List of Product Testing Labs in China: An Overview

Lab testing is the only way to verify that your imported product is compliant with all applicable safety standards and substance regulations. However, not all test reports are equal, as only those issued by accredited testing companies are actually valid.

For example, the CPSC in the United States lists testing labs around the world that are accredited, meaning that they only accept test reports issued by the listed companies.

In this article, we list some of the world’s leading testing labs in Mainland China and Hong Kong:

• QIMA (Formerly Asiainspection)
• CMA Testing
• SGS
• TUV
• Bureau Veritas
• Intertek

In addition, you’ll also get these questions answered:

• Why do I neeed an accredited testing laboratory to check my products?
• FCC Accredited Labs in Asia
• FDA (USA) Accredited Labs in Asia

Why do I need an accredited lab testing company?

Almost all North American and European countries require a range of test reports and certificates based on the type of goods you’re importing. For example, for an electrical item, you may need a different certificate while for children’s toys and flammable products, you may need a different test report.

But is every test report and certificate acceptable for EU and North American countries? No. The test reports and certificates are only acceptable from accredited labs by the government in your target market.

Simply put, you can’t import products to EU and North America unless the imported products are tested by accredited labs.

Notice that a lab that is accredited by the Chinese authorities may not necessarily be accredited in the US or Europe. Yet, there are many labs that are accredited in the EU and US, that have lab facilities in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

It’s therefore important for you to know which lab is accredited by the US and EU before getting your products tested. The good news is, there are plenty of options in Mainland China and Hong Kong for importers to get their products tested by accredited labs.

Even though there are hundreds of such labs in China, we have listed some of the top options available for importers in the country.

How do I know if a lab is accredited?

You can often find lists of accredited testing companies on the relevant government websites. For example, the FCC and FDA lists accredited labs, that are qualified to perform all related tests.

The EU, Australia, Singapore, and other countries also list accredited labs.

QIMA

QIMA, formerly known as Asiainspection, is one of the leading and largest quality control and compliance company in the world with more than 2,100 employees and its offices situated in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe.

The head office is situated in Hong Kong along with many other offices in a number of different cities in China, providing easy access to Chinese importers to get their products tested and certified. It was established in 2005 by a French entrepreneur, Sebastien Breteau, and currently works in partnership with some of the top brands, manufacturers, and importers in the world.

It is also an accredited lab by North American countries and Europe, so getting your products certified and tested from their labs to give your products easy access into EU and North America countries.

QIMA offers in-depth product inspections for food products and consumer goods. It also offers laboratory tests and certifications for product compliance with European and North American standards and norms.

Some of the tests, protocols, and standards they check products for are:

• EN-71 for toys
• California Prop 65
• REACH
• RoHS

QIMA has overall 4 high-end states of the art modern labs situated in the US, Hong Kong, and China. It is authorized by AQSIQ to conduct laboratory tests and inspection in China and also accredited by the China National Service Accreditation for Conformity Assessment (CNAS).

It is also accredited by the National Accreditation Board and Consumer Product Safety Committee in the United States. If you’re an importer in the US, getting your products tested and certified by QIMA is enough to meet US standards and product regulations.

It is also accredited by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) which means jewelry importers can get their products accredited from QIMA to import in any part of the world.

As it is also accredited by other major world organizations like Sedex Associate Auditor Group, ICS, and the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors, etc, their tests are certified products are accepted in almost every country including the EU, North America, and the Middle East.

Their regional offices in Mainland China are situated in Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Wenzhou.

CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories

Founded in 1979, CMA (Chiense Manufacturing Association) Testing is a Hong Kong-based lab testing and compliance company. CMA offers testing service for the EU, US and other markets for the following product categories:

• Children’s Products
• Packaging
• Food
• Food Contact Materials
• Pharmaceutical Products
• Electronics
• Textile & Garment
• Furniture
• Cosmetics

SGS

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, SGS is one of the oldest and largest quality assurance companies in the world. Established in 1878, SGS offers certification, testing, verification, and inspection services to importers from all around the globe.

They have a presence in almost all parts of the world, including China with more than two thousand offices and laboratories all across the world with over 92,000 employees working for them.

The core services by SGS is the testing and certification of product quality in accordance with the standards set by standardization bodies and governments in North America, EU and other parts of the world.

It is also both an FCC and FDA accredited lab.

In China, you can find their offices and labs in the following cities:

Beijing, Huizhou, Lianyungang, Shanghai, Wuhan, Ningbo, Qingdao, Beihai, Changchun, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fangchenggang, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Jinan, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinzhou, Shenzen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen, Yantai, Zhanjiang, and Zhengzhou.

It is the most recognized testing and quality assurance company in the world, which means, getting your products tested and certified from their labs can help you access markets in Canada, United States, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East with ease.

SGS currently offers its testing and quality assurance services to following industries:

• Agriculture and food
• Oil and gas
• Logistics
• Life sciences
• Industrial manufacturing
• Energy and finance
• Consumer goods
• Construction.
• Chemical
• Automotive and aviation

Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas S.A. is another global name and one of the oldest quality assurance and testing company in the world. It was founded almost 2 decades ago in 1828 with its headquarter situated in Paris, France. It currently employs more than 66 thousand people and has a presence in almost all parts of the world including China.

It ranks as the global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) with their labs accredited by almost all governments across the globe, including China, North America, and EU.

It is also accredited by FCC for certification of electronic products in compliance with US standards.

In China, you can find their office or labs in Hong Kong, Beijing, Cixi, Dongguan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jiangyin, Liuyang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Putian, Quanzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Shaoxing, Shenzen, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Yongkang, and Zibo.

Intertek

Intertek provides you another quality and well-recognized option to get your products tested and certified. It is another century-old testing and certification company that was founded in 1888. The current headquarter of the company is situated in London, UK.

The company has offices and labs established in more than 100 countries across the globe, including China and currently employs more over 42 thousand people.

It offers testing and certification services to a wide range of industries that include transportation, food, consumer goods, healthcare, and construction. It is also an FDA and FCC accredited lab.

It is often ranked as the largest tester in the world with over 1000 testing laboratories all over the world. In China, you can find its offices in Hefei, Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Shenzhen, Guangxi, Henan, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Liuyang, Nanjing, Wuxi City, Suzhou, Zhangjiangang, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Chengdu, Tianjin, Kunming, Yuyao, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, and Wenzhou.

TUV

TUV is a German testing and certification company that is also established a decade ago during the industrial revolution. It currently employs more than 25 thousand people and has offices and labs in various countries around the globe including China.

As based in Germany, it worked as a recognized testing service in Europe, especially for medical devices, consumer products, healthcare, and food items. It is also an FCC and FDA accredited lab. If you’re importing to EU, TUV is the recommended lab for you.

TUV also has offices in almost all industrial cities in China that include Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Kunshan, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Xiamen, and Tianjin.

FCC Accredited Labs in Asia

If you’re importing electronic products to the United States, all of your products must contain an FCC label or FCC mark that indicates the products are in compliance with the standards set by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States.

It is known as the “Declaration of Conformity” label. Even though it is the standard set by the US standardization commission, but it is recognized worldwide for the quality of electronic products.

Most of the labs I have listed above are accredited by the FCC. You can also check the list of all of their accredited labs on their website that are approved to provide an FCC label to products after testing.

Some of the labs that are FCC accredited labs working in Asia are Audix Technology, Bay Area Compliance Laboratories Corp, BQI, BTL Inc. BZT Testing Technology, Center Testing International Corporation, China CEPREI Laboratory, East China Institute of Telecommunication, and many more.

You can find the complete list here.

FDA (USA) Accredited Labs in Asia

FDA stands for Food and Drug Administration in the United States, which is a federal agency responsible for protecting people from unsafe food and drugs.

Even though FDA has its own 13 laboratories that test food products, vaccines, drugs, dietary supplements, tobacco products, and similar items, but it also accredited labs in other countries to test food and drug products according to their specifications.

If you’re a food or drug importer to the US, you must make sure that the products are tested by an FDA accredited lab.

Some of the top FDA accredited labs in China are Audix Technology, Aurora International Testing Laboratory, Best Test Service Shenzhen Co. Ltd., Cerpass, CTI Center Testing International, Hugen BioTech, Intertek Testing Services, DEKRA Testing and Certification, and few more. In total, there are 59 different laboratories working in China that are FDA accredited.

You can learn more about the FDA and their regulations, standards and accredited laboratories on their official website.

Simply put, if you’re importer from China or any other part of Asia to the United States, it is your responsibility to get your products tested and certified by accredited labs. We have provided a list of some top options for you that can help you find a good laboratory before your first shipment.