TEYING BUYER GUIDE · UPDATED OCTOBER 5, 2026

The Compliance Documents a Jewelry Order Should Include

Compliance for a jewelry order is not one certificate — it is a small set of documents matched to the market and the material. This guide lists the documents EU and US orders typically need, from REACH and EN 1811 to GPSR technical files and CPSIA limits.

By Qiu Qiu, Founder and Design Lead at TEYING · October 5, 2026

The short answer: the document set follows the market, not the factory

Compliance for a jewelry order is not one certificate that covers everything. It is a small set of documents, each tied to a market rule and a material decision. The set for an EU order differs from the set for a US order, and the right set is chosen by product type, material, plating route, and age group — not by whichever report the factory happens to have on file.

The useful habit is to ask for documents by market and by SKU scope, and to keep them with the order records. Below is the practical list, grouped the way an order would actually carry them.

EU orders: the core set

REACH restricted substances

REACH restricts substances like lead and cadmium in jewelry. For EU-bound orders, the document is a declaration or test evidence showing restricted substances stay within limits for the material route used. The declaration is scoped per material and per SKU, not issued once for the whole catalog.

EN 1811 nickel release

Where nickel release matters — pierced earrings especially — EN 1811:2023 test reports can be arranged by SKU and batch where available. The test measures nickel release from the finished plated piece, which is why it must be run on the production finish, not on raw base metal. Plated and silver routes are handled separately.

GPSR technical documentation

Since 13 December 2024, GPSR requires every product placed on the EU market to have an EU-based responsible person, usually the importer or a service provider, whose name, address, and email appear on the product, packaging, or parcel. On the factory side, the support is what GPSR asks from the product: technical documentation, material declarations, and traceability records kept for 10 years.

The technical file inputs

An importer's GPSR technical file typically needs material declarations per SKU, plating details, test evidence, and packaging information. The factory's job is to state these facts per SKU so the importer can assemble the file without guessing.

US orders: the core set

CPSIA lead and cadmium

US orders fall under CPSIA limits for lead in accessible parts and cadmium where state rules apply. The document is test evidence or a statement showing the finished piece stays within limits for the age group and product type.

California: Prop 65 and the Metal-Containing Jewelry Law

California adds two layers: Prop 65 warnings for listed substances, and the Metal-Containing Jewelry Law with its own lead limits by age group. A California-bound order should state which rule applies and carry the matching evidence.

Test reports on request

Test reports are arranged by SKU and batch where available. They are not a standard line item on every order, which is why the honest answer is "on request" rather than "we have all certificates." The right question is which test the market rule requires for this material and this product type.

What a clean document request looks like

A clear request lists four things: destination market, product type, material and plating route, and age group if relevant. That is enough for the factory to name the matching rules and the documents it can support. A vague "send me your certificates" usually produces a folder of unrelated files.

The following is an illustrative procurement scenario, not a claim about a named customer or a published TEYING order.

An EU-based online seller asked two suppliers for "compliance certificates" before a first order. One sent a scanned folder of mixed reports with no SKU reference. The other replied with a short list: REACH scope by material, EN 1811 by SKU where nickel release applies, and the GPSR inputs for the technical file, with the responsible person left to the importer as the regulation intends. The seller could not use the folder, and could use the list.

Buyer checklist before you confirm a compliance route

• Destination market: EU, US, California, or several
• Product type: pierced, children's, or general fashion jewelry
• Material and plating route per SKU
• Which rules apply: REACH, EN 1811, GPSR, CPSIA, Prop 65, or a combination
• Which documents the factory provides and which stay with the importer
• Whether test reports are available by SKU and batch, or as declarations
• Where the records will be kept and for how long

The document set is rarely the reason an order fails; the missing scoping is. Name the market and the material, and the list assembles itself.

FAQ

What compliance documents does an EU jewelry order need?

Typically REACH restricted-substance evidence, EN 1811 nickel release test reports where nickel release matters, and the GPSR inputs: technical documentation, material declarations, and traceability records. The EU responsible person remains the importer's appointment.

What documents does a US jewelry order need?

CPSIA lead and cadmium evidence for the age group and product type, plus California requirements where applicable: Prop 65 warnings and the Metal-Containing Jewelry Law lead limits.

Are test reports included with every order?

Test reports are arranged by SKU and batch where available, so they are confirmed per order rather than issued automatically. Declarations and material statements are scoped per SKU as well.

Who prepares the GPSR technical file?

The importer assembles the technical file with the EU responsible person. The factory provides the product-side inputs: technical documentation, material declarations, plating details, and test evidence.

How long are compliance records kept?

Under GPSR, traceability records are kept for 10 years. Keeping the order documents with your own records for the same period is the safe practice on the buyer side.

If your order has a market requirement attached, put it in the brief: destination, product type, material, and plating route. The TEYING quote form is the fastest way to get the document scope confirmed for your SKUs.