Tag: compliance

EU Conformity Assessment Procedures: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

EU Conformity Assessment Procedures

A conformity assessment procedure provides a pathway to compliance for certain EU regulations or directives that require CE marking. In practice, conformity assessment procedures set a list of tasks that must be completed to demonstrate compliance. This generally involves compliance with standards, documentation, labelling, and testing.

In this guide, we explain how you can determine which conformity assessment procedure to follow for your products, and the steps you must take to successfully complete the procedure.
Continue reading EU Conformity Assessment Procedures: A Complete Guide

Wood & Bamboo Product Regulations in the United States: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — 7 Comments

Products made of wood sold in the United States are subject to various regulations, standards, and other compliance requirements — which set requirements concerning documentation, chemicals, labeling, and testing.

In this guide, we take a closer look at the Lacey Act, 7 CFR Part 319 Subpart I, and other regulations relevant to companies manufacturing or importing wood and bamboo products to the United States.

Continue reading Wood & Bamboo Product Regulations in the United States: A Complete Guide

Notified Bodies in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — 6 Comments

Notified bodies are organisations designated by EU member countries that perform conformity assessments on products before they are sold.

The role of a notified body is to assess whether a product is technically safe and compliant. In a way, the notified body acts as a gatekeeper to the EU market for more ‘high-risk’ and ‘sensitive’ products that cannot be ‘self-assessed’.

That said, notified bodies are not government organisations. Instead, companies like Intertek and TÜV Rheinland are appointed to act as notified bodies for certain product categories.

In this guide, we explain what manufacturers and importers must know about notified bodies and how they operate.
Continue reading Notified Bodies in the European Union: An Overview

How to Use Test Reports from Your Supplier: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

How to Use Test Reports from Your Supplier

Using existing supplier test reports can help you reduce or even eliminate the need for third-party testing when buying ODM products, materials, and components. That said, such test reports can only be used under certain circumstances. Misused, relying on supplier test reports can result in fines and recalls.

This guide provides crucial insights from more than a decade of vetting test reports from hundreds of Asian and European suppliers. We have also implemented strategies for customers that are based on partial reliance on material and component test reports.
Continue reading How to Use Test Reports from Your Supplier: A Complete Guide

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 establishes requirements for packaging and packaging waste sold in the European Union.

This guide explains what manufacturers and importers need to know about the scope and the requirements of the regulation. This includes, substance restrictions, EPR, labelling, documentation, and more. You will also find a comparison with the requirements of the old Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.
Continue reading Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): An Overview

Food Contact Materials Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — 21 Comments

Food contact materials and articles imported or manufactured in the European Union are subject to various regulations. These regulations, wihch are often collectively referred to as Food Contact Materials (FCM) regulations, cover substance restrictions, documntation, labelling, testing and other requirements.

In this guide, we list many of the key EU FCM regulations and explain when these are relevant, and break down many of their respective requirements.
Continue reading Food Contact Materials Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

US Customs or CPSC Rejected Your Shipment? Emergency Action Plan for Importers

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

US shipment rejected

Shipments can be subject to inspections or detention by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Failing to manage these situations correctly can result in major delays or even destroyed shipments.

This guide explains why inbound shipments are rejected or detained, and the actions you can take to come to a resolution.

Note: In this guide, we mainly focus on actions taken by the CPSC or the CBP. However, other US government agencies could also be involved in shipment rejections or detentions.
Continue reading US Customs or CPSC Rejected Your Shipment? Emergency Action Plan for Importers

Electronics Labelling Requirements in the European Union

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

Electronics Labelling Requirements in the European Union

Electronic products sold in the European Union are subject to various product regulations and directives, which in turn set labelling requirements. In this guide, we list several key EU electronics labelling requirements concerning compliance marks, traceability information, warnings, and more.
Continue reading Electronics Labelling Requirements in the European Union

Fishing Gear Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Posted on by Ivan Malloci — Leave a comment

Fishing Gear Regulations in the United States

Fishing gear imported to and manufactured in the United States is subject to various regulations and other compliance requirements. Examples include California Proposition 65 and the CPSIA.

The applicable compliance requirements depend on the intended age group, materials, where you sell the products, and other factors explained in this article.

Related products

  • Fishing rods
  • Fishing nets
  • Fishing bobbers
  • Fishing lures

Continue reading Fishing Gear Regulations in the United States: An Overview

EU Customs Rejected Your Shipment? A Step-by-Step Guide for Importers

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — Leave a comment

EU Customs Rejected Your Shipment? A Step-by-Step Guide for Importers

Containers and cargo shipments arriving in the European Union are sometimes subject to product compliance checks. When this happens, you can only secure a release by providing documentation demonstrating compliance with applicable EU regulations and directives.

In this guide, we explain why shipments are rejected by the customs authorities in EU member states and what steps you can take to resolve the situation.
Continue reading EU Customs Rejected Your Shipment? A Step-by-Step Guide for Importers