Third-party lab testing is mandatory for a growing number of products sold on Amazon.com. In this guide, we explain what Amazon sellers must know about product testing, safety standards, and test report submissions.
Content Overview
We help Amazon sellers ensure comply with labeling, certification & lab testing requirements.
Is product lab testing required for all products sold on Amazon?
Amazon requires that products sold on its platform are compliant with the relevant safety standards, substance restrictions, labeling and certification requirements. If you’re selling on Amazon.com in the United States, then your products must comply with US product regulations. Likewise, products sold on Amazon in Europe must comply with EU product directives and safety standards.
As such, it depends on whether lab testing is required in the country or state in which you intend to sell your product.
That said, keep in mind that all unsafe products are subject to recalls. Third-party lab testing is the only reliable way to assess if a product is safe and compliant – even if third-party lab testing is not compulsory.
It’s also important to mention that pressure is mounting on Amazon to take responsibility for the safety of products sold on its platform. It may not be long before third-party safety testing is mandatory for all products sold on Amazon.com.
For which products is lab testing required on Amazon?
Whether product testing is mandatory or not depends on the applicable regulations. For example, all children’s products sold in the USA must comply with the CPSIA – which in turn requires test reports issued by a CPSC accepted testing lab.
Here are some products for which lab testing is usually required:
- Toys
- Children’s products
- Children’s furniture
- Medical devices
- Cosmetics
- Power banks
There are also cases in which Amazon sets the bar higher than the legal requirements. A few years ago, Amazon.com forced all hoverboard sellers to provide valid UL 1642 and UL 60950-1 test reports.
What’s interesting here is that UL standards are voluntary. Still, the way Amazon dealt with hoverboard sellers demonstrates the fact that they do have the power to require compliance safety standards that exceed those imposed by the government.
This requires that sellers understand both product regulations and any additional standards required by Amazon.
How do I know which tests I need for my product?
Amazon product safety guides can be found in the Amazon Seller Central. Here are some product categories they cover:
- Drawstrings in children’s clothing
- Children’s Jewelry
- Children’s Products
- Selling Toys in the US
- Power banks
- String lights
Amazon normally lists mandatory standards for which a corresponding test report must be provided.
Example: Power Banks (Link)
- UL 2056;
- or UL 2054 and UL 60950-1;
- or UL 62133 and UL 60950-1;
Example: Children’s Jewelry (Link)
- ASTM F2923-14
- CSPA Phthalates & Cadmium
You can also request an assessment of applicable safety standards and testing requirements from a third-party testing company.
Which lab testing companies are accepted by Amazon?
This also depends on the specific product. For example, children’s product test reports must be issued by a CPSC accepted testing company. This is not an Amazon-specific requirement, but mandatory for all children’s products sold in the United States.
For certain product categories, such as power banks, Amazon requires that the testing company is accredited (e.g. ILAC ISO 17025).
Generally speaking, test reports issued by well-known testing companies such as QIMA, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Eurofins, and SGS are accepted. You can also search testing companies on the Amazon Service Provider Network.
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.
Can I provide a test report from my supplier?
Some sellers attempt to use existing test reports held by the supplier. This is rarely a workable option for the following reasons:
1. The test report must be valid for the same product/SKU (not a ‘similar’ or an entirely different product)
2. For some products, the test report must be valid for the same production run. As such, you cannot use ‘old’ test reports.
3. Test reports held in the supplier’s name can sometimes not linked to the product you’re selling. This is often the case when you buy the product from a trading company, which in turn provides a test report held by the original manufacturer. Further, some regulations explicitly require that the test report is held by the importer.
In short, there are few scenarios in which you can use a test report held by a supplier, or other company.
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
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.