How to Prepare Your Product for Certifications Before You Export

When deciding to export your product to another country there are many things to consider. One of these things is potential product certifications in these countries that you may not have to have obtain here in the U.S. Knowing which certifications are required for exporting your product is vital in gaining approval to sell your product abroad.

If you are exporting to countries within the European Union (EU), you’ll want to look into the European CE Marking Guidance. Once your product has the CE marking, it shows that the product has been or will be certified to meet EU health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure consumer safety. Once you’ve obtained this CE marking, only then will you be able to market your product throughout the EU. For more information on the program (and whether or not your product may require the CE marking), you can review the program overview.

If, on the other hand, you decide to export your product to China, you’ll need to work on obtaining the China Compulsory Certification (CCC Mark). This went into effect in 2002, replacing the certifications of the China Import and Export commodity Inspection Bureau and the China Commission for conformity Certification of Electrical Equipment. If it has been many years since you exported products to China and you are looking to do so again, be sure to familiarize yourself with the new certification process for the CCC Mark.

If you find that a specific country’s certifications, standards or trade barriers for your product are unfairly arduous or discriminatory, you can seek help from the U.S. Government to press for their removal. You can look into filing a complaint online with the Trade Compliance Center or you can also contact the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) at 202-395-3000.

Although you can certainly complete the steps for certification on your own, you may also find that you wish to work with a professional agency when you decide to certify your product in a foreign market. There are several from which to choose, so if you do decide to go with one to potentially simplify things for you, check around for the company or agency that will best suit your needs.

*Accessible Translation Solutions provides this information for informational purposes only and is not responsible for its use or perception by the reader. For more information on any of the product certifications mentioned, rely on your own research in order to make the most informed decision possible.