Navigating Product Certification: A Simple Guide

Navigating Product Certification: A Simple Guide

Product certification and compliance are important indicators of the safety and reliability of a product. They are particularly important in the selling of certain specialized products on the market. However, many people tend to overlook or feel overwhelmed by the various certifications available. In this post, we will delve into the details and help make sense of it all.

• What is product compliance and certification?
• Why should you care about product certification?
• How can you get your product certified?
• What are the common types of product certification?
• Let Onestopimport help you source products from China

What is product compliance and certification?

Product compliance refers to meeting all legal regulations and standards for consumer safety, environmental protection, and more. For example, children’s products in the USA must comply with CPSIA’s lead and phthalate content requirements.

To ensure product compliance, the product undergoes all necessary performance testing in laboratories and acquires relevant written certificates. This verified process is product certification. For instance, a product sample is sent to the lab to test whether the lead and phthalate content meet the standard.

Why should you care about product certification?

Governments worldwide establish product certification systems through legislation to ensure product quality and safety and protect the vital interests of consumers.

Once a product passes certification, it receives a certificate and can use the certification mark. This internationally recognized method is a passport for products to enter the market, and it reduces the following risks:

• detained and investigated by customs
• investigated by market supervision authorities
• accused by peers for competitive purposes

Furthermore, product certification is a commitment to consumers. They can identify the quality and safety of the product through the certification mark, increasing their trust in the product and making it easier to accept.

How can you get your product certified?

Find a qualified and authoritative third-party organization to test your product and issue relevant certificates. Search for them on Google, or ask your supplier or sourcing agent if they have cooperative ones. Note that some certification regulations specify the testing organizations they accept.

The certification process for different products varies, but usually involves four steps: application, sample submission, testing, and certification issuance.

• Apply to the certification organization and send the product to the testing laboratory (you can also ask your supplier to help you apply and send the product).
• After receiving the product, the testing laboratory will test it according to certification regulation and collect result data.
• The product certification organization will review your application information and product testing data.

If the data shows that the product meets all the required standards, the test passes. You will then receive your product certification and can use the certification mark on your product.

What are the common types of product certification?

Different countries have different requirements for the many types of product certification. Here are some examples of common product certifications in the US and Europe:

Product certification in the USA

FCC

FCC certification is mandatory for electronic and electrical products sold in the US. A broad range of product categories requires FCC certification, such as wireless radio applications, communication products, and various lighting products.

Two types of FCC certifications exist: FCC-SDOC for non-wireless products like humidifiers and electric fans, and FCC-ID for wireless products like smartphones and Bluetooth speakers.

UL

UL certification is voluntary in the US. It focuses on testing and certifying the safety of products. UL certification covers a wide range of products, from large machinery to component materials. In the US, UL certification has become a trend, and generally, products related to electricity can apply for UL certification, such as mobile phone batteries, laptops, and chargers.

FDA

Food, medicine, cosmetics, health care products, medical devices, and radiation products (such as components containing lasers, microwaves, X-rays, etc.) entering the US must have FDA filing and registration.

When these products arrive at the port of the United States, they are subject to random sampling. Only when the samples pass the checks, can the products be released. If not, the product will be detained.

CPSIA

CPSIA is the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It requires toys and children’s products to be tested by CPSC-accredited laboratories to ensure that they are free of harmful substances such as lead and phthalates.

DOT

DOT certification is mandatory. All motor vehicles and their accessories sold in the US need to pass DOT certification.

Product certification in EU

CE

CE certification is a safety certification mark in EU, which can also be called “CE” mark. In the EU market, “CE” mark is mandatory. It means that the product is in accordance with European product regulations and standards. Products with the CE mark can be sold in all EU countries. Generally, most products exported to EU require a CE certification.

RoHS

RoHS restricts 10 harmful substances content used in electrical and electronic products. It is mandatory in the EU for electrical and electronic products. If without RoHS3 certification, your product will be withdrawn from the EU market, and you will face huge fines, even imprisonment.

REACH

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals. It is a regulation for the preventive management of chemicals. Products containing substances of very high concern (SVHC) are required to go through REACH certification if the annual usage of the substance exceeds 1 ton and the substance content in the product is more than 0.1%.

REACH is also mandatory, but it restricts a larger scope of substances than RoHS and covers almost all products, including electronic and electrical products. RoHS and REACH do not affect each other. If there are overlapping requirements, the stricter one should be applied.

EN71

EN71 is the regulatory standard for toy products in the EU market, in order to reduce or avoid harm to children from toys. EN 71 lab testing is mandatory. Toys entering the EU market must comply with this toy safety directive.

Let Onestopimport help you source products from China

We have helped many of our clients import products to the USA and EU, so we are quite familiar with the process.

We can quickly find a suitable factory to produce your products. These factories are experienced in the European and American markets and are familiar with the product standards and requirements.

We can help you determine what product certifications are required and prepare certificates to ensure that products can pass the customs inspection smoothly and enter the market for sale.

We can also arrange shipping to your country. With long-term cooperation with many freight forwarders, we have multiple shipping routes and various shipping methods. So we have the ability to deliver the goods to your destination on time and at a competitive price.