Many customers confuse Gulf GCC certification with US GCC certification in exports; these are two different certifications. Below, we will discuss their differences in terms of definition, standards, and product scope.
1. Gulf GCC Certification:
GCC is the abbreviation for the Gulf Cooperation Council (Gulf Cooperation Council). The Gulf Cooperation Council was established on May 25, 1981, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Its member countries include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Yemen.
The Gulf GCC certification is a key pass for entering the markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries, applicable to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Yemen. As a cornerstone of regional trade integration, GCC certification is both a mandatory threshold for market access and an important endorsement for companies to gain the trust of Gulf consumers.
The standards adopted by Gulf GCC certification include:
Gulf GCC is based on GSO (Gulf Standardization Organization) technical regulations, such as GSO 1529 (Low Voltage Electrical Appliances) and GSO 1943 (Toys).
The main product scope of Gulf GCC certification includes:
1. Household electric fans, exhaust fans
2. Refrigerators/freezers and other household refrigeration equipment with a volume not exceeding 30 cubic feet
3. Centrifugal clothes dryers/washing machines, including washer-dryer combos, with a washing capacity not exceeding 12 kg
4. Food grinders and blenders/fruit or vegetable juicers
5. Household toasters
6. Hair straighteners, curling irons, hair dryers
7. Microwave ovens
8. Other stoves; rice cookers, air fryers, barbecues, and ovens
9. Electric instantaneous water heaters, storage water heaters, immersion liquid heaters
10. Electric irons
11. Plugs, sockets, adapters, power cords, extension cords, chargers
12. Air conditioners
13. Toy products (stuffed toys, toy cars, play dough, etc.)
2. US CPC Certification:
The US CPC certification (Children’s Product Certificate) is a mandatory document for children’s products entering the US market, issued by manufacturers or importers based on third-party testing reports. It certifies that the product complies with regulations such as ASTM F963 (Toy Safety Standard) and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), covering physical safety (e.g., small parts, sharp edges), chemical safety (e.g., lead, phthalate content), and labeling compliance. For cross-border e-commerce sellers, this is a fundamental guarantee to avoid legal disputes and platform penalties.
The regulations for US CPC certification include:
Based on CPSIA, ASTM, 16 CFR, and other regulations
The product scope for US CPC certification includes:
In principle, all products for children under 12 years old require certification. If the product has a broader age range and does not want to obtain CPC, the applicable age can be changed to over 12 years old. However, it is important to note that descriptions cannot include terms like baby or under 12 years old. Common products include toys and baby products.
Common products include:
Toys and games: Various toys, puzzles, gaming equipment, children’s tents, etc., must ensure they are non-toxic, without small parts that can pose choking hazards, and without sharp edges to prevent injury to children.
Infant and toddler products: Cribs, bassinets, strollers, walkers, etc., must undergo strict testing for stability, load capacity, and more.
Clothing and textiles: Children’s clothing, shoes, hats, scarves, etc., must meet flammability and chemical content safety standards to ensure children’s safety while wearing them.
Care products: Baby bottles, pacifiers, utensils, bathtubs, shampoos, etc., must meet hygiene and non-toxic safety requirements to protect the delicate skin and health of infants and toddlers.
Children’s furniture and decorative items: Children’s tables, chairs, beds, bookshelves, decorations, etc., must undergo stability and load capacity testing to prevent dangers such as tipping during use.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the relationship between the two certifications in exports, especially for toys, which require GCC certification.
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