Support for obtaining overseas certification for small and medium-sized enterprises starting in 2025!

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Minister Oh Young-joo, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups)   announced that it will recruit SMEs to participate in the first general track  and  fast track of the ‘ 2025 Overseas Standard Certification Acquisition Support Project’ starting on Monday the 24th.

  The ‘Overseas Standard Certification Acquisition Support Project’ is a project that supports up to KRW 100 million per company for a portion (50% to 70%) of the costs required for small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to export to obtain overseas standard certifications required by export destination countries, such as European CE and American FDA, including certification fees, testing fees, and consulting fees.

  This project  consists of a ‘fast track’ that supports  quick certification acquisition through simple evaluation and continuous application for  8 certifications ^* and a ‘general track’ that recruits  3 times a year  for  541 other  certifications .

 *  Fast-track  target certification (8 types )  : European CE (electrical/electronic, communication and mechanical fields), US FCC (electrical/electronic), International IECEE (electrical/electronic), Japanese PSE (electrical/electronic), European CPNP (cosmetics), International HALAL (food, cosmetics, etc.), US FDA (medical device class 1), US FDA (cosmetics registration)

  ‘ Fast Track ‘ is recruiting continuously from Monday , February 24 to  Friday ,  August 29 , and ‘ General Track 1 ‘ is  recruiting from Monday  ,  February 24 to Friday , March 28  . ​​​   

 Here are the changes this year. First, we will add US  FDA  cosmetics registration to  the  fast-track target certification . ’24 SME cosmetics exports achieved the highest ever ^* , and exports to the US in particular increased by 46.5% year-on-year, showing high performance, so we plan to support rapid exports by cosmetics SMEs. 

 * ’24 SME Cosmetics Export Performance : $ 6.8  billion (+27.7% year-on-year) 

  Also,  in cases  where the maximum number of applications (4 applications ) is  applied  for  but the total application amount is  less than 35 million won ^* , support  is available without restrictions on   the number of applications within the limit of 35 million won . Previously, small-sum certification applicants received small amounts of support even when applying for the maximum, but this measure will allow for more support to be provided to cosmetics and electrical/electronic companies that require small amounts of money but have a wide variety of products. 

 * ‘Average amount of support for companies receiving overseas standard certification support in 2024

  Noh Yong-seok, director of the SME Policy Bureau at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “As the global protectionist trend strengthens, the need for SMEs to proactively prepare for and respond to overseas certifications is increasing,” and added, “The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will strengthen support for SMEs’ ​​exports through the overseas standard certification acquisition support project.”

   You can check the specific details of the ‘Overseas Standard Certification Acquisition Support Project’ announcement and apply through the Overseas Standard Certification Acquisition Support Center website (www.smes.go.kr/globalcerti).