How to get a UL 859 Test Report?

What is the UL 859 Standard?

The UL 859 standard is a U.S. safety standard for beauty and personal care products such as curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers. It is also a mandatory UL test report required by Amazon. Any beauty and personal care product that cannot provide a UL 859 report will receive an email notification from the platform and will be forcibly removed within two weeks.

For cross-border e-commerce platforms such as TEMU and Amazon U.S., products like hair dryers, hot air brushes, facial cleansing devices, facial steamers, nail lamps, nail polish pens, electric beard brushes, and other personal grooming electrical appliances must provide a UL test report. Most of these products fall under the UL 859 standard. Sellers must submit a UL test report to sell on platforms like TEMU and Amazon.

Why is a UL Test Report Required?

Electronic products sold on Amazon must meet designated safety standards. If they do not meet these standards, they may pose fire hazards or other risks to consumer safety. Many sellers have had their products removed and sales privileges revoked due to a lack of UL reports. Additionally, malicious reports from competitors can trigger audits.

Key Tests Under the UL 859 Standard

1. Enclosure Strength Test

2. Leakage Current Test

3. Leakage Current Test After Humidity Exposure

4. IDCI Operation Test

5. Conditional Sample Test

6. Dew Humidity Test

7. Input Test

8. Adverse Condition Test for Normal Use

9. Worst-Case Condition Test

10. Normal Temperature Test

11. Motor Voltage Drop Temperature Test

12. Insulation Dielectric Strength Test

13. Cover Cloth Test

14. Locked Motor Test

15. Surface Temperature Test

16. Abnormal Operation Test

17. Short Circuit Test

18. Moisture Resistance Test

19. Cord Pull Test

20. Cord Bending Test

21. Grounding Test

22. Cord Label Test

We may request the following information at any time, so we recommend keeping these details easily accessible:

- Your company name (if applicable) and seller ID

- Your contact information: email address and phone number

- A list of all hair dryers you have listed

- Product images for all listed hair dryers, which must include the following details:

- Safety information

- Compliance markings

- Hazard warnings

- Product descriptions and/or user manuals for all listed hair dryers

- A test report issued by an ILAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, confirming that each product has been tested and meets the applicable requirements

Note: The test report must include images of the tested product, packaging, compliance markings, warning labels, and age grading (if applicable). The product images in the test report must match those on the product listing.

UL 859 Certification Process

1. Fill out the application form

2. Provide product documentation

3. Submit product samples

4. Pass the tests

5. Receive the UL report/certification

Importance of the UL Test Report

The consequences of not obtaining a UL test report go beyond simply having an Amazon listing removed. If a product becomes popular, competitors may purchase it and check for safety compliance. If the product lacks proper safety certification, competitors may hire U.S. lawyers to send a formal complaint to Amazon, demanding a halt in sales. They may also initiate legal action to request the destruction of all inventory.

In this situation, the seller would not only lose all stock but also have to cover legal fees and product destruction costs. This could effectively force the company out of the North American market.

Difference Between UL certification and UL Test Report

- UL Certification is a voluntary certification that requires both product testing and factory audits. The factory is reviewed quarterly, the process is costly and time-consuming, and the audit standards are strict.

- UL Test Report involves testing a product according to relevant UL standards. If it passes, a compliance report is issued. This process is faster, more affordable, and does not require a factory audit. The UL test report can be used for Amazon approval but is not valid for customs clearance.