Toys and Electrical Appliances GCC Certification

GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council, which was established in May 1981 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The member states include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sultanate of Oman, and Kingdom of Bahrain. gcc certification refers to the mandatory certification requirements that specific products must meet to enter the market of these countries.

Certification Regulations and Standards

GCC certification is based on unified standards and technical regulationsformulated by the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO). These regulations and standards align with international norms in areas such as electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and restrictions on hazardous chemical substances, while incorporating specific provisions tailored to the actual conditions and needs of the Gulf region.

For example:

- Electrical safety: Strict requirements for grounding and insulation performance of electrical products to prevent electric shock accidents.

- EMC: Limits on electromagnetic interference generated by products to ensure their normal operation in the usage environment without disturbing other devices.

Certification Process

1. Application submission

 The applicant submits an application form to a GCC-recognized certification body, along with detailed product information (e.g., user manuals, technical drawings, parts lists) and relevant qualification documents of the applicant and manufacturer (e.g., business license, production permit).

2. Product testing

 The certification body sends samples to a designated laboratory (e.g., JJR Laboratory in China) for comprehensive testing according to GSO standards.

 Test items depend on the product type:

 - Electrical and electronic products: electrical safety and emc testing

 - Toys: physical, chemical, and electrical safety testing

 Example: Electronic appliances are tested for stability at different voltages, insulation resistance, etc.

3. Review and evaluation

 The certification body conducts a comprehensive review and evaluation of the application documents and test results. If the results do not meet the standards, the applicant must rectify the product and resubmit it for testing.

4. Certificate issuance

 Upon successful review, the certification body issues the gcc certificatefor compliant products.

Scope of GCC Certified Products

The mandatory directory covers 14 major categories of common goods, including:

? Household appliances: air conditioners, refrigerators, microwave ovens, electric fans

? Power equipment: plugs, sockets, chargers, extension cords

? Kitchen appliances: induction cookers, juicers, toasters

? Other products: toys, furniture, bicycles, architectural glass

(All toys are subject to mandatory certification!)

Tip: You can check whether a product is on the mandatory list by using the HS customs code.

GCC Certification Requirements

1. The GCC mark certificateis valid for 3 years. Renewal can be applied for, and changes can be made within the validity period.

2. After certification, importers must affix the GCC mark and the corresponding certificate number on each product.

3. No factory audit or pre-shipment inspection is required. Certificates are issued after passing the tests, and saso certification for Saudi Arabia can be applied for directly thereafter.

4. The mandatory product directory for GCC certification can be checked using the HS customs code (all toy products are within the mandatory scope).

GCC Certification Documents

1. Application form

2. User manual, nameplate in both Arabic and English, and bilingual consistency declaration

3. Factory quality management documents (manufacturer's ISO 9001 and business license)

4. Declaration of conformity, risk assessment report

5. Trademark registration certificate and authorization letter (if the trademark is not owned by the applicant)

6. Valid cb test certificate and report (within 3 years) if applying with a cb certificate

7. Safety test report and EMC test report

8. Manufacturer’s and importer’s declaration of conformity

9. Product and nameplate photos

10. Electronic and mechanical schematics