Product Testing for Certification and Market Access

Certification schemes do not accept a manufacturer's word that a product is safe. They require test reports against specified standards from laboratories that the scheme recognises, and itmad coordinates product testing through ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories for exactly that purpose: safety, electrical, mechanical and chemical testing, with reports reviewed against scheme requirements before submission. itmad operates across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Last reviewed: October 2026.

Testing for market access

Most product testing is commissioned because a scheme demands it. Each scheme specifies which standards apply to a given product category and has its own requirements about where the testing was done and by whom. A report against the wrong edition of a standard, or from a laboratory that the scheme does not accept, is rejected at assessment and the work is repeated. Getting it right the first time is what decides whether certification takes weeks or months.

The most common reasons for rejection are the wrong standard edition, an insufficient sample scope, and a laboratory whose accreditation scope does not cover that specific test method.

What can be tested

Electrical safety testing covers insulation resistance, dielectric strength, earthing continuity, temperature rise, abnormal operation and construction assessment against the applicable IEC standards for low voltage equipment. Toy safety testing covers mechanical and physical properties, small parts, sharp edges and points, flammability and migration of restricted elements against the applicable toy safety regulation.

Chemical and material testing covers restricted substances, heavy metals, phthalates, migration limits and composition verification where the specification sets it, for toys, consumer products and food contact materials. Mechanical and performance testing covers strength, durability, dimensional conformity and functional performance against the product standard or client specification. Energy efficiency testing and verification applies where labelling requirements cover the product category, and packaging and labelling verification checks marking content, durability and legibility against the regulatory requirements of the destination market.

How testing is arranged

The report is issued by the laboratory under its own accreditation, which is what a certification scheme and a customs authority will want to see. itmad provides everything around it: identifying which standards and clauses apply, specifying the sample and the test scope, checking that the laboratory is one that the target scheme accepts, and reviewing the resulting report against what the assessment will require.

Testing commissioned without reference to the scheme often produces a technically valid report that the scheme will not accept: the correct standard but the wrong edition, the correct test but too small a sample, or the correct laboratory but no accreditation for that specific method. Getting those details right before submission avoids repeating the work.

When to test

Before applying for a certification scheme; when a product design changes in a way that affects a tested characteristic; when a standard is revised and existing reports no longer reflect the current edition; when a model variant is added to an existing certificate; where a retailer or distributor requires independent test evidence before listing; after a market surveillance query or a customs hold; and as due diligence before committing to a new supplier's product.

What the client receives

The accredited laboratory's test report, issued under its ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, with the standards and clauses applied and their edition identified, and a pass or fail result against each requirement tested. itmad also assesses whether the report satisfies the certification scheme that the client is targeting. Where a result fails, itmad explains what it means for the design and what retesting would involve.

Why accreditation scope matters

ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Certification schemes require test reports to come from laboratories accredited to it for the specific test methods applied, so a technically correct report from a laboratory outside that scope is not accepted.

Frequently asked questions

Why is product testing needed for certification?

Certification schemes do not accept a manufacturer's word that a product is safe. They require test reports against specified standards from laboratories that the scheme recognises.

Why does a certification scheme reject a test report?

The most common causes are the wrong standard edition, an insufficient sample scope, and a laboratory whose accreditation scope does not cover that specific test method. itmad checks these points before testing is commissioned.

What types of product testing does itmad coordinate?

Electrical safety, toy safety, chemical and material testing, mechanical and performance testing, energy efficiency testing, and packaging and labelling verification. Electrical work includes insulation resistance, dielectric strength, earthing continuity and temperature rise.

What is ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and why does it matter?

ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Schemes require reports from laboratories accredited for the specific test methods applied, so a report from a laboratory outside that scope is not accepted.

When should a product be tested?

Before applying for certification, after a design change that affects a tested characteristic, when a standard is revised, and when a model variant is added. Also where a retailer requires independent evidence, after a customs hold, and as supplier due diligence.

What does the client receive?

The accredited laboratory's test report, identification of the standards, clauses and editions applied, and pass or fail against each requirement. itmad also assesses whether the report satisfies the target scheme and explains what retesting would involve if a result fails.