Products that do not meet the rules of the destination market can be held at customs, refused by retailers or recalled. The responsibility usually lies with the importer, not the Chinese factory, so it pays to know which requirements apply before production starts. This guide gives an overview of the most common ones. Always confirm the exact rules for your product with your customs broker or a testing laboratory.

CE marking (European Union)

The CE mark shows that a product meets the EU requirements that apply to it, for example for toys, electrical equipment, machinery or personal protective equipment. The manufacturer or importer must have a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, often backed by test reports from an accredited laboratory. Not every product needs CE: it applies only to product groups covered by specific EU rules.

FDA (United States)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates food, food-contact materials, cosmetics, medical devices and some electronic products that emit radiation. Requirements range from facility registration to testing of materials that touch food. For kitchenware and food containers, ask for food-contact test reports for the U.S. market.

RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances)

RoHS limits substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium and certain flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment sold in the EU. Similar rules exist in other markets. Suppliers of electronics should provide RoHS test reports for the materials used.

REACH (chemicals in products, EU)

REACH regulates chemicals in products sold in the EU, including a list of Substances of Very High Concern. It is relevant for textiles, plastics, toys, cosmetics and many consumer goods. Ask suppliers for REACH test reports, especially for materials in contact with skin.

EN71 (toy safety, Europe)

EN71 is the European toy safety standard series. Part 1 covers mechanical and physical properties (small parts, sharp edges), part 2 flammability, and part 3 migration of certain elements such as lead. Toys sold in the EU need EN71 testing as part of their CE conformity. In the U.S., the equivalent is ASTM F963 with CPSIA requirements.

Other common requirements

FCC (U.S.) for electronic devices that emit radio frequency.
UKCA for products sold in Great Britain.
EAC for the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Kazakhstan and others).
SASO / SABER for Saudi Arabia, and similar conformity schemes in other Gulf countries.
LFGB (Germany) for food-contact materials.

How to avoid certification problems

Tell your supplier or agent the destination country at the quotation stage.
Ask for existing test reports, and check that they cover the exact product and materials, not just a similar item.
When needed, have new tests done by an accredited laboratory before mass production.
Check labels, warnings and certification marks during the pre-shipment inspection.

Labels, warnings and certification marks are checked during inspection

How TIMBOMDOM helps

We help you obtain and check the certifications and tests your market requires, such as CE, FDA, RoHS, REACH and EN71, before the goods leave China. Tell us your destination country in the quote form and we will list what applies to your products.