UKCA/CE labels on made in China products

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Please help me... I have invested 10k+ in Baby Rompers and toys. I have been told by my local council trading centre that these products cannot be sell as they don't have correct labelling.. My Question is

How I can get them labelled without sending back to China?
How much it will cost?

 

[fisicx]

To be labelled they need testing. Which probably needs to be done in the UK. Then the factory can do the labeling. You might find someone to do this for you in the UK but very unlikely as there are all sort of liability issues. If the factory in China isn't interested in certification and labeling then the whole lot could be worthless.

@MOIC is the man the answer these question.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

To be labelled they need testing. Which probably needs to be done in the UK. Then the factory can do the labeling. You might find someone to do this for you in the UK but very unlikely as there are all sort of liability issues. If the factory in China isn't interested in certification and labeling then the whole lot could be worthless.

@MOIC is the man the answer these question.

Thank you so much for your reply... I have contacted the manufacturer in China and waiting for their response. if the China company provide me the information about materials and all do I still need to go for UK test certificate?

 

[fisicx]

Almost certainly yes. Children’s clothing and toys are high risk items so will need testing. Not done it myself but there are loads of testing companies on Google. They are the best people to ask as there are multiple compliance standards.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Almost certainly yes. Children’s clothing and toys are high risk items so will need testing. Not done it myself but there are loads of testing companies on Google. They are the best people to ask as there are multiple compliance standards.

I can't thank you enough for your input here...
I really appreciate if you can provide me the phrase or word to search on Google for these companies.. when I search children toy test centre Google got confused and gave me child DNA test centre locations ? ?

 

[MOIC]

If they are already in the UK, contact SGS or Intertek, explain the situation and follow their advice.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If the items have already been tested under the factory name or that of another client then you could self-certify (well, you could with CE) however, you would still need to label.

UK or elsewhere, that would be at your cost. Depending on that cost, it might be cheaper to bin the shipment and start again.

BTW, if you do not get it tested and there is an issue, you may be liable for a lot of pain and costs - we are talking about children here and the penalties can be very hard!

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

If the items have already been tested under the factory name or that of another client then you could self-certify (well, you could with CE) however, you would still need to label.

UK or elsewhere, that would be at your cost. Depending on that cost, it might be cheaper to bin the shipment and start again.

BTW, if you do not get it tested and there is an issue, you may be liable for a lot of pain and costs - we are talking about children here and the penalties can be very hard!

Thank you so much for the reply..
So, if the manufacturer provide me their ukca certificate and labels would I be safe to sell those toys?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Get a test report (making sure that the items are tested to the relevant standards) and you might be part way there.

The risk is till if the supplier is supplying forgeries!

As mentioned, as importer, the buck stops with you.

 

[fisicx]

Thank you so much for the reply..
So, if the manufacturer provide me their ukca certificate and labels would I be safe to sell those toys?

Yes, but they are unlikely to have the certificates and they won’t give you labels as they can’t be sure you would attach them to the products. They will want the whole shipment back so they can attach the labels and apply for testing and certification.

There is not going to be quick or cheap solution to this problem.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

but they are unlikely to have the certificates

Agreed - that's why I would be cautious!

Sadly, this is a classic lesson to learn about importing....

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Agreed - that's why I would be cautious!

Sadly, this is a classic lesson to learn about importing....

The rompers has 100% cotton label with washing instructions..would that be enough to sell or I need anything else with rompers ?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Probably, yes.

buy a romper from a big retailer and see what they have.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Probably, yes.

buy a romper from a big retailer and see what they have.

I wanted to attach images of labels but can't figure out how to make attachment.

 

[DontAsk]

The rompers has 100% cotton label with washing instructions..would that be enough to sell or I need anything else with rompers ?

It's not washing instructions, it's things like toy safety and fire safety.

I don't know about clothing or children's products, but for other products the labelling doesn't have to be attached to the product. It can be in the packaging or instructions.

 

[Customs Geek]

it is the importer responsibility that the goods are safe to sell on the UK market . There is lots of information available to help with the understanding.

Check out these sections on the .Gov.uk website:

Product safety for businesses: A to Z of industry guidance

Find out which regulations apply to your products and where to go for further information on how to comply with them.

gov.uk

https://gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidanceguidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain

https://gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidancegovernment/collections/placing-manufactured-products-on-the-market

https://gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-for-businesses-a-to-z-of-industry-guidanceguidance/using-the-ukca-marking

as previously mentioned there are strict requirements about product safety with childrens products. For example nightwear must be fire resistant and not have any cords or ties that might strangle a child, or small buttons that they may swallow etc.
Toys must be non toxic and again not have small parts that can come off and choke a child .

Didn't the trading standards people give any support on what was required.?

 

[Nick@Daydot]

It's not my area of expertise at all, but I'd just add not to treat this just as an exercise on how to get a label. Do in fact make sure that the products are safe, otherwise there could be bad consequences.

 

[MOIC]

You MUST have YOUR batch tested in UK.

You MUST have your details (as the importer) on the label.

It’s not going to be a cheap process, but that’s your only alternative to be able to sell them in UK.

Don’t look for a cheaper ‘quick fix’ alternative. Other than sending to a country that doesn’t have standard to sell your products, there are no other solutions.

Get in touch with SGS or Intertek, as previously advised.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

I just wanted to clarify that, I am not a large company and have no employees.
I am a mother who decided to launch an online business selling baby clothes and toys, so I purchased all my initial inventory from Alibaba.
I’m being told I can’t sell them because they are not labelled correctly.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I’m being told I can’t sell them because they are not labelled correctly.

Not in the UK, if they breach UK regulations.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Not in the UK, if they breach UK regulations.

My rompers has the labels saying composition as they are all organic cotton so label says 100% cotton also has those 5 standard signs of care instruction..am I safe to sell those rompers?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

You are asking the same question again and you will get the same answer.

No.

Have you looked at similar products sold in the UK?

have you checked what the legal requirements are?

Have you spoken to a testing company yet?

I fear the answers to these are also no!

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

You are asking the same question again and you will get the same answer.

No.

Have you looked at similar products sold in the UK?

have you checked what the legal requirements are?

Have you spoken to a testing company yet?

I fear the answers to these are also no!

I contacted SGS as suggested but they rejected me as they do B2B and I don't qualify.. waiting for other companies to get back to me.. I looked up at trading standards for children clothing labels and also checked my own toddlers clothes.. my rompers and my toddler clothes from next Gap and primark labels are same in a way they all have fabric composition I have too, they have care instructions so do I..

 

[DontAsk]

My rompers has the labels saying composition as they are all organic cotton so label says 100% cotton also has those 5 standard signs of care instruction..am I safe to sell those rompers?

Which part of post #15 is not clear?

Once again, it's not about care instructions. Read the replies again.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I contacted SGS as suggested but they rejected me as they do B2B and I don't qualify.

You are a business, aren't you? Buying and selling products shows this!

I looked up at trading standards for children clothing labels

Why? Look at the Government website!

my rompers and my toddler clothes from next Gap and primark labels are same in a way they all have fabric composition

What else do they have that you do not - look harder.

 

[MOIC]

Don’t rely on a label from a China supplier.

Simply put, they lie.

 

[fisicx]

My rompers has the labels saying composition as they are all organic cotton so label says 100% cotton also has those 5 standard signs of care instruction..am I safe to sell those rompers?

Do you have the necessary certificates showing the products have been tested?

The labels are meaningless - you need the certificates.

 

[Anar Bibi Shaikh]

Do you have the necessary certificates showing the products have been tested?

The labels are meaningless - you need the certificates.

The manufacturer provided me their GOTS certificate when I was looking for organic cotton?..is that not enough?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@Anar Bibi Shaikh you keep on trying to clutch at straws and we have been very clear on what you need to do.

It is probably a big burden on you as it is an unexpected cost and delay, but you have to listen to us.

 

[fisicx]

The manufacturer provided me their GOTS certificate when I was looking for organic cotton?..is that not enough?

No.

Are you even reading the thread? You need to get the products tested.

Right now all you have is a warehouse full of products you can’t sell legally. You need to spend money on testing and certification.

This will not be cheap.

 

[Newchodge]

I just wanted to clarify that, I am not a large company and have no employees.
I am a mother who decided to launch an online business selling baby clothes and toys, so I purchased all my initial inventory from Alibaba.
I’m being told I can’t sell them because they are not labelled correctly.

I am afraid it does not matter whether you are the biggest company in the world or just someone trying to scratch a living. You cannot sell children's products in the UK unless you can prove they have passed all the relevant safety tests.

 

[fisicx]

...so I purchased all my initial inventory from Alibaba.

I missed this first time round. Buying in bulk from Alibaba was a huge and costly mistake. Don't trust anyone selling anything on Alibaba. I'd put money on most of what you have brought failing the necessary tests. Sorry to say but I suspect you have wasted all your money.

 

[Customs Geek]

I contacted SGS as suggested but they rejected me as they do B2B and I don't qualify.. waiting for other companies to get back to me.. I looked up at trading standards for children clothing labels and also checked my own toddlers clothes.. my rompers and my toddler clothes from next Gap and primark labels are same in a way they all have fabric composition I have too, they have care instructions so do I..

Yes and those companies spend hundreds of thousands of pounds making sure their products are safe and compliant as well as using correct and true labelling. They certainly make sure they have the required certifications.

You mention you are a mum so how would you feel if your baby got a skin rash from unsafe fabric dyes or was injured by a broken needle in a seam or worse still seriously burned because the rompers were not fire resistant. You would complain and probably want compensation from the retailer that sold those to you.
Your customers would expect that you are selling them products that won’t harm their child and would hold you responsible in just the same way.

This why it is safety testing certificates that are needed as well as care and composition labels.

 

[AndyBowness]

I missed this first time round. Buying in bulk from Alibaba was a huge and costly mistake. Don't trust anyone selling anything on Alibaba. I'd put money on most of what you have brought failing the necessary tests. Sorry to say but I suspect you have wasted all your money.

I don't want to derail the thread but to say not to trust anyone on Alibaba is unfair. Plenty of businesses use it legitimately, and you don't have enough information about OPs situation to accurately judge whether they've wasted their money or not.

 

[MOIC]

I think the point made by @fisicx is to not trust what Alibaba suppliers tell you, but to have everything verified and checked, which I wholeheartedly agree with.

 

[Tom Chaldecott]

Please help me... I have invested 10k+ in Baby Rompers and toys. I have been told by my local council trading centre that these products cannot be sell as they don't have correct labelling.. My Question is

How I can get them labelled without sending back to China?
How much it will cost?

Hi,

I am a consultant in the CE/UKCA marking space. A helpful reference for you is above. Conformance ltd offer CE marking self-certification packs for toys for craft soul traders like yourself, sadly it seems this forum wont allow website links to be put in replies. (I used to work there). There is no testing involved, only a check that you comply with the regulations. It is likely that you will be able to do this in house. I hope this helps.

 

[fisicx]

…self-certification packs for toys for craft soul traders like yourself…

They aren’t a craft sole trader. They have imported unknown toys and clothing from an agent on Alibaba.

You can post links but not as a new member (for spam protection)

 

[Tom Chaldecott]

They can still asses the goods against the regulations and if they comply could legitimately place them on the market, they would need to apply the appropriate labelling and information, along with documentation to justify compliance should there be any sort of investigation by market surveillance.

 

[MOIC]

along with documentation to justify compliance

……..so needs to be tested to ensure compliance with verified certification.

Not really self certification.

 

[Tom Chaldecott]

……..so needs to be tested to ensure compliance with verified certification.

Not really self certification.

Well there is no requirement to get an external party involved, and there is typically no testing. Where there is testing it can be done in house. It's a simple analysis of your compliance to the applicable legislation and then making corrections if necessary. Then you can apply the CE/UKCA mark and create your Declaration of Conformity.