The short answer: two markets, two stacks
The US asks for certificates tied to specific product rules, and the EU asks for a technical file tied to the product and its responsible person. Qiuqiu Atelier provides REACH, EN 1811, CPSIA and GPSR support documents by SKU and batch, and the brand carries the obligation of placing the product on the market. Here is the stack per market.
The US stack
| Document | When it is required |
|---|---|
| Children's Product Certificate (CPSIA) | Children's jewelry: certifies testing at a CPSC-accredited lab, 100 ppm total lead in substrate and 90 ppm in surface coatings |
| California Metal-Containing Jewelry Law certificate | Per SKU, covering the product, the standards cited, manufacturer and laboratory details, and test dates. Prepared by the manufacturer or supplier, shown to sellers or on packaging, with technical documentation producible to DTSC within 28 days |
| Prop 65 assessment | A warning where exposure exceeds the threshold, or evidence the piece clears it. A warning does not fix a jewelry law violation |
| Country of origin marking | Imported jewelry marked with the country of origin per US customs rules |
The California certificate deserves the most attention, because it is the document a US seller leans on: sellers that relied on a certificate they received, pulled the product when notified, and have no repeat violations are generally shielded from penalties. The Prop 65 vs California jewelry law guide covers the limits and the safe harbor.
The EU stack
| Document | When it is required |
|---|---|
| REACH Annex XVII compliance | Lead (entry 63), cadmium (entry 23), and nickel (entry 27) supported by test reports per SKU and batch |
| EN 1811:2023 nickel release report | Tested after EN 12472 simulated wear for plated and piercing pieces |
| GPSR technical file | Risk assessment, applicable standards, test reports, and traceability, with an EU responsible person and manufacturer or importer details on the product and listing |
| PPWR packaging data | Packaging restrictions and reporting from 12 August 2026 |
The GPSR file is the one that catches first-time EU sellers, because the responsible person has to be in the EU, and the details belong on the product and the listing before it ships. The GPSR guide and the EN 1811 guide walk through both.
Who provides what
The split that confuses buyers:
- The factory provides the product-side documents: test reports, declarations of conformity, and the certificate language that names the SKU, the standards, and the laboratory.
- The brand carries the market-side obligations: the EU responsible person, the importer of record where it applies, and the certificate file kept per SKU for the life of the product.
Ask for the document set before production, not after, because the material and plating route decide which tests apply. The compliance testing guide covers how to put the requirements into the brief.
How to check a document is genuine
The same eight checks apply to any report: report number, test date against the production batch, laboratory name and accreditation, test method with reporting limit, the specific SKU, the batch or lot number, the limit as applied, and a clear conclusion with units. A report that names a material but not your SKU is not a report for your product.
If you are building for the US or EU market, send the destination market, age group, and material through the Qiuqiu Atelier quote form and the document set will be confirmed before production starts.
FAQ
What compliance documents do I need to sell jewelry in the US?
A Children's Product Certificate for children's jewelry, a per-SKU certificate under the California Metal-Containing Jewelry Law, a Prop 65 assessment, and country of origin marking. The California certificate is the one US sellers lean on for the safe harbor, so it is worth checking carefully.
What documents does the EU require for jewelry?
REACH Annex XVII compliance with test reports for lead, cadmium, and nickel, an EN 1811:2023 nickel release report, a GPSR technical file with an EU responsible person, and PPWR packaging data from 12 August 2026. The GPSR file and the responsible person are the parts first-time sellers usually miss.
Who provides the documents, the factory or the brand?
Both, for different halves. The factory provides the product-side documents: test reports, declarations, and certificate language per SKU and batch. The brand carries the market-side obligations: the EU responsible person, the importer role where it applies, and keeping the per-SKU certificate file for the life of the product.
How do I check that a test report is genuine?
Run the eight checks: report number, test date against the production batch, laboratory and accreditation, method with reporting limit, the specific SKU, the batch number, the limit applied, and a clear conclusion with units. A report that names a material instead of your SKU is not evidence for your product.