In February 2024, the Hong Kong Transport Department proposed a draft certification scheme for electric mobility devices (EMD). Under the proposed EMD regulatory framework, only EMDs affixed with compliant product certification labels will be allowed for use on designated roads in Hong Kong. Manufacturers or wholesalers of EMD are required to obtain a certification label from a recognized product certification body and affix the label to their EMD before they can be sold and used in Hong Kong.

Certification introduction

According to Hong Kong’s Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 374), “Motor vehicles refer to any mechanically driven vehicles. Electric vehicles (EMDs, Electric Mobility Devices), including electric scooters, electric unicycles, hoverboards, electric bicycles, electric-assisted pedal bicycles (electric mopeds), etc, may be classified as “motor vehicles” under the Road Traffic Ordinance. It is illegal to use an unregistered/unlicensed EMD.

Based on this, the government is now formulating an appropriate regulatory framework for electric vehicles to ensure their safe and effective use. A certification system will be established to allow only approved electric vehicles to be used on designated bicycle lanes.

EMDs must be evaluated by a recognized certification body for compliance with relevant technical and safety specifications. EMDs that meet the specifications will be certified and labeled with a QR code to facilitate identification by others and law enforcement personnel, effectively curbing illegal use of EMDs.

• The PCB (Product Certification Body) must be accredited by the ISO/IEC 17065 of the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) or the Multilateral Accreditation Agreement (MLA) of International Accreditation Forum (IAF) .
• Product testing must be conducted by an ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accredited by HKAS or its ILAC-MRA partners. The test results will be displayed in the accreditation test report with the accreditation mark.
• Product scope

The certification of EMDs are divided into two categories:

(1) mPMDs (Motorized Personal Mobility Devices) such as electric scooters and electric unicycles, etc.

(2) PAPCs (Power-Assisted Pedal Cycles) such as electric bicycles

Electric wheelchairs are not covered by the certification.

Standard requirements

Certification standard

Other requirements

Additional product specification requirements

Requirements on certification label

The certification label shall include the following information:

The following are examples of the two color labels.

(a)Certification mark

(b)Name of PCB (accepted by the Commissioner)

(c)ID of EMD product (mPMD and PAPC)

(d)A QR code should be provided for accessing general and other details about the compliant device (e.g., Photo of the EMD product and registered address of the certified EMD manufacturer, etc.).The label size is 90mm × 60mm, and the minimum size of the QR code is 20mm × 20mm.

Warm prompt

The draft is currently open for public comment. If you have comments, you can feedback them by April 6, 2024. MCM will also continue to follow up on the certification program.