How to Get a Certificate for Goods from China

Many entrepreneurs mistakenly think that obtaining certificates is just a formality. But if certificates are required for the goods and you do not have them, the shipment will be held at the terminal. This topic is not covered in enough detail, so we explain how to certify goods from China, which documents are required, and how long the process takes.

Types of Certificates

In this article, we use the familiar terms “certification” and “certificate.” However, the correct term is “conformity assessment.” Its result may be a certificate/declaration of conformity or another document provided for by law.

According to Ukrainian law, it is the importer who must make sure that the imported products meet the mandatory requirements. Documents accompanying imports can be divided into three categories:

1. Customs and commercial documents. This includes the Certificate of Origin. It does not give you the right to legally sell the products, but it is required to receive benefits and exemptions from additional duties.
2. Documents confirming compliance with Ukrainian technical regulations: certificates of conformity and declarations of conformity.
3. Industry-specific documents: phytosanitary and veterinary certificates for products of plant or animal origin.

There is no universal document required for every product from China.

The most expensive misconception is to believe that a supplier’s statement “we have everything” solves all the issues. An internal Chinese quality certificate does not give you the right to sell goods on the Ukrainian market. If you use a goods purchasing service in China, keep in mind that:

• CCC;
• test reports based on GB standards;
• factory certificates.

Do not replace the documents required by Ukrainian legislation.

Certification of Goods from China: Which Categories Require It

Products that may potentially affect safety, human health, or the environment are subject to the procedure:

1. Electronics and household appliances. Any device with an electrical component, even furniture with lighting. Depending on the category, they fall under regulations concerning low-voltage equipment/electromagnetic compatibility.
2. Tableware, kitchen appliances, and food packaging — anything that comes into contact with food.
3. Children's products and toys.
4. Radio equipment: smartphones, routers, and devices with Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules.
5. Medical devices and personal protective equipment.
6. Products containing chemical substances: paints and coatings, impregnated textiles, polyurethane foam.

Do not confuse mandatory certification with voluntary certification. The latter is your strategy for gaining a competitive advantage by proving safety and quality to consumers. Mandatory certification is a government requirement.

Our specialization is not limited to shipping goods from China to Ukraine; we also provide customs brokerage services. Book a consultation to find out whether your goods need to undergo a conformity assessment.

Documents Required for Certification

What you need to request from the manufacturer or supplier:

1. Test reports specifically for your model, indicating the exact standard.
2. The name and accreditation number of the laboratory in China that issued the reports.
3. Technical documents: drawings, electrical diagrams, material specifications, and operating instructions.
4. Material declarations: information about substances and food-contact declarations.
5. Photos of the actual product marking.

When you start searching for suppliers in China, you will see that some suppliers claim to have CE (Conformité Européenne). This is not a quality certificate but a declaration by the seller that the product complies with EU directives. Having CE test reports does not mean that you do not need to obtain certificates in Ukraine.

It is also important that certification is linked not to the product category but to a specific specification. If you ordered a desk lamp but installed a different battery during customization, you cannot use the default documents.

Check the UCTE ZED code (HS code). This will tell you not only the amount of duties but also whether certificates for Chinese goods are mandatory.

How Chinese Goods Certification Works

First, the applicable requirements for the product are determined, and then the appropriate procedure is selected. Start the process before placing the order:

1. Obtaining a pre-production sample (do not confuse it with regular samples). The factory produces a sample that you import for laboratory testing. The inspection is carried out by accredited bodies.
2. Testing. Components and materials are tested for composition, subjected to destructive testing, and checked under load.
3. Review of technical documentation and specifications.
4. Issuing documents based on the test reports.

You provide a copy and the original to customs when importing the shipment. An examination may also be carried out after the goods have been released for import, but only with special permission from the customs authorities.

How Long Does the Process Take

Actual timeframes depend on the product category. On average, testing takes 2–8 weeks. The price also varies. For simple products, it may be several hundred dollars; for complex equipment, up to several thousand.

What a certificate does not do:

• It does not guarantee quality. It only confirms that the specific sample was safe on the day of testing. Overall quality is a matter of shipment control. Use warehouse services in China to inspect the goods before shipment.
• It is not valid indefinitely. If the factory replaces the material, components, or plastic, the old test report is no longer applicable to the product.
• It is not transferable “by inheritance.” Documents issued in another person’s name or for other models have no legal validity for Ukrainian customs or market surveillance.

What happens if you bring a shipment to customs without certificates? In the best-case scenario, the cargo will be placed in a temporary storage warehouse. You will pay for storage and arrange express laboratory tests. Once the documents are provided, the products will be released into circulation. In the worst case, the release will be denied, the shipment will be returned to the supplier, or the goods will be destroyed.

The process of certifying Chinese goods is complicated and relatively expensive. But without it, you may face significant losses. We recommend determining the requirements at the niche-selection stage. This will allow you to make an informed decision about whether you want to engage in imports that require additional documentation.