Standards Compliance: What Is a Product Standards Mark and How Do You Get One?
The standards mark isn't bureaucracy - it's the certificate that says your product is safe to use.
In Brief
Some products carry inherent risk to users - electrical appliances, wireless devices, baby and children's products, and many more. The standards mark exists to ensure these products are safe.
Getting one is a structured process - and skipping it isn't optional for the categories that require it.
Why Standards Exist
Take an oven: enormous energy passes through it. Designed badly, it can cause burns or fires. With many manufacturers entering the market, regulators need a protocol that guarantees baseline safety.
The same logic applies to wireless devices (which can disrupt critical communications), to baby products (where choking and toxic materials are real risks), and to many other categories.
Which Products Require a Standards Mark?
In Israel, the standards mark (תו תקן) is required for categories defined by the Standards Institution of Israel - electrical products, certain electronics, children's products, food-contact items, and others.
Whether a specific product requires certification depends on its function, materials, and intended user.
How the Process Works
Certification typically requires testing the product against the relevant standard - either the Israeli standard or its international equivalent (often IEC, EN, or ISO).
Testing is performed by accredited laboratories, and successful results lead to certification by the Standards Institution of Israel.
Designing for Compliance
Standards should be designed in from day one - not retrofitted. A product that fails its certification test typically needs design changes that ripple back into tooling.
Identifying the relevant standards during specification, and engineering the product to meet them, prevents the costliest kind of rework.
International Markets
Most regulated categories also require certification for the markets they're sold in - CE for Europe, FCC and UL for the US, and others.
Plan certification globally, not market by market - many requirements overlap, and a coordinated test plan saves time and money.
Tip From the Experts
Identify the certifications your product needs at the spec stage, not after the prototype is done. Designing to pass is dramatically cheaper than failing and redesigning. We map the certification path before tooling cost is committed.
Key Takeaways
Safety Baseline
Standards exist to protect users from real product risks.
Required by Category
Electrical, wireless, baby and children's products and more.
Test Against the Standard
Accredited labs test the product against the spec.
Design for Compliance
Engineer to pass from day one, not retrofit later.
International Markets
CE, FCC, UL, and others - plan certifications globally.
Spec Stage Decision
Identify required standards before tooling commits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my product require a standards mark?
It depends on category and intended market. Electrical, wireless, baby and children's, food-contact, and many other categories typically require certification.
How long does certification take?
From a few weeks for simple products to several months for complex electronics. Plan it alongside production - not after.
How much does certification cost?
Lab testing alone can run from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the standard. Add design adjustments if the product fails first time.
Can I sell before certification is granted?
Generally no, for regulated categories. Selling without required certification carries fines and can require recall.
Can I use international certifications in Israel?
Sometimes, when a mutual recognition exists. The Standards Institution of Israel makes the final determination per category.
Who is responsible for certification - importer or manufacturer?
In Israel, the importer is responsible for ensuring the product meets the relevant standard - even if the manufacturer is overseas.