Tips on Exporting Electrical Appliances from the United States

Certification requirements:

1.FCC certification: FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification is a certification that must be done for electronic and electrical products to enter the US market. It is a test and certification for electromagnetic compatibility. FCC used to have three certification methods. Since November 2, 2017, DOC and Verification have been merged into SDOC. This certification mainly regulates the electromagnetic interference generated by electronic products with an operating frequency above 9kHz. Enterprises must ensure that their products meet the corresponding FCC certification standards and affix the corresponding logo.

2.UL certification: UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification is a non-mandatory certification in the United States, but cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Amazon have strictly checked UL certification in recent years. Lack of this certification may face the risk of product delisting. UL certification is mainly for the detection and certification of product safety performance. Its certification scope does not include the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics of the product34.

3.Other certifications: Depending on the specific type and function of the appliance, other certifications may be required. For example, the DOE certification of the Department of Energy is a certification for the energy efficiency of electronic and electrical products. Products on the list must undergo this certification; if it is a medical device electrical product, FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) certification is also required3.

 Product standards and quality:

1.Safety standards: The United States has strict safety requirements for electrical products, and products must comply with relevant safety standards, such as UL standards. For example, for heaters, UL1278 standards are mainly used for safety testing4. The structure, materials, electrical performance, etc. of electrical appliances need to meet safety requirements to prevent the product from causing harm to consumers during use.

2.Quality standards: The quality of the product must be reliable, with good performance and durability. The function, service life, stability, etc. of the electrical appliance must meet certain standards, otherwise it may be identified as an unqualified product by the U.S. market regulatory department.

3.Environmental standards: The United States also has high environmental requirements for electrical products. For example, in terms of restrictions on hazardous substances, it is necessary to comply with the requirements of relevant environmental regulations such as RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to ensure that the content of harmful substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and their ethers in the product is below the specified limit2.

Packaging and labeling:

1.Packaging requirements: The packaging must be firm and reliable to protect the product from damage during transportation. At the same time, the packaging materials must meet the environmental requirements of the United States, for example, packaging materials containing harmful substances cannot be used.

2.Label content: The product label needs to contain detailed information, such as product name, model, specifications, manufacturer information, production date, shelf life, instructions for use, safety warnings, etc. The text on the label should be in English, and the content should be accurate and clear so that American consumers can correctly understand and use the product. In addition, if the product has special usage requirements or precautions, it also needs to be clearly marked on the label.

Tariffs and trade policies1:

1.Tariff payment: Pay attention to the tariff policy of the United States and understand the tariff rates and related tariff reduction policies for electrical products. According to different trade agreements and policies, some products may enjoy tariff exemptions or preferential tax rates, but policies may change at any time, and it is necessary to pay attention to and adjust export strategies in a timely manner.

2.Trade barriers and restrictions: The United States may set up some trade barriers and restrictions, such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, based on its own industrial protection needs or other factors. Enterprises need to understand relevant trade policies and regulations to avoid affecting the export of products due to trade barriers.

Customs clearance documents and procedures:

1.Document preparation: Exporting electrical appliances to the United States requires the preparation of complete customs clearance documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, quality certificates, shipping documents, etc. The information on the documents must be consistent with the actual goods and meet the requirements of the U.S. Customs.

2.Advance declaration: Before the goods arrive in the United States, it is necessary to declare to the U.S. Customs in advance and submit relevant documents and information. The declaration information must be accurate and complete so that the customs can complete the customs clearance procedures quickly and smoothly.

3.Intellectual property issues: Ensure that the exported electrical products do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of the United States, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, etc. In product design, packaging, labeling, etc., avoid using content that is similar or identical to existing intellectual property in the United States to avoid intellectual property disputes.