Certifications
& Quality
What we hold, what your market requires, and how we support compliance for buyers in the EU and North America.
Two layers of compliance.
The first layer is what Zarapie holds as the Indian manufacturer and exporter — wood legality permits, Indian export registrations, and shipment-level documentation issued per order. The second layer covers what your market requires for retail sale — product safety certifications such as EN71, CE Marking, ASTM F963, and CPSIA compliance, which sit with the importer or retailer in the destination country.
We are transparent about both layers. This page explains what we provide, what documentation accompanies every shipment, and what your compliance obligations are as the importer. We support buyers through the process — product specifications, test samples, and relevant technical data are all available on request.
WOOD LEGALITY
CITES & the Vriksh Shipment Certificate.
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) is listed under CITES Appendix II — the international treaty governing trade in species that, while not currently threatened with extinction, require controlled trade to protect their survival. All 182 CITES signatory nations, including the EU and the United States, apply this listing to sheesham exports from India.
Following the November 2022 CITES COP19 conference in Panama, the rules were partially relaxed for Indian handicraft and furniture exports. Individual finished items each weighing under 10 kg now ship without a CITES permit. For shipments where individual pieces exceed 10 kg net timber weight, a Vriksh Shipment Certificate is required — issued by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the designated CITES Management Authority for India, in lieu of a standard CITES export permit.
In practical terms: the vast majority of Zarapie products — puzzles, money banks, toys, kitchenware, and home decor pieces — weigh well under 10 kg individually and move freely under the post-COP19 relaxation. For any order that does require a Vriksh Certificate, we obtain it per shipment from EPCH before dispatch. The certificate is included in your export documentation pack as standard.
Under 10 kg
Per item — ships without CITES permit (COP19 relaxation, 2022)
Vriksh Cert
Issued per shipment by EPCH — included in all relevant export doc packs
182 Nations
CITES signatories — includes all EU states, USA, Canada, and UK
INDIA — HELD BY ZARAPIE
Indian export registrations & shipment documentation.
Every Zarapie export shipment is backed by the following registrations and documents. These are our compliance obligations as the Indian manufacturer and exporter — they confirm the legality of origin, material traceability, and fitness for international transit.
IEC — Import Export Code
Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Government of India. Mandatory for any Indian entity engaged in cross-border trade. Confirms our legal standing as a registered exporter. Included in all commercial invoice documentation.
Vriksh Shipment Certificate (CITES)
Issued per shipment by EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — India’s designated CITES Management Authority. Issued in lieu of a standard CITES Appendix II export permit for sheesham goods. Valid for 6 months from issue; obtained per invoice before dispatch.
Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued by the Plant Protection Organisation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Confirms that wood products are free from pests and regulated organisms. Required by most importing countries as a border health condition for wooden goods.
Udyam Registration (MSME)
Registered under the Government of India’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises development framework. Confirms manufacturing entity status and eligibility for export incentives. Frequently requested by importers and trade finance providers as part of supplier due diligence.
GST Registration
Registered under India’s Goods and Services Tax framework. Required for all invoicing and export rebate claims (LUT/RFD). GST number is included on all commercial invoices as required by Indian customs clearance procedures.
Certificate of Origin
Issued by an authorised issuing body confirming that goods originated in India. Required by most importing countries to determine tariff treatment under applicable trade agreements. Included as standard in every export documentation pack.
EUROPEAN UNION — IMPORTER OBLIGATIONS
What EU buyers need to hold.
Under EU product law, the importer or EU-based responsible person is the entity that places goods on the market and holds liability for compliance. The certifications below are the responsibility of your business — not ours. We provide technical specifications, samples, and support documentation to assist your compliance process. We do not hold these certifications on behalf of buyers, and we do not misrepresent our role in the supply chain.
EN 71 & CE Marking — Toys Only
Applies to wooden toys (pull-along animals, articulated figures, vehicles). The EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC requires all toys sold in the EU to carry a CE Mark. The minimum test standard is EN 71 Parts 1 (mechanical/physical), 2 (flammability), and 3 (migration of chemical elements). CE Marking requires a test report from an accredited laboratory plus a Declaration of Conformity signed by the EU-responsible person. Testing is arranged by the importer through labs such as SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas.
REACH Regulation
Applies to all products sold in the EU. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) governs the use of hazardous substances in manufactured goods. For solid wood products, the primary concern is surface finishes and any adhesives — all of which must be free from Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). We use non-toxic, SVHC-compliant finishes and can provide material data sheets on request.
EUTR — EU Timber Regulation
Under Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, EU importers of timber products must exercise due diligence to ensure they are not sourcing illegally harvested wood. The obligation sits with the EU importer, not the Indian manufacturer. We support your due diligence process by providing species identification (Dalbergia sissoo / mango wood), sourcing documentation, and CITES/Vriksh certificates demonstrating legal origin on every sheesham shipment.
GPSR — General Product Safety Regulation
The EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) replaced the former GPSD in December 2024. It applies to all consumer products sold in the EU — including non-toy wood goods such as money banks, kitchenware, and home decor. The regulation requires products to be safe, traceable, and accompanied by documentation proving conformity. EU importers must ensure a responsible person is named within the EU and that product traceability records are maintained. We provide full product specifications and batch records to support this.
EU Food Contact — Kitchenware
Wooden kitchenware items intended for direct food contact must comply with EU Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on food contact materials, as well as any applicable national legislation in the destination country. This obligation sits with the EU importer. We can supply material composition data and finish specifications to support your food contact assessment.
FSC Chain of Custody — On Request
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody certification is not currently held but is actively being assessed. FSC is increasingly requested by European retail buyers as a sustainability credential, particularly for sheesham and mango wood goods. Buyers with FSC requirements are encouraged to raise this at the enquiry stage — we can advise on timeline and options.
UNITED STATES & CANADA — IMPORTER OBLIGATIONS
What North American buyers need to hold.
In the United States and Canada, the importer of record is responsible for ensuring that goods entering commerce comply with applicable consumer product safety laws. The standards below apply to our product categories. We support compliance by providing full product specifications, material data, and test samples — the actual testing and registration is coordinated by the importer.
ASTM F963 — US Toy Safety Standard
ASTM F963 is the mandatory toy safety standard for all toys sold in the United States, enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It covers mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and chemical migration — broadly equivalent to EN 71. Testing is conducted by CPSC-approved third-party laboratories. US importers of Zarapie wooden toys must arrange ASTM F963 testing before placing goods in commerce. We supply test samples and product specifications to support this.
CPSIA — Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
CPSIA applies to all children’s products sold in the US, including wooden toys. It mandates testing against applicable safety standards (including ASTM F963), requires a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) based on third-party testing, and imposes strict limits on lead content and phthalates. US importers must maintain a CPC and testing records. We support this with full material declarations — our finishes are non-toxic and do not contain lead or regulated phthalates.
California Proposition 65
Prop 65 requires businesses selling products in California to provide a warning if the product exposes consumers to chemicals on California’s list of known carcinogens or reproductive toxins. For solid wood products, the primary concern is wood dust during manufacturing — which is a producer-side issue. Finished goods in retail packaging do not typically trigger Prop 65 exposure. Importers selling into California should confirm this with their compliance counsel based on their specific product and use case.
CCPSA — Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
Health Canada enforces the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act for all consumer products, including wooden toys and goods for children. CCPSA requirements broadly align with ASTM F963 but have additional reporting obligations for incidents and potential hazards. Canadian importers must assess each product category against CCPSA requirements. We provide full product and material documentation to support Canadian customs and compliance processes.
Lacey Act — US Wood Legality
The US Lacey Act prohibits trade in plants and wood products that are harvested, transported, or sold in violation of domestic or international law. US importers must make a Lacey Act declaration for wood products at the time of import, including species name, country of harvest, and quantity. We provide species identification and CITES/Vriksh documentation for all sheesham shipments to support accurate Lacey Act declarations.
FDA — Food Contact (Kitchenware)
Wooden kitchenware items intended for food contact in the US must comply with FDA food contact regulations — primarily that all materials and surface treatments are food-safe. There is no pre-market approval process for solid natural wood, but coatings, adhesives, and finishes must be assessed. We use food-safe, non-toxic finishes and provide material declarations on request. Importers should verify food contact compliance with their FDA consultant based on specific product application.
What we provide to every buyer.
As standard with every export order, and on request for compliance processes.
Standard with every shipment
Commercial invoice · Packing list · Certificate of origin · Phytosanitary certificate · Vriksh / CITES documentation where applicable · Tracking on dispatch
Available on request
Product specifications per SKU · Material composition declarations · Surface finish data sheets · Wood species identification · Batch records · Test samples for EN71 / ASTM F963 testing
For new buyers
We walk first-time importers through our documentation pack before the order is confirmed. If you have specific compliance questions from your customs broker or legal team, raise them at enquiry stage — we will address them directly.
Questions about compliance for your market?
Tell us your market, product category, and what documentation your customs broker or compliance team needs. We will confirm what we can provide before the order is placed.