From: "Saved by Internet Explorer 11" Subject: Product labeling regulations in the US, EU and Australia Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2016 08:59:03 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0040_01D23A67.84E4DF00" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0040_01D23A67.84E4DF00 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.globalsources.com/NEWS/SIC-product-labeling-regulations-in-the-us-eu-and-australia.HTM =EF=BB=BF
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Path: Sourcing News & = Advice=20 >> Smart=20 Sourcing >> Product labeling = regulations in=20 the US, EU and Australia
by Fredrik Gr=C3=B6nkvist
The product label is as important as any other aspect of the product. = Product=20 labeling requirements are part of most product safety standards and = legal=20 directives in Europe, United States and Australia. Neglecting labeling=20 regulations can result in your products being refused entry by the = customs=20 authorities, or subject to a forced recall.
But that=E2=80=99s not all. Getting your label right when buying from = Chinese=20 suppliers is not always that simple. Few Chinese suppliers are aware of = how a=20 label shall be designed, and what information it shall contain, in order = to=20 ensure compliance. But that=E2=80=99s not all.. In this article we = introduce you to=20 labeling regulations in the US, EU and Australia =E2=80=93 and explain = what you need to=20 know when designing it.
Before I get started with national product labeling requirements, I = want to=20 say a few things about the design process itself. Chinese manufacturers = are=20 accustomed to manufacture products according to the buyer=E2=80=99s = product=20 specifications. If you leave something out, they=E2=80=99ll fill in the = gap for you.
Never rely on your supplier to design a product label for you. The = vast=20 majority simply have no clue about national labeling requirements in = other=20 countries. Below follows a list of the information you shall provide = your=20 supplier with:
Getting this material =E2=80=9Cconfirmed=E2=80=9D by your supplier = through email is not=20 enough. Refer to all relevant files in the Sales Agreement, and get a photocopy of the = product label=20 signed and stamped by the supplier before production begins.
There are no Federal labeling regulations that apply to all products. = Instead, product labeling requirements are part of various product = safety=20 directives =E2=80=93 that in turn apply in different ways to different = products. But it=20 doesn=E2=80=99t end there. Some states also have their own labeling = regulations in=20 place. Sounds complicated? It is! Below follows a summary of the factors = that=20 decide how your product shall be labeled in the United States:
While many Federal Agencies often refer to the = =E2=80=9Cmanufacturer=E2=80=9D on their=20 websites, this only applies to domestic manufactures in the USA = =E2=80=93 not to foreign=20 manufacturers. When a product is manufactured overseas, the importer is = always=20 responsible for ensuring that a product is labeled in compliance with = the=20 relevant regulations. This responsibility cannot be shifted to a foreign = manufacturer =E2=80=93 even if they are to blame.
However, thousands of products don=E2=80=99t fall into a category = that is regulated=20 by specific labeling requirements. Still, that doesn=E2=80=99t mean they = are exempt from=20 any form of labeling regulation. This is what the CPSC states:
=E2=80=9CThe Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) requires = precautionary=20 labeling on the immediate container of hazardous household products to = help=20 consumers safely store and use those products and to give them = information about=20 immediate first aid steps to take if an accident = happens.=E2=80=9D
The FHSA labeling requirements apply to essentially all products that = fall=20 under any of the following statements:
Click here for more guidelines and information = about FHSA=20 product labeling requirements.
The basics of product labeling also applies in the European Union. = It=E2=80=99s your=20 responsibility to ensure that any product imported by your company is = labeled=20 according to the relevant regulation. The major difference, however, is = that the=20 EU has implemented a lot more product specific regulations. This makes = it quite=20 a lot easier to determine how a certain product shall be labeled. = Currently,=20 there are specific marks and labeling requirements in place for the = following=20 products:
All products imported to the European Union are also subject to = product=20 certification requirements. These certification directives also include = their=20 own product labeling requirements.
CE MarkIf your product is regulated by one or more CE directives, you must attach the = CE mark to=20 your product, or its packing. In other words, you need to get the CE = mark=20 printed somewhere, in compliance with the following guidelines:
However, the labeling requirements are not limited to the CE mark = itself.=20 Additional information about the item, importer, contact information and = country=20 of origin is also required on the product label.
RoHS LabelingStarting in 2013, RoHS is part of the CE directive. Therefore, = products that=20 are CE marked shall also be compliant with RoHS. No separate = RoHS marking=20 is required. As a matter of fact, that was not even the case when RoHS = was a=20 separate directive.
WEEE LabelingThe WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive = applies to a=20 wide range of electrical products and appliances. = The WEEE=20 directive requires the seller to print the WEEE mark symbol on the=20 product.
REACH LabelingHazardous substances, and mixtures containing such substances, are = subject to=20 CLP=20 (Classification, Labeling and Packaging) regulations. So far, this = only=20 applies to cosmetics and chemicals, not to consumer products. = Considering the=20 number of substances regulated by the REACH directive, it would be = quite hard to=20 fit them all on a product label.
However, if a product contains more than 0.1% of a REACH regulated = chemical,=20 the importer is required to inform the customer about safe usage. What = this=20 really means varies between different products.
Many products imported to Australia are required to comply with certain product = safety=20 standards. These regulations also cover labeling requirements. As of = today,=20 the following products are regulated by one or more product safety=20 standards:
Toys & Children=E2=80=99s productsToys for children to and including 3 years, Toys and finger paints = containing=20 lead or other substances, Toys containing magnets, Inflatable toys, = Projectile=20 toys, Prams and strollers, Nightwear for children, Cots, Bunk beds, = Balloon=20 blowing kits, Baby walkers, Baby dummies, Baby bath aids, Aquatic=20 toys.
Sports & OutdoorSoccer goals, Portable swimming pools, Exercise cycles, Basketball = rings and=20 backboards, Treadmills.
Textiles & AccessoriesSunglasses, Luggage straps, Clothing & Textiles (Care=20 labeling).
Vehicles, accessories, parts & toolsVehicle ramps, Recovery straps for vehicles, MC helmets, Jacks, = Bicycle=20 helmets, Bicycles (pedal bicycles), Motor Vehicles (Child=20 restraints).
Home & FurnitureBean bags, Blinds, curtains and window fittings.
OtherHot water bottles, Fire extinguishers, Cosmetics, Disposable = cigarette=20 lighters.
Product labeling is serious business. Failing to comply may result in = a=20 forced recall or having your products refused entry by the customs. = While=20 relabeling is often allowed allowed, assuming the products are compliant = with=20 the relevant regulations, it=E2=80=99s a time consuming and expensive = process. Get it=20 right from the beginning and you=E2=80=99ll save yourself a lot of time = and money.
Need a helping hand? When you order a Starting Package, right here on = Chinaimportal.com, we confim applicable labeling requirements for your = product.=20 Click here to find out = more.
Fredrik=20 Gr=C3=B6nkvist is the co-founder of ScandinAsian Enterprise in Shanghai. = Since 2010,=20 he and his team have helped hundreds of companies worldwide, primarily = in the EU=20 and US, to develop and manufacture products in China. He is also the = main=20 contributor on http://www.chinaimportal.com/,= a=20 leading knowledge base for small- to medium-sized enterprises importing = from=20 Asia. For further questions, you can contact him on www.chinaimportal.com/c= ontact-us/.
Read more Sourcing=20 News & Advice