Tag: compliance

CE Certificate of Conformity: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 32 Comments

A CE Certificate of Conformity (CoC) essentially states that a certain product is compliant with one or more regulations, directives or standards. It also includes information about the issuing company, product, and supplier.

In some cases, reputable companies like TUV Rheinland and Bureau Veritas issue certificates as part of a lab testing and document review procedure.

However, far from all CE Certificates of Conformity are issued based on actual testing and a file review procedure. On the contrary, many of these documents are issued based on nothing but the exchange of money for the sake of deceiving buyers who don’t know better. This can result in companies procuring non-compliant and unsafe products on the basis of fake CE certificates.

Alternative terms

Certificate of Conformity documents can have the following titles:

  • CE Certificate
  • Attestation of Conformity
  • Verification of Conformity
  • Certificate of Compliance

Some service providers also refer to these as voluntary certificates.

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EU Declaration of Compliance (DoC) for Food Contact Materials Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

Certain food contact materials must be accompanied by a Declaration of Compliance when sold or distributed in the European Union. This responsibility to issue a Declaration of Compliance generally falls on the manufacturer or other companies that introduce the product on the EU market

For context, food contact materials can refer to food packaging materials, drinking bottles, cutlery, and other products and materials in contact with food and beverages.

In this guide, we answer common questions about FCM Declaration of Compliance requirements in the EU.

Covered regulations

  • Plastic Materials Regulation (EU) 10/2011
  • Recycled Plastic FCM Regulation (EU) 2022/1616
  • Use of Bisphenol A in FCM Regulation (EU) 2024/3190
  • Restriction of Use of Certain Epoxy Derivatives in FCM Regulation (EC) 1895/2005
  • Ceramic FCM Directive 84/500/EEC
  • Active and Intelligent FCM Regulation (EC) 450/2009
  • Regenerated Cellulose Film FCM Directive 2007/42/EC
  • Polyamide and Melamine Plastic Kitchenware from China or Hong Kong SAR (China) Regulation (EU) 284/2011

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REACH Product Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 24 Comments

The REACH regulation sets restrictions on certain chemicals and heavy metals in products and mixtures in the European Union. Products containing amounts of restricted substances exceeding the set limits cannot be sold in the EU.

As such, REACH lab testing is often necessary to verify that a certain product is compliant with said limits.

In this guide, we explain what manufacturers and importers must know about REACH testing requirements, costs, procedures, and more.
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EN 71 Toy Safety Lab Testing: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 21 Comments

EN 71 is harmonised in the European Union under the Toy Safety Directive. This means that toys imported and manufactured in the EU must be fully tested and compliant with all applicable EN 71 standards.

In this guide, we explain what toy manufacturers and importers must know about EN 71 lab testing requirements, costs, and much more.

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EUDR Country Risk Classification: A Practical Guide

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EUDR Country Risk Classification

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) sets requirements for products containing or made from wood, rubber, and other commodities. It also establishes a system for assessing the level of risk that a country where you source your materials poses in terms of deforestation, forest degradation, and agricultural land expansion.

Most countries are classified as low risk, around fifty countries are classified as standard risk, and only four countries are classified as high risk. Some of the requirements that operators and traders are subjected to change depending on the country classification.

This guide explains the EUDR country risk classifications and how such classifications impact companies that must comply with the regulation. It also provides the complete list of low-risk, standard-risk, and high-risk countries.

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How to Appeal Amazon Product Safety Removals or Suspensions

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 2 Comments

How to Appeal Amazon Product Safety Removals or Suspensions

Amazon can remove products for compliance reasons for various reasons. In many cases, Amazon is acting correctly. However, there are situations in which product removals or suspensions for compliance reasons can be successfully appealed.

In this guide, we explain why Amazon suspend products, and how sellers can appeal product removals and suspensions to have their products reinstated.

Note: This guide is focused on product removal appeals in the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. That said, the methods explained can likely be applied to other markets as well.

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EUDR Certification Schemes: A Practical Guide

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EUDR Certification Schemes

The EUDR sets due diligence requirements that can be hard for businesses to meet. However, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and other organisations operate certification schemes offering traceability that can help operators and traders meet the EUDR requirements without establishing their own monitoring systems from the ground up.

In this guide, we take a closer look at EUDR-related solutions provided by the FSC, PEFC, RSPO,  and 4C Services.

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Product Recall Insurance: A Practical Guide

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Product Recall Insurance

Manufacturing defects and chemical contamination can result in extremely costly product recalls, even if you have taken every precaution to ensure product safety and compliance. However, product recall insurance covering some of the costs can help you limit the impact of recalls.

In this guide, we explain what product recall insurance is and what you need to know about required documentation, covered expenses, and more.
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Amazon Product Compliance Requirements in the United States

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Amazon Product Compliance Requirements in the United States

Businesses selling products on Amazon in the United States must ensure compliance with various regulations and standards. In this guide, we explain what you must know about Amazon compliance requirements concerning US federal and US state regulations.

You will also learn why voluntary UL and ASTM standards are also mandatory for certain products sold on Amazon in the US.
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Packaging Recycling and Sustainability Symbols in the US: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — 4 Comments

This guide explains what businesses must know about packaging symbols related to recycling and sustainability in the United States. Some markings and symbols are mandated by law, while others are voluntary.

It is also important to avoid making claims about packaging recyclability and sustainability that cannot be proven.

Keep reading to learn more about Resin Identification Codes, 16 CFR Part 260, BPI Certification Mark, and other US packaging recycling and sustainability markings and symbols.
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