Voluntary Product Safety Standards: An Essential Guide

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Are you thinking about having your product meet voluntary product safety standards? Some might consider it to be costly and time-consuming. However, there are compelling reasons to do so, not to mention that it may help you avoid civil liability in some jurisdictions.

In this article, we present common questions associated with voluntary product safety standards and present the business case for adopting such voluntary standards.
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United Kingdom Product Labelling Requirements: An Overview

Posted on by John Vinod Khiatani — 3 Comments

Are you importing or manufacturing goods for the UK market? If so, you will likely need to comply with certain product and packaging labelling requirements. Additionally, some categories of products require a mark of compliance (e.g. UKCA Mark) to be placed in the UK market.

In this article, we cover most of the common labels found in various products sold in the United Kingdom, including electronics, toys, and food contact products. This article does not apply to Northern Ireland as they follow EU rules.
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NRTL Approval for Importers and Manufacturers: A Summary

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NRTL Approval

Are you an importer or a manufacturer supplying products like electrical installations or equipment into the United States? Then you may be required to seek NRTL Approval for your product.

In the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Commission (OSHA) imposes duties on employers to ensure a safe working environment for employees. To do this, OSHA requires certain products to be “approved” by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

In turn, employers, retailers, and customers have an expectation that applicable products supplied are compliant with OSHA rules.

In this article, we present information related to the NRTL approval process and explain why it would be important to importers and manufacturers.
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Furniture Regulations and Standards in the United Kingdom

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Furniture Regulations and Standards in the United Kingdom

Are you importing or manufacturing furniture products in the United Kingdom? Depending on the furniture, certain regulations may apply to your product and require you to have your product tested and labelled in a particular manner.

In this article, we cover relevant safety regulations and standards affecting various furniture products placed in the UK, such as the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations or the Timber and Timber Products Placing on the Market Regulations. This article does not apply to Northern Ireland as they follow EU rules.

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UL Listed Products: An Essential Guide for Importers & Manufacturers

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UL Listed

Are you an importer or a manufacturer looking to have your product UL Listed? UL Listed products are products that have been tested for safety by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), or by third-party labs accepted by UL.

In this article, we cover UL listing services for consumer products, including their general requirements for UL Listed products, how it differentiates between other UL marks and more.

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CPSC Electronic Filing of Certain Certificate of Compliance Data

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CPSC Electronic Filing

Imagine a future in which businesses must submit test reports and product certificate data as part of the importing process. Thanks to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, that future is coming closer.

The CPSC is currently planning its second pilot test of a product certificate eFiling system. This is part of their roadmap to implement a permanent eFiling system in the United States.

In practice, this will require US importers to submit data on the regulations, standards, and rules to which the product conforms. Further, information about the lab testing company must also be submitted.

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Electronic Product Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 18 Comments

Electronic and electrical products imported and manufactured in the European Union are subject to safety standards, labeling, documentation, and testing requirements. In this guide, we explain what you must know about the RoHS Directive, Low Voltage Directive, CE marking, technical documentation, and more.

This article also covers some of the compliance risks that EU importers and producers should be aware of when it comes to electronics.
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Children’s Clothing Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Yvette Shen — 8 Comments

Children’s clothing sold in the United States is subject to various safety standards, chemical and heavy metal restrictions, labeling, testing, and certification requirements.

In this guide, we cover some of the most important regulations and requirements, including CPSIA, ASTM standards, tracking labels, 16 CFR Part 1120, flammability requirements, and more.

Note that some regulations and standards mentioned in this guide are not exclusively applicable to children’s products but to consumer products and apparel in general.
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Children’s Clothing Regulations in the European Union: Summary

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Children’s and baby clothing imported or manufactured in the European Union are subject to flammability standards, chemical restrictions, lab testing, and labeling requirements.

In this guide, we cover REACH, EN 14682, EN 14878, and other relevant compliance requirements. It also covers compliance risks that EU importers and manufacturers should be aware of.

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Sunglasses and Eyewear Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Sunglasses Regulations United States
Planning to import sunglasses and other non-prescription eyewear to the United States? In this article, we explain what you must know about FDA regulations for sunglasses, and the OSH Act for safety glasses.

This guide also covers other relevant standards and regulations such as ASTM standards, CPSIA for children’s eyewear, California Proposition 65, and more.

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