TIC Direct Validation for Power Banks and Lithium Battery

Recently, Amazon US has released a critical update to its TIC Direct Validation (DV) mechanism: on top of the existing category of electric transportation devices and their accessories, lithium battery-related products such as power banks and portable energy storage devices have been officially included in the scope of mandatory TIC Direct Validation.

This adjustment means that all Amazon sellers planning to list or currently selling such products will face the risk of product link removal and ASIN delisting if they fail to complete the validation within the specified time limit, directly impacting the normal operation of their stores. For sellers relying on the sales of lithium battery products like power banks, grasping the new regULation requirements in a timely manner and advancing compliance has become a core task of current operations.

What is TIC Direct Validation?

TIC Direct Validation is a mandatory regulatory mechanism launched by Amazon to enhance product safety and compliance. Its core logic is to eliminate the risk of fraudulent testing reports in traditional compliance processes through a "third-party institution direct inspection and direct reporting" model, thereby safeguarding consumer safety from the source. The mechanism features three core characteristics:

1. Verifier Restriction

Products in designated categories must be validated by TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) institutions recognized by Amazon. Sellers are not authorized to upload compliance documents independently, which completely changes the previous model where "sellers can achieve compliance simply by submitting reports on their own".

2. Direct Result Submission to Platform

After completing the testing or report review, the TIC institution will directly synchronize the validation results to the Amazon system. The entire information transmission process is traceable, avoiding tampering or omissions in intermediate links.

3. Clear Safety Orientation

Focusing on potential safety hazards of lithium battery products such as overheating, short circuits and fires, product quality is controlled through strict testing standards.

From an industry perspective, this new regulation represents a key upgrade of Amazon's consumer product safety supervision from "post-incident handling" to "pre-incident risk prevention". Lithium battery products have high energy density and strict requirements for thermal stability; design flaws or quality issues can easily trigger safety accidents. In the past, there have been multiple consumer complaints in the US market about power banks overheating and catching fire. Amazon's expansion of the TIC validation scope this time is not only a response to US consumer safety regulatory requirements but also an inevitable choice for the platform's own risk control. For sellers, although it is necessary to adjust the original compliance process, in the long run, this mechanism can reduce competition from inferior products and create a healthier market environment for compliant sellers.

Which Products Require Validation? Focus on Core Lithium Battery Categories

Amazon US has clearly specified four major categories of lithium battery-related products included in TIC Direct Validation, and sellers need to conduct a comprehensive check against their own product categories:

1. Power Banks

Covering all portable lithium-ion/lithium-polymer power banks, regardless of capacity (e.g., the commonly seen 10000mAh and 20000mAh products).

2. Portable Energy Storage Devices

Including small and medium-sized energy storage power supplies for outdoor camping and emergency power supply. Due to their larger capacity and more output interfaces, these products are subject to stricter safety testing requirements.

3. Electric Transportation Devices

Such as electric scooters, electric bicycles, electric balance scooters, etc.

4. Electric Transportation Device Accessories

Including key components such as battery packs and chargers for such devices.

It should be specially noted that electric transportation devices and their accessories were already included in the scope of TIC Direct Validation before. The addition of "power banks" and "portable energy storage devices" this time further highlights Amazon's regulatory efforts on lithium battery energy storage products. Sellers should note that if their stores sell multiple types of the above products, they need to carry out validation for each ASIN separately, and should not ignore the requirements for the newly added categories just because some products are already compliant.

TIC Validation Process and Precautions

The TIC Direct Validation process has clear mandatory requirements. Sellers must strictly follow the following four steps to avoid validation delays caused by operational omissions:

Step 1: Initiate Validation Request and Fill in TRF Information Accurately

Sellers need to log in to the Amazon Seller Central, navigate through Performance → Account Health → Policy Compliance to find the ASINs of the power banks or related products pending validation, click "Validate Your Products" to submit an audit request, and then create a TRF (Test Request Form) as prompted by the system.

Key note here: The TRF must accurately fill in key information such as product model, specification parameters, manufacturer name and contact information. Incorrect or missing information will directly affect the efficiency of subsequent docking with the TIC institution. It is recommended that sellers sort out product technical specifications, nameplate photos and other materials in advance before creating the TRF to ensure the accuracy of the filled information.

Step 2: Select a TIC Institution and Prioritize Partners with Lithium Battery Testing Experience

Sellers can select partners from the list of recognized TIC institutions provided by the Amazon platform, or send inquiries to multiple institutions simultaneously through the Excel template provided by the platform, and determine the cooperation partner after comparing the testing cycle and cost. After confirming the institution, the seller needs to submit the TRF and obtain an exclusive TRF ID; if inquiries are made through offline channels, the ID must be synchronized to the institution to ensure that the test request is associated with the TRF information.

Based on practical experience, it is recommended that sellers prioritize TIC institutions with lithium battery product testing experience. Such institutions have a deeper understanding of lithium battery-related standards such as ul2056 and IEC62368-1, can identify potential product problems more efficiently, and reduce repeated testing caused by deviations in standard interpretation. At the same time, when sending inquiries to multiple institutions, it is necessary to clarify the testing cycle to avoid delays due to the large order volume of the institution.

Step 3: Complete Testing or Report Review and Do Not Ignore the un38.3 Report

This link is divided into two scenarios:

1. If the seller does not have a qualified testing report, it is necessary to send power bank samples (usually 3-5 complete samples including packaging and instructions) as required by the TIC institution for a full set of new tests.

2. If the seller already holds a testing report, it can be submitted to the institution for review, but it must meet two core prerequisites: first, the report must be issued within 1 year (expired reports are not acceptable); second, the report must meet the requirements of standard combinations (e.g., UL2056, IEC/UL/CSA 62368-1 + IEC/UL/CSA 62133-2, IEC/UL/CSA 62368-1 + ul 2054, etc.).

In addition, regardless of the option chosen, it is mandatory to provide the UN38.3 transportation test report—a key point often overlooked by many sellers. The UN38.3 standard targets the transportation safety of lithium batteries, covering test items such as altitude simulation, temperature cycling, vibration and shock. Without this report, the validation will fail even if other tests meet the requirements. It is recommended that sellers conduct a self-check item by item against the above requirements before submitting materials to avoid wasting time due to incomplete materials.

Step 4: Check Validation Results and Rectify in a Timely Manner if Failed

After completing the testing or review, the TIC institution will directly synchronize the validation results (pass/fail) to the Amazon platform. Sellers do not need to upload any documents by themselves; they only need to return to the "Policy Compliance" page to check the product compliance status.

If the validation is passed, the product can be sold normally; if the validation fails, the seller needs to rectify the problems according to the feedback from the TIC institution (e.g., failure to meet a certain safety test standard, inconsistency between report information and product, etc.), and can restart the validation process after rectification.

It should be reminded that the restarted validation still needs to comply with the platform's time limit requirements. Therefore, it is recommended that sellers communicate with the TIC institution about the rectification direction immediately after receiving the failure notice, clarify the additional tests or materials required, and avoid further delays.

Key Q&A

In response to two core concerns of sellers, Amazon has clarified the relevant requirements, which sellers need to focus on:

Q1: What is the processing time limit after receiving the TIC DV notice?

From the date of receiving the TIC DV notice, sellers need to initiate an appeal (if they believe the product does not require validation) or a validation application within 21 days; if it is confirmed that TIC DV validation is required, the platform will grant a 30-day completion period. Based on past cases, some sellers missed the time limit due to procrastination, resulting in product delisting and inventory backlog, especially during the year-end stocking peak season, the losses were more serious. Therefore, it is recommended that sellers take immediate action after receiving the notice, dock with TIC institutions in advance, and reserve sufficient testing time.

Q2: Can the existing testing reports in hand be used directly?

Qualified existing reports can be used for review, but they must strictly meet the requirements of "1-year validity period" and "standard combination", and must be accompanied by the UN38.3 report. If the report is about to expire or does not meet the standard requirements, it is recommended that sellers initiate a new testing process in advance to avoid validation interruption due to report invalidation. In addition, if there is any doubt about whether the report meets the requirements, sellers can communicate with the selected TIC institution in advance for professional verification to reduce uncertainty.

V. Impact on Sellers: Compliance is a Short-Term Requirement and a Long-Term Guarantee

The impact of this new regulation on sellers is direct and clear: products that have passed TIC validation can be sold normally on Amazon US without additional operations; if the validation is not initiated, not completed, or the validation result shows that the product does not comply with the compliance policy, the product link will be removed, and it may even affect the account health rating.

In the short term, sellers need to invest time and costs to dock with TIC institutions and complete testing, which may face certain operational pressure; but from a long-term operational perspective, compliance is not only a necessary measure to avoid platform penalties but also a key to building brand trust—the safety performance of lithium battery products is directly related to consumer experience. Products that have passed strict validation are more likely to gain consumer favor and form a differentiated competitive advantage. At the same time, Amazon's new regulation this time also sends a signal of "continuously strengthening category supervision". It is possible that more high-risk categories will be included in the scope of TIC Direct Validation in the future. Sellers who establish compliance awareness and processes in advance will be more adaptable to subsequent policy adjustments.

Summary

In conclusion, Amazon US's inclusion of power banks and other lithium battery products in the scope of TIC Direct Validation is an important measure for the platform to strengthen product safety supervision, and also an inevitable trend in the compliant development of the cross-border e-commerce industry. For relevant sellers, the top priority at present is to take action as soon as possible:

1. Conduct a self-check on all ASINs of power banks, portable energy storage devices, etc. in the store to confirm whether validation is required.

2. Sort out existing testing reports in accordance with the requirements of the new regulation, and if there are any deficiencies or non-compliance issues, dock with TIC institutions in a timely manner to initiate testing.

3. Maintain close communication with the TIC institution during the validation process to ensure the smooth progress of the process.

Only by taking the initiative to comply with the compliance requirements can sellers avoid the risk of delisting, ensure the stable operation of their stores, and achieve long-term development in the competition on Amazon US.

Scope of Testing and Certification

(1) China: CCC, CQC, SRRC, e-commerce platform entry inspection reports

(2) Europe: CE (LVD, EMC, RED), GS, TUV, CB, E/e-Mark, etc.

(3) North America: UL, CUL, ETL, CETL, FCC, CSA, FDA, EPA, IC, etc.

(4) Batteries: UN38.3, EN/IEC62133, MSDS, etc.

(5) Taiwan (China): bsmi certification, NCC certification, etc.

(6) Asia: pse mark, MIC, VCCI, KC mark

(7) Australia: rcm mark & C-tick, SAA, GEMS energy efficiency certification

(8) Middle East: COC customs clearanCE certifications such as Saudi saso certification, Kuwait KUCAS certification, Kenya PVOC certification, Nigeria SONCAP certification, etc.