CE, FCC, RoHS: what pet electronics actually need before they ship

Compliance is usually discovered at the wrong end of the process: after the carton is printed. This is the short version of what to settle before production.

What the marks actually cover

• CE — the EU declaration that the product meets the applicable directives. For a connected pet device this normally means EMC, and often RED if it has radio.
• FCC — the US equivalent for unintentional and intentional radiators. A Wi-Fi feeder needs the radio test, not just a generic statement.
• RoHS — restricted substances in electrical equipment. Applies to the electronics, not the plush parts.
• REACH — chemicals in materials that touch the animal: bowls, mats, collars, toys.
• Food-contact — for bowls and bottles, the test is by material and by market (FDA in the US, EU 10/2011 in Europe).

The documents that delay shipments

Battery products need UN38.3 plus a transport statement, and the carton needs the right label. Camera products trigger privacy documentation in several markets. Neither is expensive to prepare and both are expensive to discover at the port.

What to ask a supplier

1. Which reports exist for this exact SKU, and which are for a sibling model?
2. Who is the test lab, and can I see the report number?
3. What changes if I change the colour or the packaging?