GREAT 189 IDEA: Meet U.S. Safety Rules for Products Made Abroad

If you are ready to manufacture a product in China, be prepared for many challenges, including meeting stringent U.S. safety standards for consumer products.

In 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission supported the passage of the “Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act.”

The act was drafted in response to scores of unsafe products flooding the United States. The government was overwhelmed by efforts to recall products that were dangerous, toxic, or posed a choking hazard to children.

“The number one mistake small business owners make is not getting their products evaluated for safety issues,” said Edie Tolchin, an expert on manufacturing products in China. “Your product must be safe before you go into manufacturing.”

Tolchin, who charges about $200 an hour, works with many small companies making consumer products in China, including Dipe-N-Go and Stretch Towel.

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the safety regulations, which are posted on the Consumer Products Safety Commission web site: www.cpsc.gov.

Then, look on the site for a list of accredited safety testing labs. You can send your prototype to the lab for a “product design evaluation.” Based on the feedback, be prepared to make changes.

Tolchin said making sure your product is safe before you mass-produce it is critical to overseas manufacturing success.