Product safety, quality standards and conformityLesson 17 of 136

Product safety, quality standards and conformity

Many countries require imported goods, especially electronics, toys, construction materials and vehicles, to meet a national or regional safety standard and to carry a certificate of conformity proving it. This certificate may be issued after testing in the country of origin, after a pre-shipment inspection, or by a national standards body on arrival.

Build the cost and time of certification into your sourcing decision from day one. A product that is cheap to buy but expensive or slow to certify may not be worth importing, while a supplier who already holds the relevant certification for your target market is worth paying a premium for.

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