Overview
The United States has no single CE-style mark. A product entering the US meets several separate regimes, each with its own authority, documents and local-party rule:
- FCC for anything that emits radio frequency energy, from a Wi-Fi module to a switched-mode power supply.
- NRTL safety listing (UL, ETL, CSA and other OSHA-recognised laboratories) for electrical safety.
- CPSC for consumer products, with a certificate of conformity issued by the importer and mandatory third-party testing for children’s products.
- DOE and FTC for energy-using products covered by conservation standards and EnergyGuide labels.
- FDA for medical devices, food, food contact materials and cosmetics.
- State laws such as California Proposition 65 warnings and state battery and packaging rules.
Indian exporters usually arrive with BIS, CE or IEC reports and discover at customs or at listing that the US documents are different. Aaditech maps your existing evidence to the US requirements, verifies what can be reused, and coordinates the remaining testing and certificates.
Who needs it
- Indian manufacturers exporting electrical, electronic, lighting, battery, appliance and consumer goods to the US.
- Amazon.com and Walmart Marketplace sellers whose listings require FCC, UL or CPSC documents.
- Contract manufacturers supplying US brands who must hand over an FCC and NRTL-ready file.
- Medical, food and cosmetics exporters who need FDA registration and a US Agent.
Products covered
| Regime | Typical products | Document issued |
|---|---|---|
| FCC Part 15 SDoC | Digital devices, LED drivers, power supplies, appliances with electronics | Compliance information statement, test report |
| FCC Part 15 Certification | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, cellular, remote controls | Grant of certification with FCC ID |
| FCC Part 18 | Induction cooktops, microwave ovens, RF lighting ballasts | SDoC or certification per rule |
| NRTL listing | Mains-powered products, luminaires, chargers, appliances, IT equipment | Listing report and mark |
| CPSC GCC | General-use products under a CPSC rule, e.g. bicycle helmets, mattresses, garments for flammability | General Certificate of Conformity |
| CPSC CPC | Toys, children’s apparel, cribs, juvenile products | Children’s Product Certificate with tracking label |
| DOE / FTC | Lamps, fans, refrigerators, motors, battery chargers, external power supplies | CCMS certification, EnergyGuide label |
| FDA | Devices, food, food contact, cosmetics | Establishment registration, listing, US Agent |
Documents required
- Product description, block diagram, schematics and bill of materials
- Model list with ratings, variants and antenna details for radio products
- FCC test report from an FCC-recognised accredited laboratory, or NRTL evaluation report
- SDoC compliance information statement naming the US responsible party, or TCB grant with FCC ID
- CPSC test reports and the GCC or CPC with the required fields
- DOE certification report where the product is a covered item
- User manual with FCC Part 15 statements and safety instructions
- Label artwork: FCC ID or FCC logo, NRTL mark, ratings, importer name, Prop 65 warning where needed
Process
- Applicability. We determine which FCC rule part, which NRTL standard, which CPSC rules and whether DOE or FDA applies, per model.
- Evidence review. Your existing reports are checked against the FCC-recognised laboratory list, CPSC-accepted laboratory list, the correct standard editions and the exact models and ratings.
- Gap plan. A written list of tests still needed, with US and Indian laboratory options and timelines.
- Testing and certification. We coordinate FCC testing and TCB certification, NRTL evaluation and factory inspection, and CPSC third-party testing.
- Documents. We draft the SDoC statement, GCC or CPC, DOE certification entries and label and manual text for the US party to sign and file.
- Maintain. Rule changes, NRTL follow-up inspections and new model variants are tracked so the file stays current.
Validity, renewal & surveillance
FCC grants and SDoC do not expire, but any change to the radio, circuit or firmware that affects emissions requires re-evaluation, and the FCC can test products from the market. NRTL listings are maintained through quarterly factory follow-up inspections; missing one can suspend the mark. CPSC certificates must be reissued when the product, the rule or the test lab accreditation changes, and must accompany every shipment. Customs and marketplaces can request all of these at any time.
How Aaditech helps
Aaditech is an NABCB-accredited Type A inspection body for electrical equipment (ISO/IEC 17020:2012) led by former Directors of the Bureau of Indian Standards. We read circuits, reports and standards, which is what US compliance needs.
- Route decision for FCC, NRTL, CPSC, DOE and FDA per product and model.
- Report verification against the recognised and accepted laboratory lists and current standard editions.
- Test coordination with FCC-recognised and NRTL laboratories in India and the US to reuse evidence and cut cost.
- Certificate drafting: SDoC statement, GCC, CPC, DOE entries.
- Label and manual review including FCC statements and Prop 65 text.
- US party support: we prepare everything your US importer, responsible party or US Agent must sign.
We are not an NRTL, a TCB or a US-located responsible party, and we do not replace your US importer of record. We make sure that what they sign is right. Send us your product list and existing reports for a free gap check.
