IS 62368 and EMC: The Safety Standard Does Not Cover Electromagnetic Compatibility

IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 is purely a safety standard. It does not cover electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Understanding this distinction prevents missed compliance requirements.

What IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 Covers

• Electrical safety (shock hazard prevention)
• Thermal safety (fire and burn prevention)
• Mechanical safety (physical injury prevention)
• Chemical safety (battery hazardous materials)
• Radiation safety (laser, UV, visible light hazards)
• Acoustic safety (very high SPL from speakers)

What It Does NOT Cover

• Electromagnetic emissions from the product (conducted or radiated)
• Immunity of the product to external electromagnetic interference
• Harmonic current emissions

India's EMC Standards (Separate)

• IS/CISPR 22: Radio disturbance from IT equipment
• IS/CISPR 15: Radio disturbance from lighting equipment
• IS/IEC 61000-3-2: Harmonic current emissions
• IS/IEC 61000-3-3: Voltage fluctuations and flicker

Is EMC Mandatory in India?

EMC requirements for specific product categories are separately specified. For some BIS CRS categories, EMC test reports are required alongside safety test reports. Ask your BIS-recognized lab whether EMC is required for your specific product category and standard.

CE-Marked Products

Products with European CE marking have already undergone EMC testing (CE requires both safety and EMC). CE EMC test reports may be usable for India purposes — confirm with your lab whether the specific CISPR standards tested match India's requirements.