What is Amazon TIC certification, and why have children's toys become the "disaster area" of Amazon TIC verification?
The recent tightening of regulations by Amazon, targeting children's toys, has actually been a sign for some time. Why have children's toys suddenly become the "disaster area"?
The core lies in the special nature and high risk of children's products. According to the new policy of the platform, all toys intended for children under 12 years old must pass two major checkpoints: physical/mechanical safety testing and chemical composition compliance verification.
This is not just about checking whether the toys can cut children, but it covers:
Physical mechanical performance: such as the risk of choking from small parts, sharp edges and corners, rope entanglement hazards, stability and overload tests, etc.
Chemical performance: strictly limiting the migration of heavy metals and harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, and phthalates to ensure that children do not ingest toxic chemicals when in contact with the product.
Many sellers are caught off guard, not because the quality of their products is poor, but because their understanding of compliance remains superficial.
The platform's move is aimed at squashing safety risks in their infancy, continuously supervising the compliance status of products on sale through mandatory annual verification to protect consumers and also safeguard the platform itself.
However, well-intentioned policies have turned into a crisis due to sellers' information gaps. If you are not very familiar with the testing standards and project requirements of your products, you are very likely to "step on a landmine." We recommend that you take proactive action before the platform notifies you.
Conduct a compliance check on toys for sale to prevent problems before they occur. As an Amazon TIC agency, we have a professional technical team that can provide you with pre-evaluations to help you identify potential non-compliance points and avoid becoming victims of the next "disaster area."
The purpose of TSCA testing is to control the risks associated with new and existing chemicals. Huabiao Testing provides a standardized 6-step process to ensure precision and efficiency in each step:
Initial Consultation and Assessment: The enterprise provides product information (such as ingredients, uses, materials), and Huabiao experts identify potential controlled substances (such as PCBs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers), develop a personalized testing plan to avoid blind testing.
Sample Preparation and Documentation: Prepare representative samples (1-5 pieces depending on the type), provide product ingredient analysis tables (PCBs) and raw material safety data sheets (SDSs), with Huabiao guidance documents to ensure no omissions.
Laboratory Testing Phase: In CNAS-accredited laboratories, advanced equipment such as GC-MS and LC-MS is used to test substance content, migration rates, etc., covering TSCA list substances.
Data Evaluation and Report Compilation: Statistically analyze test data, compile reports that meet EPA requirements, with triple-level review to ensure accuracy, and reports in both Chinese and English.
Compliance Statement Preparation: Generate a TSCA compliance statement document, assist in establishing compliant technical archives, provide proof documents for customs declaration.
Follow-up Support Services: Annual update services, regulatory change alerts, market supervision response support to ensure long-term compliance.
Strategic Necessity of TSCA Compliance
The TSCA regulations mandate the registration and testing of imported chemicals; non-compliant products will be banned from the market by EPA; platform audits require uploading TSCA reports on Amazon North America; customer demands include international brands such as Apple and General Electric checking TSCA certificates in their supply chains; high-risk violations can result in fines up to $500,000 per day. Huabiao Testing helps enterprises avoid risks through pre-assessment services.
Advantages of TSCA Huabiao Testing
Professional Guidance: Senior experts provide full technical support, interpreting the latest EPA revisions.
Cycle Assurance: Strictly commit to timeliness, with emergency projects accelerated to 10 days.
Cost Control: Transparent pricing, no hidden fees, with bulk discounts of 20% for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Risk Reduction: Test results are officially recognized by EPA, avoiding disputes over returns.
Huabiao Testing has hundreds of successful TSCA cases, the laboratory is equipped with EPA-recognized equipment, and reports are globally recognized.
CPC certification is a document based on the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) regulations, which requires all children's products (under 12 years old) to pass third-party laboratory tests. For children's toys, the core tests include:
CPSIA Chemical Testing: Total lead content (surface coating or substrate) ≤100ppm to ensure no risk of lead poisoning; 6 specific phthalates (such as DEHP, DBP) content ≤0.1% to prevent reproductive toxicity hazards.
ASTM F963 Comprehensive Standard: Physical and mechanical performance testing, assessing small parts separation (to prevent choking), sharp edges, tensile strength, etc.; flammability testing, targeting fabrics and plush materials, checking flame spread rate ≤75mm/s; chemical content testing, detecting migration of eight major heavy metals (such as antimony, arsenic) ≤ specified limits.
Huabiao Testing's CPC test laboratories are equipped with advanced equipment such as XRF spectrometers and migration test boxes, strictly following CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) guidelines to ensure test accuracy at ppm level. The report is directly applicable for CPC certificate applications and is internationally recognized.
II. Why Children's Toys Must Emphasize CPC Testing
CPC compliance is mandatory by law: U.S. Customs has an inspection rate as high as 25%, and non-compliant products will be returned or destroyed; platforms require Amazon North American sellers to upload CPC certificates, otherwise listings cannot be listed; customer demands from brand buyers like Walmart and Target during factory audits must check CPC reports; risk prevention violations can result in fines up to $100,000, far exceeding the cost of testing.
III. Common Risks for Enterprises and Huabiao Solutions
Toy sellers often cause trouble due to lax material control: plastic small parts with excessive lead content leading to choking risks; plush toys failing flammability tests resulting in removal from shelves. Huabiao provides pre-screening services to identify potential issues early, such as testing for phthalates in supply chain coatings to avoid mass rectification.
Q1: Will I receive an FDA certificate after passing the test?
A: No. The FDA does not issue any form of "certificate" to companies. Compliance is evidenced by: (1) a test report issued by a third-party testing agency; (2) a conformity declaration signed by the manufacturer or exporter based on the qualified report.
Q2: Is FDA testing the same as LFGB testing in Europe?
A: Not exactly the same. Although both focus on the safety of food contact materials, there are significant differences in their testing standards, migration limits, and simulation conditions. If your product is sold both in Europe and the United States, it usually requires separate testing for each region.
Q3: Must I have an American agent for exporting food contact materials to the United States?
A: Currently, there is no mandatory requirement for a designated American agent like with medical devices for food contact materials. However, your importer (such as an American distributor or Amazon's inventory itself) needs to ensure that the product complies.
Q4: Does an FDA test report have an expiration date?
A: The test report itself does not have a fixed expiration date. However, it is only responsible for the "sample tested" and the products represented by that sample's "same materials and processes." Once there are changes in the material, formulation, or production process, re-evaluation or even testing may be required.
The core test items of CPSIA mainly include three major sections:
Chemical testing:
Lead content restriction: The total lead content in any accessible parts of children's products must not exceed 100ppm.
Phthalate content restriction: In children's toys and care products, the content of eight phthalates (DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIBP, DPENP, DHEXP, DCHP) must not exceed 0.1%.
Physical/mechanical performance testing:
This primarily assesses whether toys pose physical hazards, such as small parts (for children under 3 years old), sharp edges, noise levels, etc., to prevent risks of choking, scratches, hearing damage, etc.
Labeling requirements:
Traceability label: Almost all children's products must have permanent, traceable markings indicating product source information (such as manufacturer, production date, batch number, etc.), which is crucial during recalls.
A comprehensive understanding of these CPSIA test items can help you:
Design products accurately: Avoid using lead-containing paint or easily detachable small parts from the source.
Prepare samples correctly: Know which parts need to be tested.
Pass inspections efficiently: Self-check ahead of time to reduce the risk of failing tests and additional costs.
Ensure compliance with labels: Avoid circulation barriers caused by label issues.
In global trade, RoHS certification is the "eco-friendly identity card" for electronic and electrical products. The European market is vast, but the RoHS directive requires the restriction of hazardous substances, with fines reaching several hundred thousand euros for non-compliance. The process of handling RoHS testing can be complex, often leaving businesses unsure of where to start and delaying business opportunities.
How to handle RoHS testing?
The answer is four steps:
1. Choose a third-party laboratory with complete qualifications, such as Ningbo Huabiao Testing;
2. Fill out the RoHS test application form, describing the product category (such as mobile phones or home appliances);
3. Send the sample for testing by the laboratory, which conducts screening for 10 substances;
4. Review the report and obtain a compliance statement. The entire process takes only 5-7 working days, with costs depending on the complexity of the product.
The guide for handling is super simple! First, self-inspect your supply chain to ensure that raw materials are lead and mercury-free; then, the laboratory will help you disassemble and test everything, from the casing to the circuit board. Many small and medium-sized enterprises share that although the first time they handle it is stressful, once the report comes out, orders double. RoHS testing not only complies with regulations but also optimizes design, making products lighter and greener.
