Among compliance requirements for lighting products exported to the United States, the FTC Lighting Facts Label is an easily‑overlooked yet critical requirement. Both traditional foreign‑trade enterprises and Amazon cross‑border sellers must understand this regulation if their products target the US market.
1. What Is the FTC Energy‑Efficiency Label?
Developed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FTC Lighting Facts Label is a mandatory energy‑related disclosure requirement for lighting products. It presents key product performance parameters in a standardized format to help consumers compare products before purchase.
A standard FTC Lighting Facts Label includes the following information:
Brightness: Light output measured in Lumens
Estimated Annual Energy Cost: Calculated based on a standard 3‑hour‑per‑day usage cycle
Lifetime: Expected service life in hours
Color Temperature: Light colour measured in Kelvin (K), e.g. 2700K warm white, 5000K cool white
Power Consumption: Wattage (Watts) of the product
The label is generally printed in black‑and‑white. It shall be clearly displayed on product packaging and may also appear on product images for e‑commerce listings.
2. Scope of Application: Which Products Require the Label?
The FTC Lighting Facts Label applies to general‑purpose lighting products sold in the US market, including but not limited to:
LED bulbs (A19, BR30, PAR38, GU10 and other common types)
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
Other luminaires for general illumination
Products usually exempt from FTC label requirements:
Special‑purpose lighting (traffic signals, stage lights, medical lighting, automotive lamps, etc.)
Non‑lighting electronics (home appliances, power adapters, etc. — note that DOE and CEC requirements may still apply)
If you are unsure whether your product falls within the scope, assess it against product specifications and intended use, or consult a qualified third‑party testing laboratory.
3. Compliance Procedure to Meet FTC Label Requirements
The FTC label process focuses on accurate test data and correct label formatting. The complete workflow is as follows:
Confirm product applicabilityVerify that your product is covered by the FTC rule and has passed relevant safety certifications such as UL or ETL.
Complete energy‑performance testing at an accredited laboratory
LM‑79: Photometric testing (luminous flux, power, colour temperature, efficacy, etc.)
LM‑80: LED source lumen‑maintenance lifetime testing
All label data must be traceable to official test reports.
Calculate estimated annual energy costCompute annual energy cost following the standard formula defined by the US Department of Energy, using measured test results.
Generate the compliant labelProduce the label strictly following FTC formatting rules:
Include all mandatory fields: brightness, annual energy cost, lifetime, colour temperature and power
Ensure legible fonts and correct layout
Black‑and‑white or colour formats are acceptable as long as content remains readable
Apply label to packaging and sales pages
Submit data to the FTC Lighting Facts database (optional)FTC does not mandate registration. Submitting product data to the Lighting Facts database improves market transparency and is referenced by many buyers and online platforms.
4. Required Documentation
Prepare the following materials for FTC label compliance:
Product specification sheet (electrical parameters, luminous flux, colour temperature, etc.)
Energy‑performance test reports (LM‑79, LM‑80)
Packaging artwork with reserved position for the FTC label
Manufacturer or importer company information (name, address, etc.)
5. Reference Timeline
Testing: 5‑7 working days, subject to product type and test items
Label creation and review: 1‑2 working days
Overall turnaround: approximately 1‑2 weeks; expedited service can shorten the lead‑time to 3‑5 working days
6. Main Purposes of the FTC Label
Fulfill regulatory requirements for market accessThe FTC label is mandatory for lighting goods sold in the US. Missing or non‑compliant labels may lead to listing removal, customs detention or regulatory fines.
Meet Amazon platform requirementsAmazon enforces FTC label checks for lighting categories. Listings without valid Lighting Facts labels may be restricted or taken down.
Build consumer trustClear performance data helps buyers evaluate products quickly and can positively impact conversion rates.
Support other voluntary certificationsData from the FTC label can serve as supporting evidence for voluntary programmes such as Energy Star.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Must the FTC label be printed on product packaging?Yes. FTC rules require the label to be clearly visible on retail packaging. For online sales, it is also recommended to display the label within listing images.
Q2: Where can I obtain valid test reports?Reports must be issued by an accredited testing laboratory. Self‑generated internal data will not be accepted.
Q3: Can I fill in label values manually?No. All label figures must come from official laboratory test reports. Misrepresentation may constitute deceptive trade practice and carry legal risks.
Q4: Does Amazon audit FTC label compliance?Yes. Amazon conducts manual and algorithm‑driven spot‑checks. Missing or incorrectly formatted labels will cause listing review failures.
8. Professional Compliance Support
As a qualified third‑party testing organisation, we provide end‑to‑end services including US FTC Lighting Facts Label, DOE certification, CEC certification and EU ERP compliance for lighting manufacturers. We possess rich practical experience supporting Amazon‑seller compliance.
Our services cover:
Photometric and lifetime testing (LM‑79, LM‑80)
Standard‑compliant FTC label generation
Amazon listing compliance guidance
Multi‑market regulatory consulting
