Key Requirements to Obtain ESMA Certification for Child Car Seats in the UAE

The manufacture, import and trading of mechanical Child Car Seats in the UAE are being regulated by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). Businesses must carry out product certification in the UAE as per relevant schemes to distribute child car seat products in the local market. Child car seats are used in the UAE to protect infants from accidents and hence such products need to comply with ESMA’s quality and safety standards before being sold in the market.

Suppliers of child car seats must obtain a conformity certificate issued by the ESMA to legally distribute their products in the UAE. Products sold in the market without an ESMA conformity certificate will be immediately withdrawn accompanied by stringent punishments. Since ensuring compliance is mandatory, suppliers of child car products can consult with product certification agents in Dubai to avoid potential penalties and reputation damage.

Here’s everything you must know about obtaining a conformity certificate for child car seats in the UAE:

Why Child Car Seats are Regulated in the UAE? 

A child car seat is designed to safeguard a child from potential crashes by forming a protective cocoon. The seats for the infant are placed facing the rear direction of the car so that the child will be forced into the seat on front-impact. During the impact, the shell and inlay will safeguard the spine and vital organs of the child.

Since it’s intended as a life-saving mechanism, the government ensures its quality through the scheme of ESMA product certification in the UAE. Products that do not comply with the standards stipulated by the ESMA will get damaged during the impact, putting the infant’s life at risk. Suppliers can consult with product certification agents in Dubai to ensure compliance with ESMA standards.

Scope of Child Car Seat Products for ESMA Certification 

ESMA regulates the certification of child car seat products in the UAE as per the Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2017 on the system for the control of Child Car Seats. As per the regulation, the scope of child car seats for ESMA product certification in the UAE includes the following categories of products:

a). Group 0 and Group 0+ 

These are rear-facing infant carriers for children up to 10kg and up to 13kg, respectively (from birth to nine or 12 months)

b). Group 0 and Group 0+ 

This category includes rear-facing infant carriers for children up to 10kg and up to 13kg, respectively (from birth to nine or 12 months)

c). Group 2 and 3 

These are full booster seats and cushions for children weighing 15kg to 25kg (about three-and-a-half years to six years) and from 22kg and to 36kg (about six years to 12 years)

Type of Certification Applicable for Child Car Seats 

Child car seats should be certified under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) before being introduced into the UAE market. The ECAS is a UAE product certification scheme set out by the ESMA to prescribe mandatory requirements for product quality and safety for certain regulated products designated for consumer use. The ECAS conformity certificate can be used to prove that the product has been approved by the UAE federal government through ESMA.

Importers, manufacturers and distributors of regulated products can apply for ECAS product certification in the UAE. ECAS conformity certificate can be used to obtain customs clearance during import as well as to place the regulated product in the UAE marketplace. Product certification agents in Dubai can help businesses to clear the legalities of the scheme.

ESMA-approved Standards for Child Restraint Systems 

Suppliers of child car seats should ensure compliance with certain local and international standards to clear the process of ESMA product certification in the UAE. Ensuring compliance with mandatory standards will be hassle-free if applying through product certification agents in Dubai. The following are the mandatory standards applicable for child car seats in the UAE:

1. UNECE R 44 

This standard is about provisions regarding the approval of restraining devices for child occupants of power-driven vehicles (Child Restraint Systems)

2. UNECE R 129 

This relates to uniform provisions regarding the approval of Enhanced Child Restraint Systems (ECRS) used onboard motor vehicles

3. FMVSS 213 

It is an international standard for Child Restraint Systems on vehicles

Key Requirements for ESMA Product Certification  

Businesses should submit the following documents and information to get ESMA conformity certificate for child car seats in the UAE:

1. Valid UAE trade license
2. Test report from accredited and approved laboratories for the mandatory safety standards
3. Provide labelling requirements as stated on the product in Arabic language and accompanying instruction manuals
4. Declaration of Conformity

Hire the Best Product Certification Agents in Dubai, UAE 

Conducting ESMA product certification in the UAE is a prerequisite to selling regulated products such as child car seats. The process of obtaining an ESMA conformity certificate in the UAE involves a mix of both simple and complex steps. Having the assistance of product certification agents in Dubai such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) will help the businessmen to navigate any complex step.

JIP is one of the leading providers of product registration services in Dubai, UAE. We will help you to arrange every document in compliance with ESMA standards. Our consultants can advise you on key requirements such as laboratory tests, labelling requirements and ensuring compliance with mandatory safety standards. Avail of our bespoke services today to place your products in the UAE market legally.