To apply for GCC certification for products containing button batteries in the USA, compliance with UL 4200A standards and passing relevant tests are required. The following are the specific details:
1. Overview of GCC Certification:
The GCC certification (General Certificate of Conformity) is a certification mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in the USA, aimed at proving that products comply with applicable consumer product safety rules. For products containing button batteries, GCC certification is a necessary condition for entering the US market.
2. Requirements of UL 4200A Standards:
As of September 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to approve UL 4200A-2023 as a mandatory consumer product safety rule for consumer products containing button batteries. This standard systematically requires products with button batteries to meet various criteria regarding structure, testing, warning labels (on the product and packaging), instructions, and more. Specific requirements include:
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Structural Requirements:
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For end products that have “batteries that allow user movement or replacement,” the structure must comply with IEC61032’s test probe No. 11, which should not contact the battery. For example, the battery compartment must require tools (such as a screwdriver or coin) to open, or at least two independent and simultaneous actions to open.
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For products with “batteries that do not allow user movement or replacement,” effective measures must be taken to prevent users or children from removing them, such as securing the battery completely with welding, rivets, or similar methods.
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Testing Requirements:
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Products containing button batteries must pass pre-treatment, drop tests, impact tests, crushing tests, torque tests, tensile tests, compression tests, and installation stability tests (for batteries that do not allow user movement or replacement).
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Warning Label Requirements:
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Packaging for button batteries or coin batteries and consumer products containing these batteries must have specific warning labels to alert consumers to the dangers of ingestion for children. The product packaging and, if possible, the product itself must have clear warning labels informing consumers of the potential risks of battery ingestion.
3. GCC Certification Process:
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Understand the Standards：Deeply understand the specific requirements of UL 4200A, including the physical design, packaging, warning labels, and educational materials provided for button batteries.
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Select a Laboratory：Find a qualified and reliable third-party laboratory for testing, which must be authorized by CPSC (U.S. Consumer Commission) CFR 1263.
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Submit Samples for Testing：Submit product samples for testing to confirm the final bulk product, ensuring the accuracy of the test results.
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Conduct Testing：The laboratory will conduct a series of tests on the submitted samples according to UL 4200A standards, including safety performance tests for batteries, label and packaging reviews, etc.
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Obtain Report：Once testing is complete, the laboratory will provide a detailed test report. If the product passes all test items, the report will certify that the product meets the requirements of UL 4200A.
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Apply for GCC Certificate：Submit an application to a qualified and recognized certification body, fill out the certification application form, provide the required materials (including test reports, product specifications, electrical performance test reports, safety performance test reports, manufacturer information, etc.), and pay the corresponding fees.
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Review and Issuance：The certification body will review the submitted materials to ensure they are complete and accurate. If the material review is approved and the product meets the requirements for GCC certification, the certification body will issue the GCC certification certificate.
4. Precautions:
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Compliance：Ensure that the product complies with UL 4200A requirements from design to production, and retain relevant test reports and GCC certificates for at least 5 years for CPSC review.
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Labels and Packaging：The product packaging and, if possible, the product itself must have clear warning labels informing consumers of the potential risks of battery ingestion. Additionally, the packaging must comply with child-resistant opening requirements.
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Regular Updates：If there are changes in product design, materials, manufacturing processes, etc., timely notification to the certification body is required, and re-certification must be conducted. Furthermore, the validity period of the GCC certification certificate is generally one year, and renewal should be applied for before expiration.
Testing and Certification Scope:
China: CCC, SRRC, E-commerce quality inspection report;
Europe: CE (LVD, EMC, RED), RoHS, REACH, CB, E/e-Mark, etc.;
North America: UL report, ETL, FCC-ID, FCC, CSA, FDA, EPA, IC, etc.;
Batteries: UN38.3, EN/IEC62133, MSDS, etc.;
Taiwan: BSMI certification, NCC certification, etc.;
Asia: PSE mark, MIC, VCCI, KC mark;
Australia: RCM mark & C-tick, SAA, GEMS energy efficiency certification;
Middle East: Saudi SASO certification, Kuwait KUCAS certification, Kenya PVOC certification, Nigeria SONCAP certification, etc. COC customs clearance certification.
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