In recent years, as the export scale of electronic home appliances has continued to grow, China has emerged as a global hub for producing and developing consumer electronics and household appliances, consistently leading in production and sales worldwide. Market share and brand reputation have also been steadily increasing. Since the beginning of this year, with international demand rebounding, Chinese home appliances like barbecue grills have been expanding rapidly overseas, demonstrating strong growth momentum. The following provides important guidelines for exporting barbecue grills.
I. Market Entry Requirements and Key Considerations by Country
Since European and American consumers favor grilling and frying, barbecue grills have become a household staple in many homes. Among various types of barbecue grills, electric grills are particularly favored by European and American consumers for their convenience, easy installation and cleaning, and freedom from gas or charcoal requirements. Additionally, with a strong preference for outdoor activities, European and American consumers particularly enjoy electric grills with outdoor grilling capabilities.
Countries worldwide have set various entry requirements for barbecue grills and other household appliances, mandating that products meet specific certifications to enter their markets.
In the European Union, barbecue grills must primarily comply with CE certification and the EN1860 standard. CE certification is the EU's mandatory regulatory system and a requirement for products entering the EU market. Alongside meeting electrical and mechanical safety standards, barbecue grills must also comply with two health, safety, and performance directives: the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC). Moreover, barbecue grills must adhere to the EN1860 standard, an EU-specific standard for ensuring the safety performance of grills. The EN1860 standard outlines requirements for grill structure, materials, usage instructions, and safety warnings. It ensures that grills are stable and reliable in structure, made from safe, non-toxic materials, provide clear usage instructions, and feature prominent safety warning labels.
In the United States, barbecue grills generally require FCC and UL certifications. FCC certification is essential for barbecue grills entering the U.S. market; grills must meet FCC requirements and bear the corresponding label to be sold legally. UL certification, though non-mandatory in the U.S., is intended to ensure that product safety standards align with federal and consumer safety regulations. However, platforms like Amazon have recently tightened UL certification checks, assessing compliance with U.S. standards for electromagnetic compatibility and radiofrequency. Barbecue grills lacking UL certification now face a risk of removal from these e-commerce platforms.
In recent years, beyond traditional markets like Europe and the United States, emerging markets such as Indonesia, India, and Saudi Arabia have imposed increasingly stringent entry requirements for household appliances. These cover areas including environmental protection, energy efficiency, product performance, safety standards, electromagnetic compatibility, and electronic waste management. Companies should enhance their research on standards and regulations in destination countries, proactively understanding each market’s entry requirements. Ensuring product compliance with the laws and standards of target markets can help avoid unnecessary financial losses. For detailed information on product certification, companies may contact certification bodies or consult relevant departments, such as customs technical centers.
II. Important Considerations When Declaring Barbecue Grills for Export
According to regulations from GACC, barbecue grills and similar household appliances are not subject to mandatory inspection as listed import-export items. For items outside this mandatory inspection list, customs conducts random inspections and follows up with the necessary actions in compliance with the law. Additionally, customs may perform on-site random inspections during the export process. Companies exporting barbecue grills and similar appliances should provide accurate declarations to customs and actively cooperate with customs inspections. If an exporting company attains Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification, it can enjoy expedited customs procedures in countries with mutual recognition agreements, effectively reducing trade costs associated with ports, insurance, and logistics. Upon arrival in the destination country, export goods undergo procedures including company registration, goods declaration, tax payment, inspection and quarantine, and customs clearance. Companies should prepare documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, quality certificates, and shipping documents. Familiarizing themselves with the trade requirements of the destination country in advance helps ensure a smooth customs process.
III. How Companies Can Navigate Foreign Technical Trade Measures
In 2023, 97 World Trade Organization (WTO) members issued 5,158 technical trade measures, with 1,844 of these affecting household appliances like barbecue grills, making up 35.8% of the total notifications. In terms of trends, notifications from the United States have been increasing yearly, and reports from less developed countries remain steady, indicating a pronounced global impact of technical trade measures. Low-carbon and environmental barriers are steadily increasing, with regulations and standards evolving rapidly and influencing one another. Companies should leverage legal tools to protect their interests. When encountering adverse effects from foreign technical trade measures, they should enhance two-way information exchange with buyers, foreign distributors, industry associations, and testing agencies, expanding channels for accessing information on these measures. Additionally, companies should increase investment in research equipment, personnel, and funding to boost technological innovation, strengthen technical expertise, and adapt to evolving foreign technical trade requirements.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of this website. The Chinese version shall prevail.