Part 1: What importers MUST know about

Product Safety Regulations

If you are based in the United States, Canada, Europe or Australia, you need to
ensure compliance with one or more product safety standards. Product safety
regulations are there for a reason. Below follows a summary of the scope of
regulations:

Physical / Mechanical (e.g. prevent plastic parts to easily detach from a

plush toy)

Chemical (e.g. limit the amount of formaldehyde in textiles)

Heavy metals (e.g. limit the amount of lead in paint)

Electrical safety (e.g. there should be minimum risk that the electrical
equipment will cause death or personal injury)

Electrical efficiency (e.g., charging efficiency)

Flame retardants (e.g. regulations requiring furniture fabric and foam to be

flame retardant)

Environmental (e.g. E-waste and recycling regulations)

Which products are regulated?

All products are regulated to a certain degree, but you need to be especially
careful if youre importing any of the following products:

Toys, Childrens products, furniture, lighting, food, food packaging, product

packaging, consumer electronics, electrical equipment, chemicals, cosmetics,
textiles and clothing, construction materials, protective equipment, vehicles and

parts.

(Is your product not on the list? Your product might still be regulated. That doesnt
mean your product isnt regulated. Many product safety regulations target specific
substances, rather than specific groups of products. Feel free to contact us if you
got questions related to product regulations!)

Different regulations apply to different products. Also, different countries also have
their own product safety regulations. These are the main categories:

USA: UL, CPSIA, FCC, FDA (Various regulations)

EU: CE, RoHS, EMC, E-Mark, REACH, WEEE

Canada: CCPSA

Australia and New Zealand: AS/NZS, C-tick

India: India: ISO mark, FPO mark, Agmark

Russia & Kazakhstan: GOST-K / GOST-R

Ukraine: UkrSEPRO

Nigeria: SONCAP

International: IEC, ASTM (Many national standards are based on

international standards)

These standards are not mere guidelines. Importing noncompliant items may
result in a forced recall, refused entry upon arrival in port of destination or, if
anyone is injured, you may be sued for millions of dollars in damages. Many
importers assume that ensuring compliance is the Chinese supplier's
responsibility, but thats not true.

While many Government agencies in both Europe and America refers to the
manufacturer as the responsible party on their websites, this only applies to
domestic manufacturers. The importer is always solely responsible for items
imported by their company.

Thats also why we confirm which product safety standard your product must be in
compliance with, when you purchase a Starter Package (click here to watch a
demonstration video).

Determining which standard applies to your product

When importing from China, there are two major challenges. First, you need to
determine which standard applies to your product. Second, you need to find a
supplier that is compliant with the relevant standard. Well look into the latter part
in Step #3: Finding compliant and reliable suppliers in China. Below follows some
guidance on how you can determine which regulations applies to your product:

Government agency websites

Company blogs and websites

Hire a compliance agent

You must confirm which regulation/s apply to your product before you start
contacting suppliers. In most industries, only 5 - 10% of the suppliers are able and
willing to comply. If you select a random Chinese supplier you find online, you are
most likely ending up with a noncompliant supplier! Remember, the importer is
always responsible!

About the Buyers Guide

Prescreened Suppliers

Specification Sheets, Customization Options & Price Examples

Applicable Product Regulations, Standards & Labelling Requirements

General

Other Questions & Extra Features

Payment Terms & Money Back Guarantee

Prescreened Suppliers
Why should I purchase a Buyers Guide when I can find suppliers online, for free?
Today, its easy to find suppliers online. However, what is far more complex and time consuming is
filtering the thousands of suppliers you can find on the web. Our team of experts has years of
experience sourcing manufacturers in a wide range of industries. Hence, all suppliers are qualified
through a strict pre-screening and verification procedure.
On what basis have you selected the manufacturers?
The selection is made in two phases. First, we review publically available data of 30 to 50 suppliers,
in a specific industry. During this first selection, we take a look at the following:

Registered Capital: Indicates the size of the company, and whether its likely to be
manufacturer or trading company

Product Scope: Details the main products of the supplier, and whether its likely to be a
manufacturer or trading company.

Year of Registration: A company with a longer history is likely more reliable, as compared to a
recently registered entity without a verifiable history.

Third Party Audits: Provides an initial overview of the suppliers production capabilities,
quality management system and product certificates.

Among the suppliers gathered in this initial selection, we pick out 8 to 12 suppliers, that are invited to
take part in an interview and verification procedure. At this stage, we make the selection based on
the following:

Product Certificates: The suppliers compliance track record is a strong signal as to whether
they are capable (in terms of technical expertise and experience) to ensure compliance with
relevant product standards and regulations.
As the vast majority of the suppliers lack capability to manufacture products in compliance
with overseas regulations, this is the most important part of the verification process. We
mainly look at EU and US product certificates and test reports.

Quality Management System (QMS): A QMS (i.e., ISO 9001:2008) is a process protocol
detailing how quality shall be monitored during the various stages of production. A QMS
certified supplier is more likely to deliver products with fewer defects and quality issues.

Production Capabilities: Details the supplier capability to produce ODM (Private Label) and
OEM (Custom Designed) products, as well as production time and minimum order quantity
(MOQ).

Payment Terms: Accepted terms for payment by Telegraphic Transfer (T/T) and Letter of Credit (L/C).
Do you guarantee that we avoid quality issues and compliance related issues?
No. Scams, quality issues and compliance related issues may occur when buying from any supplier
(even Toyota!). As such, a quality assurance and compliance process must be implemented. That
said, as we only select leading manufacturers in your industries, your chances are vastly improved,
but the outcome is never certain. While the pre-screening and verification procedure helps, it shall in
no way be considered an insurance policy.
How many suppliers do you include in each Buyers Guide?
That depends on the number we deem to be qualified in a given industry. However, in most cases,
this means four to six suppliers. Still, we have high standards and dont add suppliers to our Buyers
Guides for the sake of adding on filler materials.
Can I assume that most suppliers in China know how to ensure compliance with all applicable
standards and regulations in my country?
No. Its rather the opposite. In most industries, only a fraction of the suppliers have a so called
compliance track record. The track record is a proof (i.e., previously issued test reports and
certificates) showing that the supplier has previous experience manufacturing products in
compliance with a certain regulation and/or standard. When we source suppliers, we always verify
their compliance track record, to help you avoid issues.
Do you only feature compliant suppliers in the Buyers Guides?
No, that is for now not possible. The compliance rate varies greatly by industry. While electronics
manufacturers often have rather strong compliance track records, the opposite is the case among
apparel suppliers. As such, we cannot guarantee that all suppliers, in all Buyers Guides, are
suppliers with previous compliance track records.
However, very few manufacturers have ready made certified products. In most case, compliant
suppliers can show certification and test reports for less than 5% of the SKUs in their product
catalog. As such, the purpose of checking a supplier track record is to identify suppliers with the
capability (i.e., experience and technical expertise) to manufacture products in compliance with EU
and US standards. This is an important dynamic that importers must be aware of when buying from
Asian suppliers.
Why do I need to be aware of product specifications?
There is no universal definition of good quality. Instead, the buyer is expected to communicate all
specifications and quality requirements to the supplier. This includes material specifications,
functions, features, components and much more. In the Buyers Guide, we list key specifications and
customization options to help you define the quality of your product.
Why do you provide reference prices?
To offer guidance on actual factory prices for a certain spec sheet. A price is of little value if the
product specifications (i.e., quality standard) is unknown. As such, we always present a price
comparison table for three quality standards:

Low cost;

Medium quality;

High quality.

How do you gather pricing data?

First, we identify the quality defining specifications, of which we draft three different spec sheets. We
then submit these spec sheets to our suppliers network who then respond back to us with
quotations. Based on this, we calculate an average unit price, that serves as a market reference
price.

Applicable Product Regulations, Standards & Labelling Requirements

Why do I need to be aware of applicable product regulations?
Buyers in the United States and the European Union, and many other markets, must ensure
compliance with various product safety standards, substance restrictions and other regulations. All
compliance requirements must be communicated in advance to the supplier. This is true even for
suppliers with experience manufacturing goods for western markets.
As such, you must first know which regulations apply to your product, and how the compliance
process works. Different regulations require different levels of documentation and testing
procedures. When you order a Buyers Guide, we provide guiding information on the following:
a. Which regulations apply to your product;
b. How you can ensure compliance with said regulation/s.
Importing non-compliant products, and products without the proper documentation (i.e., a
Declaration of Conformity), is illegal and can result in a forced recall, upon or after arrival in the
country of destination.
Why do I need to be aware of labelling requirements?
Labelling requirements are often part of comprehensive product standards and regulations, and are
equally important. Labelling requirements depend on the product, but may include the following:

Compliance Marks;

Warning Texts;

Country of Origin.

We offer guiding information on how you must label your product, and its packaging, to avoid forced
recalls upon arrival in your target market.
Do you provide guiding information on product regulations, standards and labelling requirements
outside of the US and EU?
No. As of today, we only provide information on product regulations, standards and labelling
requirements in the United States and the European Union. In addition, we only provide guiding
information on product regulations, standards and labelling requirements on a Federal (US) and
European Union level. Hence, we dont provide guiding information on local US state* or EU member
state regulations, standards or labelling requirements.
*Exception: California Proposition 65 is featured in our Buyers Guides

Extra Features & Other Questions

How often do you update the Buyers Guide?
The Buyers Guides are updated twice per year (Spring and Autumn). The following information is
subject to change and therefore required to be kept up to date:

Supplier details;

Product spec sheets;

Unit prices;

Product Regulations;

Labelling Requirements.

Will we receive future Buyers Guide updates free of charge?

The 1st consecutive Buyers Guide update (i.e., Spring/Summer 2016) is provided without extra cost.
You can receive all future updates (twice per year) for a fee of $49 per calendar year, or $29 for a
single update.
How is the Buyers Guide delivered?
The Buyers Guide is delivered automatically by email, within 5 minutes from the purchase. Make
sure to check your spam / junk inbox, if you cannot find the delivery email.
However, for Buyers Guides that are currently being updated (i.e., Under Update), there will be a
delay.
What does it mean that the Buyers Guide I ordered is Under Update?
It means that the Buyers Guide you purchased is currently undergoing updates (i.e., updated
information on regulations and unit prices). It normally takes 1-2 weeks before the report is ready for
delivery.
If, for any reasons, you dont want to wait, you may request a full refund by contacting us.
Conversely, if you decide to wait, the report will be delivered by email as soon as its ready. We will
also contact you to confirm the estimated date of delivery.
Can you help us with Quality Inspections?
Yes. When you order a Buyers Guide, we also include an introduction to a leading quality inspection
agency, and a US$50 discount on your first quality inspection. A coupon, also listing step by step
instructions to get started, is available for download in the My Account area, after your purchase.
Can you help us with Freight Forwarding?
Yes. When you order a Buyers Guide, we also include an introduction to a leading freight forwarder,
and a US$50 discount on your first shipment. A coupon, also listing step by step instructions to get
started, is available for download in the My Account area, after your purchase.
What kind of Document Templates are included?

Sales Agreement Template;

NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) Template;

RFQ (Request for Quotation) Template;

Sample Order Sheet & Terms Template;

E-mail Templates.

Do you offer Customer support after we have made our purchase?

When you order a Buyers Guide, youll also have access to our Online Customer Service system.
Simply login on the My Account area and request further guidance on any topic related to buying
from suppliers in Asia.
Do you receive any kickback or commission from Chinese suppliers?
No, we receive no kickbacks, or any other form of payment, from the suppliers we source and/or
audit.

What kind of customers are you working with?

Most of our customers are small to medium sized businesses, based in Europe, USA and the Asia
Pacific region. However, we are also working with startups and small businesses in Latin America,
the Middle East and Africa.
Do you have any customer references?
Yes, click here for customer references.
Where can I find your Terms of Service?
Follow this link to read our Terms of Service.
Where can I find your Privacy Policy?
Follow this link to read our Privacy Policy.

Payment Methods
How does the Money Back Guarantee work?
If you are not satisfied, you may request a full refund within 14 days of your purchase by contacting
us.
No specific reason or explanation is needed, even though we do value your feedback.
Can I pay with my Visa or MasterCard?
Yes, we offer credit card payments through PayPal. Customers based in certain countries may be
required to create a PayPal account in order to make a Credit Card transaction. This is free and only
takes a moment. You just need to add your email address and agree with Paypal Terms of Service.
Can I pay with PayPal?
Yes, you can pay with your balance, bank account or credit card through PayPal.
Do you offer a safe payment method?
Yes, all payments are processed by PayPal, which use an SSL certificate to encrypt your data.
Will I receive an invoice for my company?
Yes, its delivered together with the payment confirmation email.
My company is based in the United Kingdom, do you charge VAT?
ChinaImportal.com is owned and operated by Asiaimportal Limited, based in London, UK. However,
we dont charge VAT on orders from UK businesses, as of today.
My company is based in the European Union (excluding UK), do you charge VAT?
No, at the moment we dont charge VAT.