Do I need UL certification?

UL certification in the United States is a non-mandatory certification primarily focused on testing and certifying product safety performance, and it does not cover a product's EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics. Although UL certification is not mandatory in the U.S., it is highly recognized due to its early development. Therefore, if you want related products to sell well in the U.S., obtaining UL certification is very necessary.

A UL report is issued after a product has been tested according to the corresponding UL standards and has passed the tests. It is cost-effective, has a short cycle, and does not require a factory audit. It can be used for Amazon reviews but is not valid for customs clearance. The UL report is primarily required for electronic products sold on Amazon, which must meet specific requirements to obtain a UL test report for sale on the platform.

What is UL certification, and what is a UL report?

UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the most authoritative safety testing laboratory in the U.S. and one of the largest private organizations engaged in safety testing and certification worldwide. UL certification in the U.S. is a non-mandatory certification that mainly focuses on testing and certifying product safety performance, with the aim of ensuring that goods in the market meet a certain level of safety. UL certification is an authoritative safety certification in the U.S. and Canada. Complete UL certification requires not only testing the product but also quarterly factory audits, conducted four times a year. After obtaining UL certification, you can print the UL mark on your packaging or product.

The UL report required by Amazon does not need to be a full certification; it requires a test report issued by a laboratory recognized under the ILAC ISO 17025 standard, confirming that your product has been tested and meets the relevant standards. Remember: obtaining a UL report does not allow you to print the UL mark on the product or packaging. If customs catches you doing this, your goods will be confiscated, and you will be required to provide UL certification for the goods to be released!

UL Test Report Costs: The specific costs depend on the product, as different products have varying fees, and testing items differ.

UL Test Report Cycle: 5-7 business days.

What UL standards are there?

- Lithium Battery Pack: UL2054

- Power Banks: UL2056

- Battery Cells: UL1642

- Car Chargers: UL2089

- Audio/Video: UL62368

- Data Cables: UL9990

- Electric Coffee Makers: UL1082

- Garment Steamers: UL1005

- Home Appliances: UL60335

- LED Displays: UL48

- Seat Heaters: UL130

- Steam Cleaners/Hand Warmers: UL499

- Electric Fans: UL507

- Personal Care: UL859

- Security Cameras/AV Power: UL60065

- Energy Saving Lamps: UL1993

- Massagers: UL1647

- Home Dishwashers: UL749

- Electric Washing Machines and Spin Dryers: UL2157

- Electric Dryers: UL2158

- Microwave Ovens: UL923

- Home Refrigerators and Freezers: UL250

- Ice Makers: UL563

- Ice Cream Makers: UL621

- Room Air Conditioners: UL484

- Dehumidifiers: UL474

- Humidifiers: UL998

- Portable and Wall-Mounted or Ceiling-Mounted Indoor Electric Heaters: UL1278

- Electric Heaters: UL499

- Home Storage Electric Water Heaters: UL174

- Electric Fans: UL507

- Electric Irons: UL1005

- Vacuum Cleaners, Blower Cleaners, and Home Floor Care Devices: UL1017

- Electric Hair Clippers and Shavers: UL1028

- Personal Grooming Appliances: such as Hair Dryers: UL859

- Electric Heating Pads: UL130

- Electric Heating Pad Covers: UL964

- Home Electric Cookers: UL858

- Home Cooking Appliances and Food Processing Equipment, such as Electric Toasters and Slow Cookers: UL1026

- Home Electric Coffee Makers and Brewing Devices: UL1082

- Home Electric Skillets and Frying Equipment, such as Electric Deep Fryers: UL1083

- Home Electric Food Processing Machinery, such as Juicers and Blenders: UL982

UL Certification Model:

UL certification is voluntary, following a model of “type testing + initial factory inspection + supervision after certification.”

UL Certification Application Materials:

- Company business license

- Product user manual

- Product model, specifications, parameters, and photo summary

- List of key components and UL certification numbers of those components

- Other materials, such as product circuit diagrams, etc.

UL Certification Process:

1. Submit the application form to the testing organization.

2. The testing organization’s engineer will provide a quote based on the application form and send it to the customer.

3. Pay according to the quote and prepare samples to submit to the testing organization.

4. Product testing.

5. Based on the test results, a testing report will be issued, and a completion notice will be sent.

6. Purchase and prepare labels as required by the testing organization.

7. Pass the factory inspection and obtain authorization to use the UL label.

Factory Inspection:

- UL regional inspectors contact the production factory for the initial factory inspection.

- Inspect the product and its components in production lines and warehouses to confirm that the product structure and components are consistent with tracking service guidelines.

- If the inspection results meet the requirements, the application will be made to obtain authorization to use the UL mark.

- UL will also conduct irregular inspections of the factory 1-4 times a year.

- If there are plans to improve the product structure or components, UL must be notified. For minor changes, no retesting is required; UL can quickly update tracking service guidelines to accommodate the changes.

- If UL believes that improvements affect safety performance, the company needs to resubmit samples for necessary testing.

- Certificates will be issued within two weeks after passing the tests.

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