What labeling is required for products imported from China to the US?

Country of origin label ('Made in China') is mandatory. CPSIA tracking label for children's products. FCC label for electronics. Textile fiber content label for apparel. Food products need FDA nutrition facts. Missing labels = customs hold.

What packaging mistakes cause the most damage in transit?

Insufficient carton strength. A standard export carton should be double-wall corrugated, burst strength 200+ PSI. Fragile items need individual inner packaging. Palletized loads need stretch wrap and edge protectors. Moisture — add silica gel packs for sea freight.

Product Packaging and Labeling from China: What You Need to Know Before Your Order Ships

Q: Can the factory handle my custom packaging design?

Yes, most can. Provide your packaging design as AI or PDF files. Specify material (cardstock weight, finish). Request a packaging sample before full production. The factory's default packaging is functional but generic — custom packaging is a separate line item.

Your product is perfect. Then customs rejects it because the label is wrong. Or your customer opens a crushed box. Packaging and labeling mistakes cost as much as quality issues — and they’re easier to prevent.

Labeling by Market

United States: Country of origin required on every product and outer carton. “Made in China” — visible, permanent, in English. CPSIA tracking label for children’s products. FCC compliance for electronics. Textile content for apparel. FDA requirements for food and medical.

European Union: CE marking for regulated products. WEEE symbol for electronics. REACH compliance. Country of origin. EU responsible person address. Multi-language instructions depending on the country.

United Kingdom: UKCA marking replacing CE for most products. Country of origin. UK responsible person address.

Packaging That Survives

A box that’s fine for domestic shipping inside China will be destroyed on a container ship. The container gets stacked 6 high. Forklifts knock it. Humidity soaks it. Rain leaks through a torn container roof.

Specify: double-wall corrugated outer cartons, burst strength 200+ PSI, edge crush test 32+. Individual inner packaging for fragile items. Silica gel packs for sea freight — especially for electronics, textiles, or anything that can’t handle moisture.

Custom Packaging

Most factories offer custom packaging. Provide your artwork as AI or PDF. Specify: cardstock weight (300gsm minimum for retail), finish (matte/gloss/spot UV), dimensions. Request a packaging sample before full production. It’s a $200 investment that prevents arriving in a customer’s hands only to find the wrong finish or smeared print.

Also: retail packaging vs shipping packaging are different things. The factory’s cartons protect your product in transit. Retail packaging displays your brand. Specify both separately.

Palletizing

Unless you specify otherwise, Chinese factories load cartons loose into the container. This works for heavy items. For anything fragile or branded: request palletizing. Stretch-wrapped, edge-protected pallets prevent carton crush and make unloading faster at destination.

Related reading: