USB-IF representative authorization for multi-SKU batch cost reduction.
Blueasia tracks real-time global USB regulatory revision and arranges optimal certification timeline for overseas-bound Type-C products. Contact Blueasia expert consultant:13534225140
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