As we all know, the European Union on the import of children’s products relative to all regions of the world, is relatively more stringent requirements, the European Union on the import of children’s shoes requirements are mainly related to safety, environmental protection and labeling, etc., in order to ensure that the product meets the standards of the European Union market. The following are the detailed requirements:
1.Safety Requirements
Children’s shoes must comply with the EU’s General Product Safety Directive (GPSD, 2001/95/EC) and Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC), specific requirements include:
- Physical and Mechanical Properties: Footwear should not have sharp edges or small parts to prevent children from accidentally swallowing or being injured.
- Chemical substance restrictions: Harmful chemical substances (such as lead, cadmium, phthalates, etc.) in footwear materials need to comply with the restrictions of the REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006) and the Toy Safety Directive.
- Flame retardant: The materials need to be flame retardant to prevent the risk of fire.
2.Environmental Requirements
The EU has strict restrictions on chemical substances in footwear, especially the REACH Regulation and the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (POP Regulation):
- REACH Regulation: Restriction of hazardous substances in footwear materials, such as azo dyes and nickel release.
- POP Regulation: Prohibits the use of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
3.Labeling and Marking Requirements
The labeling and marking of children’s shoes need to comply with the EU Textile Labeling Regulation (1007/2011) and Footwear Labeling Regulation (94/11/EC):
- Material identification: the main materials of upper, sole and lining need to be labeled.
- Size marking: need to indicate the size of the shoes, in accordance with EU standards.
- Origin marking: need to indicate the country of production.
- CE marking: Some children’s shoes need to be labeled with CE marking to show that they meet the safety, health and environmental protection requirements of the EU.
4.Packaging requirements
Packaging materials need to comply with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC), limiting heavy metal content and encouraging the use of recyclable materials.
- Other requirements
- Social Responsibility: Some EU countries require importers to comply with social responsibility standards, such as SA8000.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Footwear designs must not infringe on EU IPR.
- Certification and Testing
Imported children’s shoes are required to pass relevant certifications and tests, such as CE certification, REACH compliance test, etc., and provide Declaration of Conformity (DoC). - Import Procedures
- Customs declaration: Invoice,
- packing list, bill of lading and other documents are required.
- Tariffs and VAT: The corresponding tariffs and VAT need to be paid, and the tax rate depends on the material and usage of the footwear.
Summarize
The requirements of the EU on imported children’s shoes cover many aspects such as safety, environmental protection, labeling, packaging, etc. Enterprises need to ensure that their products comply with the relevant regulations and provide the necessary certification and test reports.
It is recommended to consult professional organizations or lawyers before exporting to ensure product compliance.
