Pet Product Safety Testing: What Gets Tested and Why

Pet product safety testing is a broad umbrella covering electrical safety, mechanical safety, chemical safety, and functional safety. Different tests are required for different product categories and different markets. A first-time B2B buyer often sees a factory’s “test report” and assumes it covers everything. It does not. Understanding which tests are relevant to your product is how you avoid compliance gaps and protect your brand from liability. This article covers the full scope of pet product safety testing, written from Hefei, China, by Eviehome (Hefei Ecologie Vie Home Technology Co., Ltd.).

The 6 categories of safety testing

1. Electrical safety

Verifies that the product cannot cause electric shock, fire, or electrical failures. Tested against standards like IEC 60335 (household appliances), IEC 62368 (audio/video/IT equipment), UL 1026 (pet care appliances).

Tests include:

• Insulation resistance and dielectric strength
• Leakage current
• Temperature rise under normal and abnormal operation
• Short circuit protection
• Fire enclosure integrity (flame spread tests)
• Earth continuity (for grounded products)

Required for mains-powered products. Cost: USD 1 500 to 4 000.

2. Mechanical safety

Verifies the product is physically safe: no sharp edges, no pinch points, no choking hazards, no toppling risk.

Tests include:

• Drop test (typically 1 meter onto hard surface, 10 cycles)
• Stability test (cannot topple when pushed)
• Sharp edge and point test
• Small parts test (parts that could be swallowed)
• Pinch and entrapment test (for moving parts)
• Weight loading test (can hold specified weight)
• Lock force test (child-resistant closures)

Cost: USD 500 to 2 000.

3. Chemical safety

Verifies the product does not contain restricted substances in dangerous concentrations.

Tests include:

• Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium VI)
• Phthalates (6 to 8 compounds)
• Azo dyes and aromatic amines
• PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
• Formaldehyde
• REACH SVHC screening (230+ substances)
• ROHS (6 to 10 substances)

Cost: USD 1 500 to 4 000 for a pet product with multiple material types.

4. Food contact safety

For parts that contact pet food or water (feeder bowls, hoppers, water fountain bowls, filter housings). Tests verify the material does not migrate dangerous substances into the food.

Tests include:

• Overall migration (total substances transferred to food)
• Specific migration (individual chemicals)
• Global migration into food simulants (water, oil, acid, alcohol)
• Sensory (taste and odor transfer)

Standards: FDA 21 CFR 177 (US), EU 10/2011 (EU), LFGB (Germany), GB 4806 (China).

Cost: USD 800 to 2 500.

5. Radio frequency safety

For products with radio transmitters (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular). Verifies the product does not expose users to dangerous RF levels.

Tests include:

• SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) for products worn close to the body
• EMF (Electromagnetic Field) for RF emissions in general
• Interference with medical devices

Cost: USD 1 000 to 3 000.

6. Functional and performance testing

Verifies the product does what it claims and does not fail under normal use.

Tests include:

• Life cycle testing (e.g., 100 000 motor rotations)
• Temperature and humidity cycling
• Waterproof testing (IP rating verification)
• Vibration testing
• Battery life testing
• User interface and app stability testing

Cost: USD 500 to 3 000 depending on the tests.

Pet-specific safety concerns

Beyond the general tests, pet products face specific safety concerns:

Pet entrapment in moving parts

Automatic litter boxes, self-cleaning devices, and rotating parts pose risks of small cats or kittens being trapped. Good factories design with weight sensors that stop the mechanism if a cat is detected inside.

Pet ingestion of small parts

Toys, accessories, and detachable components should not have parts small enough to be swallowed by the target pet. The small parts test is based on the US CPSC cylinder test adapted for pet sizes.

Chewing and tooth damage

Plastics that are too hard can damage teeth if chewed. Plastics that are too soft can be ingested in large pieces. Choose materials with appropriate hardness for the expected chewing.

Choking on food delivery

Pet feeders that dispense food too quickly or in portions too large for small breeds can cause choking. Portion size recommendations must match pet size.

Electric shock in wet environments

Water fountains, aquatic toys, and litter boxes in wet environments must have waterproof electrical housings. Test to IP67 or IP68 as appropriate.

Overheating and burn risk

Heated pet beds, pet dryers, and any warming products must have thermal cutoff to prevent burns or fire.

How to specify testing in your spec sheet

Include a dedicated testing section in your spec sheet listing:

• Target markets (determines which standards apply)
• Applicable standards by name and version (e.g., “IEC 60335-1:2020”)
• Specific tests required
• Acceptance criteria and AQL
• Who pays for testing (factory or buyer)
• Who owns the test reports (ideally the buyer)
• Frequency of testing (first production, annual, etc.)

Where to test

• Chinese accredited labs: SGS, TUV Rheinland, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, CTTL. Reliable for most pet product testing. Lower cost than Western labs.
• Western labs: UL, ETL, MET, CSA in North America. Required for some specific certifications. Higher cost but sometimes required by customer specifications.
• In-house factory labs: some large factories have in-house labs for preliminary testing. Not a substitute for third-party accredited testing but useful for iteration.

Who pays for testing

Depends on the relationship:

• Existing factory product: factory typically pays for their own certification tests. Buyer pays for customization-specific re-tests.
• New custom product: buyer pays for initial certification tests as part of NRE (non-recurring engineering).
• Ongoing production tests: factory pays as part of their quality management system.
• Special tests for a specific retailer: usually buyer pays.

Negotiate clearly upfront to avoid disputes.

Frequently asked questions

Are test reports in English?

Major international labs issue reports in English. Some Chinese labs issue bilingual English/Chinese reports. Request the English version for EU/US customs and retailer submissions.

How often do I need to retest a product?

Initial certification once. Retest if you change materials, electronics, or design. For ongoing production, annual or biennial surveillance tests are common.

Does Eviehome provide complete safety testing packages?

Yes. Eviehome handles all safety testing through accredited Chinese and international labs, with full documentation provided to OEM customers. Contact Ryan Lau for testing scope and costs.

About Eviehome

Eviehome provides comprehensive safety testing packages covering electrical, mechanical, chemical, food contact and functional safety. Based in Hefei, China since 2014. See our certifications and quality page.

Contact Ryan Lau at ryanlau@eviehometech.com, on WhatsApp at +86 199 5653 0913, or use the contact form.