Category: Product Compliance

Product Regulations in the European Union: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 5 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 20 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Product regulations, such as safety standards and labeling requirements, are mostly ‘harmonized’ in the European Union.

As such, the same regulations apply in all member states. A product that is compliant in the United Kingdom, is therefore also compliant in Poland and Italy.

The European Union has arguably the most developed set of product regulations, covering essentially every product category from electronics and toys – to textiles and furniture.

In some cases, it’s only a matter of ensuring compliance with simple labeling requirements, while compliance for other products require lab testing and plenty of documentation.

In this article, we explain what startups and ecommerce companies must know, before importing products to the European Union.

European Union (EN) Product Safety Standards

The EU has developed standards that apply to specific products, materials or components. Below follows a few examples:

  • EN 54: Fire detection and fire alarm systems
  • EN 71: Safety of toys
  • EN 166: Personal eye protection. Specifications
  • EN 374: Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms

Continue reading Product Regulations in the European Union: A Beginner’s Guide

Product Lab Testing in China: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 3 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Having your products lab tested is the only way to be sure that your imported goods are safe, and compliant with all applicable regulations.

Importing non-compliant products is illegal, and can result in financial ruin if your cargo is ever seized by the customs authorities – or a forced recall.

But, how do you go about to actually get your products tested? That question, and many more, are answered in this complete guide to product lab testing in China.

Keep reading, and learn how to find the right lab, keep the testing costs down and why a test report is not always enough.

Why do I need laboratory testing?

As you may know, many products are regulated by one or more safety standards or chemical restrictions.

For example, children’s products imported to the United States are regulated by the CPSIA – which requires importers to present verifiable test reports from an accredited third party.

As such, a lab test report is simply a document that proves that a product is compliant with the relevant regulations and standards.

When it comes to some product categories, lab testing is mandatory, but not for most. As such, obtaining a test report is, in many cases optional. Continue reading Product Lab Testing in China: A Complete Guide

Product Compliance Requirements on Amazon: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist

Suggestion: Watch the 20 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Importing from Asia and selling on Amazon? That means you are fully responsible for ensuring that your product is fully compliant with all mandatory safety standards, labeling and document requirements.

Keep reading, and you will learn if your product category requires a pre-approval, and the documentation you must provide to Amazon’s category approval team to gain access.

In addition, we also explain why you cannot rely on your supplier to help you out, if something goes wrong – in which case your account may be suspended.

Who is responsible for ensuring compliance of products sold on Amazon.com?

The Seller is always responsible for ensuring that the product is compliant with all mandatory safety standards, labeling requirements and documentation requirements.

The supplier is not responsible, which means that it’s entirely up to you – as an importer and/or Amazon seller – to go through the compliance procedures.

For example, this may include the following steps:

1. Assess all applicable safety standards and chemical restrictions that apply in the target market, and communicate these to your supplier (before production)

2. Confirm all applicable labeling requirements, and create label files that you later send to the supplier (again, before production starts)

3. Follow up with lab tests, after production

4. Create all mandatory documents, such as photocopies and declaration of conformity

What you must do to comply in practical terms depend on the product and market. Continue reading Product Compliance Requirements on Amazon: A Complete Guide

Hoverboard Factories in China: A Case Study

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 8 Comments

white hoverboard

About to import Hoverboards? This article might make you think twice. In this case study, we share the results of our own market research in the Hoverboard industry, and explain why the findings are relevant to buyers in virtually any industry.

We also explain why we believe that the reported incidents will also result in stricter regulations, and standardized certificate submission procedures. But first, let’s recap on what actually went wrong with the Hoverboard.

What went wrong with the Hoverboard?

The first reports of hazardous Hoverboards, or balance scooters as they are also called, came out in the last quarter 2015. Less than a year later, in July 2017, the CPSC recalled half a million non-compliant Hoverboards, in the United States.

So, what tarnished the reputation this, otherwise promising, product so badly? The same component that temporarly grounded the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The Lithium-Ion battery. Continue reading Hoverboard Factories in China: A Case Study

Declaration of Conformity for EU Importers: By Ferry Vermeulen

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

ferry vermuelen

Product compliance is much more than just laboratory testing. European importers, in virtually every industry, are obliged to issue certain documentation – to demonstrate compliance with all applicable product regulations.

Perhaps the most important of all documents is the Declaration of Conformity (DoC).

It’s a rather complex topic, so we decided to ask an expert. His name is Ferry Vermeulen, founder of INSTRKTIV.com.

In this article, Ferry explains what every EU based importer must know about drafting a Declaration of Conformity, and the various other documents you need.

Ferry, tell us a bit about yourself and Instrktiv.com

I am founder and director of business development at INSTRKTIV. After starting my own industrial design agency back in 2006, I co-founded the company Manualise in 2009.

As the CEO from 2009 – 2015, my content strategy brought the company over 15 #1 Google positions on main keywords like ‘creating user manuals’ which led to many international clients, such as Electrolux, AkzoNobel, Schneider Electric and Lid.

In 2016 I founded INSTRKTIV GmbH and moved from Amsterdam to Berlin. INSTRKTIV helps companies and brands to produce their technical documentation.

The company stands for content quality, both in the field of usability and liability: The manual as a legal document, which not only serves the keystone in terms of liability but also promotes safe and proper use, is at the core of this.

It makes me happy to help German and international companies developing appealing and compliant documentation which contribute to a better user experience.

In my ‘Man-Machine-Blog” I give hands on tips & techniques to improve the quality of content and improve the user experience. I cover topics like CE marking, the Declaration of Conformity (Read more) and Simplified Technical English. Continue reading Declaration of Conformity for EU Importers: By Ferry Vermeulen

Compliance Q&A with a Watch Manufacturer: Subcontractors & Substance Regulations

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 7 Comments

watch cases

We often write about product compliance on Chinaimportal.com. However, we thought it was about time to cover a different angle: The viewpoint of the supplier. During a recent visit to Shenzhen, I had the opportunity to ask a few critical questions to a leading, unnamed, Watch manufacturer. Keep reading, and learn more about compliance and risks in Watch manufacturing – lessons that can be applied to virtually any industry.

Can you ensure compliance with REACH, RoHS, CA Prop 65 and other substance regulations?

Yes, as our main markets are the United States and the European Union, we must ensure compliance with a variety of standards and regulations. Among them are those you just mentioned: REACH, RoHS and California Proposition 65.

Continue reading Compliance Q&A with a Watch Manufacturer: Subcontractors & Substance Regulations

Myth and Reality of CE Marking When Importing from China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

ce-marking-myths

The CE mark is a well known compliance marked, found on a wide range of different products, for example electronics, toys and machinery. The CE mark signals compliance with all, to the specific product, applicable regulations: For example the Low Voltage Directive or the EN 71 Toy Safety Directive. The CE Mark is not applicable to all products. However, it is mandatory for all products within its scope of regulations.

As I will further explain in this article, there is a lot more to CE marking than what meets the eye, namely the printed little logo. While many importers are aware that there are requirements for testing and documentation, plenty of businesses fail to understand how such documentation is produced, and what it must include.

Then there is China. CE marking procedures are not developed with importers in mind. While ensuring CE marking compliance is relatively simple for an EU or US based manufacturer, which is only concerned with its own products – it’s far more complex for importers buying from contract manufacturers in China, and other developing countries in Asia. We debunk 6 common myths concerning CE marking when importing from China, and explain the background to each one.

Continue reading Myth and Reality of CE Marking When Importing from China

Electronics Regulations & Standards: Ensuring Compliance in China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

Electronics Safety Standards

Most countries and markets, including the United States, the European Union, Canada and Australia, sets strict requirements for the performance and safety of electronics products. This should not come as a surprise, but the complexities of ensuring compliance with overseas electronics regulations and standards, in China, is not as obvious. In this article, we explain how you can avoid compliance issues and forced recalls in three, well, not so simple steps.

Step 1: Confirm Applicable Electronics Standards and Regulations in Your Market

While some standards or directives may apply to all types of electronics, others may apply specifically to certain devices and functions, for example WiFi and Bluetooth enabled products. The table below contains a brief summary of standards and regulations in the United States, the European Union and Australia: Continue reading Electronics Regulations & Standards: Ensuring Compliance in China

FCC Certification when Importing from China

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 17 Comments

FCC Certification

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates all communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the United States. Electronics creates radio frequency energy by themselves, either intentionally (e.g. WiFi enabled Tablets) or unintentionally (e.g. Power Supplies). Therefore, the FCC scope of regulations also apply to most consumer electronics and electrical equipment, and not only products intentionally transmitting radio waves.

In this article, we explain the basics of FCC regulations, and what you must know to ensure compliance when importing electronics from China, and other Asian countries. Before we get started, I’ll explain the two classifications set by the FCC: Continue reading FCC Certification when Importing from China

California Proposition 65 Compliance: What US importers must know

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 5 Comments

California Proposition 65

American companies selling products in, or to customers in, the state of California must ensure compliance with California Proposition 65. This law regulates more than 800 substances in all consumer products. Yet, many American start ups and small businesses importing from China, and other Asian countries, are largely unaware how California Proposition 65 applies to their products.

That’s why we decided to reach out to Daniel Herling, Member at Mintz Levin, a general practice law firm with more than 450 attorneys. Daniel, based on San Francisco,  focuses on commercial litigation representing U.S, and international clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia. In this interview, he explains what American importers must know about California Proposition 65 – and what the consequences are of selling non-compliant items. But before we look into details, let’s begin with a brief introduction. Continue reading California Proposition 65 Compliance: What US importers must know