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Third-party lab testing is mandatory for a growing number of products sold on Amazon. In this guide, we explain what Amazon sellers must know about lab testing and test report submissions.
- Lab testing is often required to verify compliance and safety
- Amazon can request test reports for essentially any product
- ISO 17025-accredited labs are often required
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Is lab testing required when selling products on Amazon?
Amazon mandates that all products sold on its marketplace are compliant with applicable regulations and standards. For example, companies selling via Amazon in the US must comply with product regulations in the United States.
If you are selling on Amazon in the European Union, then you need to comply with EU regulations, directives, and standards.
Testing is generally necessary for the following reasons:
a. It may be a legal requirement
- Chemical testing
- Electrical safety testing
- Mechanical safety testing
- Flammability testing
b. It is necessary to test products to verify compliance
c. Amazon can request lab test reports as evidence of compliance
The latter can be the case regardless of whether or not testing is legally required.
Which products require lab testing when selling on Amazon?
In theory, Amazon can request test reports for essentially any product. The reason being that all consumer products must be safe. There are also chemical restrictions that apply to a wide range of products.
Amazon is also obliged to monitor the compliance status of products sold on its platform, and has been subject to increasing pressure to ensure product safety in recent years.
That being said, Amazon is more likely to require lab testing for product categories that are deemed to be higher risk.
Examples
- Toys
- Other children’s products
- Electronic products
- Batteries
- Food contact materials
- Medical devices
- Cosmetic products
Substances
There are various chemical and heavy metal restrictions for consumer products sold in the EU, US and the UK. Amazon can request lab test reports to demonstrate compliance with REACH, California Proposition 65 and other substance regulations.
I have seen that happen for jewellery and other products that are generally not considered “high risk”.
Claims
Making certain product claims can also result in Amazon requesting lab test reports. For example, claiming that a product can offer treatments or pain relief can result in Amazon reclassifying the product as a medical device, which in turn triggers additional lab testing requirements.
What can happen if we sell products that are not lab tested?
Without lab testing, you run the risk of having your products removed by Amazon for the following reasons:
a. As said, it may be a legal requirement for your product
b. Amazon cannot determine if your product is safe and compliant if lab testing never took place
Does Amazon require UL testing?
Yes, Amazon mandates compliance with UL standards for certain products sold in the United States and Canada. This is despite the fact that most UL standards are, on paper, voluntary.
Compliance with UL standards often requires lab testing.
Examples
- UL 1642 – Lithium Batteries
- UL 1310 – Mobile phone wall charger
- UL 2089 – Mobile phone car charger
- ANSI/CAN/UL 2272 – Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices
How do I know which lab tests I need for my product?
First, you need to determine which regulations apply to your product in the country or market where you intend to sell it. You must also check if Amazon mandates additional requirements, for example, compliance with UL standards (which is the case in the US and Canada).
Example A: United States – Toy
Toys sold in the United States must comply with the CPSIA and ASTM F963-23. Amazon requires that all toys sold in the United States are lab tested according to ASTM F963-23.
It should also be noted that only test reports issued by a CPSC-accepted lab are accepted by Amazon, as this is a federal requirement.
Example B: European Union – Power Bank
Power banks sold in the EU must be CE marked and comply with several regulations and directives:
- Battery Regulation
- EMC Directive
- RoHS Directive
These, in turn, require compliance with EN standards, which must be validated through lab testing.
Which lab testing companies are accepted by Amazon?
I am not aware of any definitive list of accepted lab testing companies. That said, Amazon generally requires test reports issued by ISO 172025 accredited laboratories.
This is often stated in the messages Amazon sends out when requesting lab test reports.
But my recommendation is to go with a well-known lab in most situations. Here are some examples of testing companies that are generally accepted and deemed trustworthy:
- QIMA
- TUV Rheinland
- TUV SUD
- TUV Nord
- Bureau Veritas
- SGS
- Intertek
- Eurofins
- Hohenstein
- STC Group
These are just some examples, though. There are many other legitimate companies.
Can we test the product ourselves when selling on Amazon?
I am aware of cases where Amazon has accepted self-issued lab test reports. A few years ago, we worked with a US company selling jewellery on Amazon in the EU.
They received a 30-day deadline to submit lab test data for their products. They did exactly that, based on a heavy metals lab test they carried out using their own equipment.
Amazon accepted it.
It should, however, be noted that this company had both the expertise and equipment to carry out its own lab testing. Without this, you need to arrange third-party testing.
There are also many cases when using a third-party lab is a legal requirement, and Amazon would not accept self-issued lab test reports for such products.
At what stage should Amazon sellers arrange lab testing?
It’s essential that your products are tested and verified as compliant before your supplier ships anything to Amazon or your own warehouse.
You should absolutely not wait to book lab testing until Amazon requests a test report. It often takes more than 30 days to arrange lab testing. Further, if you find that the products fail lab testing at this stage, you will likely need to scrap all the products that are affected.
Can we arrange lab testing only once requested by Amazon?
You could do so in theory, but there are many problems with this approach:
1. Lab testing is often required before the product enters the market
2. Your product may not even be compliant, thus fail lab testing (which is a big problem if stuck in an Amazon warehouse)
3. You may not have sufficient time to arrange testing
4. You may not be able to obtain samples for lab testing
How much does lab testing cost for Amazon sellers?
The cost depends entirely on the product type and the required tests. Chemical testing for a cotton fabric might only cost a few hundred dollars or euros.
That said, testing medical devices or complex electronic devices can cost tens of thousands of dollars or euros.
This price dynamic is not unique to Amazon sellers but applies to lab testing in general.
Does Amazon require that products are tested in the US or EU?
No, Amazon generally does not require that products be tested in the United States, EU, or within the country or market where you are selling.
At least not as long as this is a regulatory requirement, which is sometimes the case.
Test Report Example
Amazon Test Report FAQ
At what stage do I need to submit a test report to Amazon?
Amazon can request test reports at various stages and for different reasons:
1. When listing a new product (for certain categories)
2. Random product checks
3. Product checks triggered by new regulatory requirements
4. Product checks triggered by injury reports
How do I submit a test report to Amazon?
Amazon will normally contact sellers when they require test reports, which can be submitted via email. Amazon may require test reports after you list a new product, or at a later date. Failing to provide a test report may result in the product being removed.
How much time do I have to submit a test report?
In my experience, you generally have 30 days to submit a lab test report once requested by Amazon.
That may not be enough time to arrange testing, assuming you do not have test reports in place.
Can I challenge a test report request from Amazon?
Amazon usually has a good reason to ask for test reports, and when they do so, the request is generally based on regulatory requirements or standards mandated by Amazon.
In such a scenario, you need a lab test report to demonstrate compliance with these requirements. If you do not, then Amazon has the right to remove the product on the basis that compliance and safety have not been verified through lab testing.
Can I provide a test report from my supplier?
There are cases when using supplier test reports can work. That said, the following must line up:
1. The product model/SKU must match your product (not a “similar” product).
2. The test report must cover current regulations and standards (outdated test reports are not accepted).
It can also be hard to prove that a test report held by your supplier is actually valid for your product. This is especially true if you buy products from trading companies who, in turn, submit test reports from their supposed factories.
The truth is that most suppliers do not have a full set of test reports, so this should not be seen as a reliable backup option.
Hii , My product is LED Cap . but amazon block my listitng , and give me a regulation number , and prove why this is not under 51ok .
I have a proof my regulation is directly 700 + above wavelength , this is Lmap & infrared , Therapeustic . so that a reson I go with spectrometer Test , is directly cliam 630nm , so our product is low risk cosmetic product does not medical claim . class1 cdrh doest not intense low light product .
Hello Asif,
Did you send this to the Amazon compliance team? In my experience they do reinstate products if you have a valid reason.
replaceable battery requires UL 62133 or UL 2054 report?
Hello ,
We have some confusion regarding Amazon’s compliance requirements.
Since we are wholesalers and not selling our own brand, my concern is
whether we should ask the brand itself to pay for the lab testing and
compliance certification fee. Alternatively, do individual sellers
have to pay their separate fees for compliance certificates?
For instance, if there are three resellers selling the same ASIN, and
Amazon is requesting compliance/lab testing certificates, do all three
sellers need to test their products separately? If one seller applies
for lab testing and it gets approved, will the compliance requirements
for the other two sellers be automatically fulfilled?
Thank you for your clarification on this matter.
Best regards,
JACK L
Hello Jack,
That depends. Where is the brand located?
If you buy from a domestic brand – then I think it’s reasonable that the brand can provide test reports. However, if you buy from overseas then it’s a very different situation.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Greetings from Danish Mart LLC. I am contacting you regarding the Compliance Documents Requirements. I bought a Skin Care Product from a Korean brand supplier and they provided me with the documents but unfortunately, Amazon did not approve those documents they kept asking me about the test report, etc.
Please help with the Compliance Documents In the USA at a cheap price.
Best Regards.
Danish.
Hi Danish,
You need to contact a lab that provide cosmetics testing. Bureau Veritas or SGS should be able to help.
That said, it will not be cheap so either you need to get the product properly tested or not sell it.
Hi Fredrik,
I know of a reputable source for product testing aside from Bureau Veritas and SGS. They are located in the southeast USA. Whom may I contact to discuss this? Thanks!
Hi,
Where can I find the Amazon nominated testing laboratory?
As per the article mentioned Amazon can accept the SGS test report, but I cannot find the source.
Thank.
Hi Mark,
I have personally never seen a list of pre-approved Amazon labs. However, they do mention that they only accept test reports from ISO 17025 accredited lab testing companies.
my product already have UL listed and ul certified with new standard. why i need to share test reports?
Then how will Amazon know that your products are compliant without a test report?
I am a manufacturer in UK and have supplied my product to the UK customer who will be selling them on Amazon US.
I have two products which are produced from mostly the same components.
I have put them both on the same SGS test report as I would otherwise be testing the same component twice.
The customer is saying they ‘think’ Amazon US will reject it as they need to be on their own individual test reports.
I don’t believe this to be the case but do you know or could you point me to something that can confirm/deny?
Is this the most updated requirement for toys? ASTM F2923-14 because they asked us ASTM F-963 17
Hi Janice,
These are two different standards. It is certainly possible that ASTM F-963 17 applies to your product.
We recently got a mail from Amazon saying they are going suppress our 2 APC UPS products from existing listings until we provide independent lab testing results for these products.
APC are a well known brand. We not do not make this product, own the brand, or import them. We simply drop ship the product from our well known national supplier.
On these listings there are at least 40 other sellers on each. And both products are labeled Amazon Choice.
Are they really expecting us to send off one these products to get tested? Did they do the same to the other 40+ sellers? If so why do they need us to repeat the same process?
The whole thing makes no sense.
Hi John,
Did you contact your supplier and ask if they can provide test reports?
Hi,
I’m selling baby product toyson amazon usa in 6 colors variation
Shall i do test report for all colors separatly or one test report color will represent that other colors?
Thanks.
Hi Simon,
Yes, they will likely require that.
Hi Fredrik,
I want to sell some beauty serums in Amazon, I have created my listing but Amazon has requested me test reports from an ISO accredited laboratory.
Can you help me with that?
Hi
I wat to sell a pendant lightning on Amazon US. Can you tell me what kind of certification is needed for this product?
Hi Daniel,
I think Amazon requires UL compliance for most electronic products now. We also have guides covering lighting products.
Hi,
I am looking to sell, stainless steel bottles on amazon. I have requested lab reports from the supplier, he has sent me one from to 2017 with SGS. I have contacted SGS and they have confirmed that the report is genuine. The report shows the a full test and photos of the product I am selling. Will this be okay to use?
Hi Josh,
Impossible to say… Amazon may think it’s outdated or rejects it because your company information is not included in the report.
Another risk is that the test was done according to an outdated protocol.