If you’re in the market for LED grow lights, you’ve most likely encountered some temptingly low-priced options on sites like Amazon and eBay. And if you’re a savvy shopper, you probably wondered why the pricing of those particular lights was so competitive. More likely than not, it’s because those sellers got their LED lights from China.
Many U.S. and Canadian LED grow light companies offer products made with LED lights that come from a handful of Chinese factories. These factories turn out high quantities of LEDs, but make no mistake: their products often fall short of the quality and safety standards you need for a successful grow operation . . . especially if you’re working in a commercial capacity.
This is why it’s so essential to thoroughly research the manufacturer of any LED grow lights you consider purchasing. As both LED technology and the grow light industry explode in popularity, more and more fledgling business owners are throwing their hat into the ring. Between their limited experience and eagerness to cash in on the next great business opportunity, some small businesses fail to do the due diligence necessary to ensure their lights meet with the standards their customers deserve.
And if they’re skipping steps, that means you have to be on your game. Understand exactly where your LED lights are coming from and what it means for your safety and your product.
There are several reasons to avoid LED grow lights from China, but here are the five most compelling.
#1: Chinese LED Lights Emit less Power for a Lower Quality Product
It’s true. Most LEDs manufactured in China employ low-quality 1-2 Watt LED emitters. These low-power lights won’t do much for you when it comes to the flowering stage.
In fact, if you’ve heard that LEDs are excellent for vegetation but poor performers when it comes to flowering, you can probably blame Chinese manufacturing for that rumor. It’s true that your grow needs a blast of high light intensity to get the high yields you’re after. But the theory that LED lights cannot achieve that intensity is completely false. You just need top-quality LEDs.
At California LightWorks, we use premium LEDs from Osram, the leader in LED technology. These are the most powerful single die LEDs on the market, delivering PAR light levels that are at or above the light saturation point of the most demanding plants.
This means that if you avoid Chinese-made LEDs in favor of the top-bin option, you get the best of both worlds in terms of product quality: high light intensity and spectrum variability. Which leads us to the next point . . .
#2: You Won’t Get the Color Spectrum Your Plants Require
When it comes to getting high yields, a potent product, and total control over the growth cycle, spectrum is everything.
Your plants absorb most of the light they need from the deep blue and deep red part of the light spectrum. The highest quality LEDs concentrate their light in those ranges, and lights like those in the SolarSystem series allow spectrum control, so you can manipulate output depending on where you are in the growth cycle.
LEDs made in China have nowhere near the same spectrum quality. These lights typically feature the kind of light colors you’d see in traffic lights or street lights. They may be advertised with grow room photos that make them look legitimate, but trust us: they do not emit the spectrum you need for a successful grow operation.
#3: Chinese LEDs May Not Comply with Electronics Regulations
Chinese factories are not responsible for complying with foreign regulations. It is completely up to the importer to ensure that their products meet quality and safety standards. And once again, if the importing company is new to the LED lighting industry or rushing to make a quick buck off the high demand for grow lights, they are likely to overlook or outright disregard the standards that ensure a safe and effective grow operation for you.
A top-tier LED manufacturer like California Lightworks, on the other hand, already adheres to international and U.S. LED standards and regulations, including UL, CUL, ETL, CE and DLC energy standards.
#4: Chinese LED Grow Lights are Cheaper for a Reason
LEDs that are made in China are cheaper to buy because they’re produced, well, cheaply. They’re made with inferior drivers designed to last only as long as the warranty period. When you hold Chinese LED grow lights, you can feel how light they are, with questionable durability. The LED chips are often small and unstable against current variations. Many of the Chinese-made grow lights promise a lifespan of 50,000 hours but deliver far less.
For California LightWorks grow lights made with Osram LEDs, we also promise a lifespan of 50,000 hours, but we make that promise with the philosophy of “under-promise, over-deliver.” A more accurate lifespan estimate for premium Osram LEDs is 80,000 hours.
#5: Questionable Customer Service
So let’s say you’ve weighed all the major risks of choosing an LED grow light made in China, and you still feel the lower price is worth the gamble. Who do you call when there’s a problem? Who is going to answer your questions about installation, hanging distance, and heat output?
If you bought your LED grow lights from a company selling Chinese-made lights on eBay, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find answers. Even if the seller is based in the U.S., they likely have limited technical knowledge.
When you’re getting familiar with new LED grow lights, easy access to the manufacturer makes all the difference to the ultimate success of your operation . . . especially if you’re trying LEDs for the very first time. If you choose a manufacturer based in the U.S., you have much better odds of speaking with someone who understands your lights right down to the individual components.
This is exactly why California LightWorks does all our manufacturing in the United States. When the construction process happens here at home, we’re better able to oversee the quality of our product and discuss it with customers. It also means we can provide a U.S.-based customer service team that can answer your questions even as you research your purchasing options.
In fact, we highly recommend speaking with the manufacturer of any LED grow light you’re considering, whether that manufacturer is California LightWorks or not. The lights you choose have a tremendous influence on the quality of your grow. It’s not a decision to take lightly. If we can help, let us know.
Whether you are an LED wholesaler or you run an eCommerce business specializing in lighting products, knowing how to import LED lights from China is critical. There are a variety of rules, regulations and import duty requirements that you need to know in order to make your venture a success.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other federal agencies regulate LED lights imported into the U.S. LED lights imported from China are subject to Section 301 tariffs and different import duty requirements than non-LED lights.
Our guide below details everything you need to know about how to import LED lights from China, including import duty, regulations, and more.
There’s a reason that many importers look to the Chinese LED market when needing to source their products.
China is, by far, the largest exporter of LED lights into the United States, accounting for more than 50% of all U.S. LED imports in 2021. The next closest country was Mexico at just under 19%.
Source: International Trade Administration | Trade Data and Analysis
Due to the relatively cheap production prices and short lead times, China is the perfect fit for importers looking to purchase light fixtures.
As the largest producer of LED lights in the world, it makes sense to turn to China when sourcing your LEDs.
That being said, with so many importers turning to Chinese producers, you’re bound to find some suppliers with less than stellar products. It’s critical that you do your research to find a high-quality LED manufacturer that meets your needs.
First, you have to determine what type of LED lights you want to import. The three primary types of LED lights are:
The different types of LEDs that exist are not always interchangeable and are intended for certain uses. Some are brighter, some have higher energy output, and some can only be used for specific types of LED products. Examples of different uses for LED lights include:
Next, you’ll want to ensure that you pay a fair price for your lights. LED lights can be produced for far cheaper in China than they can in the United States. However, due to import duties and additional tariffs, it’s not always an inexpensive venture.
Talk to different suppliers and shop around until you find a seller who is willing to work with you on price. In some cases, you may be able to bulk order and get a reduced price on larger orders. You can also attend trade shows and order samples to get a more intimate knowledge of the product you’re importing and the supplier you’re buying from.
Additionally, you’ll want to thoroughly research both your lights and the supplier producing them to ensure that they meet all standards set by the federal agencies overseeing the import of LEDs into the U.S.
Are any of the goods you import from China manufactured in or sourced from the Xinjiang region? Any goods or materials produced in the region are prohibited from entry into the U.S. Read our article on the Xinjiang import ban to find out more and avoid having your shipment fined and detained.
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Contact our Licensed Expert Consultant >Typically, the import duty for LED lights from China is between 2% and 8%, while some can be imported duty-free. This amount is before factoring in Section 301 duties.
LED lights primarily fall under HS codes 8539, 8541 and 9405. Using these codes as a starting point, you can use a lookup tool to do a search for the exact LED product you’re looking for and determine the import duty you will owe.
CBP recently made a change to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), separating lights and lamps by whether or not they are LEDs. The change was made in order to combat the misclassification of LED products that resulted from the 301 tariffs imposed on a variety of products from China.
Imports from China fall under the General category of duty rates. That means the U.S. has no active trade agreements with China.
In addition to the general duty rate, the U.S. imposes additional tariffs on a wide variety of goods from China. These tariffs are referred to as Section 301 tariffs and they affect roughly $550 billion worth of goods – including LED lights.
The tariffs are broken up into four lists and the additional tariff rate imposed on a product depends on which list the commodity falls under. List 3 imposes an additional 25% tariff while List 4 imposes an additional 7.5% tariff.
HTS classifications for a number of lights, including LEDs, can be found under each of the two lists. Due to the rule change, it’s more important than ever to make sure that you are using the correct tariff classification. The penalties for using the wrong HTS code can vary from fines to legal troubles. Using the help of a Licensed Customs Broker can help ensure that your information is accurate and products compliant.
The Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) oversees and approves the import of all goods imported into the United States. They’re not the only federal agency with oversight, however. There are several other government bodies whose regulations you’ll be required to comply with when importing LED lights.
In addition to the CBP, the FDA also regulates the entry of LED lights into the U.S. While you may not consider something like LEDs to fall under the control of the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA has oversight over a number of non-food-related products, such as:
The FDA can place FD flags on certain HTS codes, identifying products that require further action when submitting an entry request.
The FDA has an FD2 flag on LED lights. This means that when importing LEDs, you must provide the name of the original manufacturing plant and its physical address. This makes it all the more important to do your research and partner with a trusted supplier when sourcing your LEDs from China.
It’s worth noting, this flag does not apply to finished products with LED lights, such as toys, shoes, or appliances.
Due to the fact that LED Lights emit RF (radio frequency), some LED imports may be required to comply with regulations from the FCC.
There are two certifications that can apply directly to LED lights: FCC Part 15 and 18.
FCC Part 15 can be broken down into two parts. Part 15 A is approved for use in industrial settings and not intended for use at home or by the general public. And Part 15 B is approved for consumer and home use.
On the other hand, Part 18 is only intended for use in industrial, scientific, or medial (ISM) settings.
When importing LED Lights from China, it’s important that you determine the intended use of your products, whether it be for consumer use or not. From there, you can check to make sure that the lights you intend to import comply with the correct FCC certification.
While the FDA and FCC are two of the largest regulators of LED lights, there are some other rules and regulations that certain LED lights are required to abide by in order to be allowed entry into the U.S.
This includes regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Consumer Products Safety Act regulates certain seasonal and decorative lights. Other regulations include the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). This sets mandatory requirements regarding energy efficiency and energy production for light fixtures.
Additionally, your products may be required to comply with standards set by Underwriter Laboratories (UL). You must also ensure your LEDs have the proper labels and comply with all state and local regulations.
In addition to the growing popularity of LEDs, the need to import LEDs has grown due to the Biden administration’s decision to restore energy efficiency goals that had been previously rolled back by former President Donald Trump.
The energy efficiency standards initially stem from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The updated standards for lightbulbs were supposed to go into effect in 2020 before the rollback. Those standards have now been reinstated, essentially putting a sell-by-date order on older, incandescent lightbulbs to make way for newer, energy-efficient LEDs. The new standards are enforced by the U.S. Department of Energy.
There are no specific licenses or permits required to import LED lights into the United States. So long as you comply with the rules and regulations for lighting imports outlined above, you should not have any trouble importing.
Customs Bonds are required on commercial imports over $2,500 or imports that are subject to another agency’s regulations (other than the CBP). Due to the fact that LED lights are subject to the standards of the FDA, FCC and other agencies, you’ll be required to obtain a customs bond regardless of the total value.
When obtaining a custom bond, you can either purchase a single entry bond or a continuous customs bond. A single entry bond is good for one import transaction into the U.S. A continuous bond covers all imports during a 12-month period. We can help you secure a continuous bond and can even get it approved the same day.
A customs broker can help with imports by ensuring that your shipment is legal and compliant with all Customs standards.
As we’ve discussed above, there is a lot involved in the importation of LEDs. Ensuring that you’re using the correct HTS codes, complying with all regulations and understanding whether or not your LED import is subject to additional tariffs can be complicated.
A Licensed Customs Broker can do the hard work for you, ensuring compliance, filing paperwork, and ensuring your shipment arrives successfully and in a timely manner.
At USA Customs Clearance, we can help you import LED lights from China no matter your import needs.
If you’re a new importer, we can help you become a registered imported, obtain a customs bond, or simply give you advice on your imports. We even offer bundles for new importers to help you get started with everything you need at a lower price.
If you’re unsure whether your imports comply with all required regulations or you’re having difficulty identifying your product’s HTS code, we can help with that too. Schedule a 1-on-1 consulting session with one of our licensed experts and get answers to any questions you may have.
Contact us at (855) 912-0406 or click on one of the links above to get the import help you need today.
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