Energy Star Guide: Marking, Certification and Testing Requirements

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — Leave a comment

ENERGY STAR Guide

Are you an importer or manufacturer looking to use the ENERGY STAR mark for your products? Having the mark on your product communicates that your product is more energy efficient.

This article covers the ENERGY STAR program and its associated marks and addresses common questions associated with the program. The primary source for this article comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR program.

Continue reading Energy Star Guide: Marking, Certification and Testing Requirements

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) Guide: An Overview

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — Leave a comment

Are you an importer or manufacturer of appliances and equipment in the US? The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) imposes test procedures, labeling requirements, and energy targets that may apply to your product.

In this article, we introduce the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and its parts, and we address common questions associated with the act.
Continue reading Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) Guide: An Overview

List of Products Covered by CE Marking: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 7 Comments

Planning to import and sell products in the European Union, but not sure if your products must be CE marked? In this guide, we list toys, watches, electronics, PPE, and other products that fall within the scope of one or more CE marking directives and regulations in the EU. Continue reading List of Products Covered by CE Marking: An Overview

CPSIA Requirements For Importers & Manufacturers: A Complete Guide

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — Leave a comment

CPSIA Guide

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) regulates all children’s products (for 12-year-olds or younger) imported, manufactured, and sold in the United States. In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about CPSIA requirements.

More specifically, the guide covers the product scope, mandatory safety standards, certification, tracking labeling, and labeling requirements.

The article also explains how businesses and consumers can determine if a certain product is non-CPSIA compliant.

Continue reading CPSIA Requirements For Importers & Manufacturers: A Complete Guide

Heavy Metals Regulations in the United Kingdom: An Overview

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — 1 Comment

Heavy Metals Regulations in the United Kingdom

This article covers heavy metal regulations in consumer products sold in the United Kingdom. If you intend to import or manufacture products like the following, then this article is relevant to you:

  • Electronic products
  • Batteries
  • Food contact materials (FCMs)
  • Cosmetics
  • Packaging
  • Toys

This article does not apply to Northern Ireland as they still follow EU regulations.
Continue reading Heavy Metals Regulations in the United Kingdom: An Overview

Pet Product Regulations in the US: A Practical Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 6 Comments

Pet toys and accessories imported and manufactured in the United States are subject to various consumer product regulations and standards. In this guide, we cover chemicals and heavy metals restrictions, flammability requirements, and labeling requirements for pet products in general.

Here are some examples of pet products to which this guide is relevant:

  • Pet toys
  • Pet accessories
  • Pet clothing
  • Dog beds
  • Cat scratching trees
  • Pet food

Continue reading Pet Product Regulations in the US: A Practical Guide

Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

Posted on by Yvette Shen — Leave a comment

Generally Recognized As Safe
The US FDA designates substances as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) if experts have determined via scientific processes that said substances do not pose any inherent health risks. Substances that are GRAS can be found on the FDA’s Food Additives Status List.

This guide covers what GRAS is, food ingredients that have been sanctioned before the implementation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics (FD&C) Act, and which direct and indirect food substances are affirmed as GRAS.

Continue reading Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Guide for Importers and Manufacturers

Pet Product Regulations in the EU: A Practical Guide

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 21 Comments

Planning to import and sell pet products in the European Union? In this guide, we cover essential EU regulations and standards that impact pet toys and accessories. This includes REACH, the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), and the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR).

Notice that regulations covering pet food or drugs are not included in this article.
Continue reading Pet Product Regulations in the EU: A Practical Guide

How often should a product be lab tested?

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — Leave a comment

Lab testing frequency

Are you an importer or a manufacturer looking to test your product? Whether you need to identify the chemical composition of your product or you want to assess if your product meets the relevant safety requirements, ‘laboratory testing’ should be considered.

That being said, lab testing is not necessarily a “one and done” thing. For starters, you can expect that you will need to re-arrange testing if you ever change materials, components, make design changes, or manufacturer. It is also necessary to re-test products as standards are amended, and new standards are implemented.

However, some regulations require that you go one step further and implement a periodic lab testing program – even without any such changes.

This article presents information relating to how frequently lab testing should be done. In addressing the question, we compare several US and EU product regulations. This includes the CPSIA and FCC 47 CFR Part 15 in the US, and the Toy Safety and the EMC Directive in the EU.

Continue reading How often should a product be lab tested?

Amazon Electronics Requirements For Sellers: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 4 Comments

Amazon Electronics Requirements

Electronics sellers on Amazon must ensure compliance with a range of product regulations and safety standards. In this guide, we cover the basics of Amazon requirements concerning electronics standards, labeling requirements, testing, and packaging.

Note

This guide only covers product regulations, standards, and other requirements for selling on Amazon in the United States (e.g. FCC 47 CFR Part 15). However, the same principles apply when selling products on Amazon in the European Union (e.g. the EMC Directive), Australia, Japan, and elsewhere.

Further, Amazon can change its terms and requirements at will. This article serves as an introduction, but not a replacement for the up-to-date seller requirements on Amazon Seller Central.

Continue reading Amazon Electronics Requirements For Sellers: An Overview