What every décor inspection covers
Décor is bought on looks, so most disputes are about finish, colour and damage rather than function. Every inspection follows the same core steps before the product-specific checks begin:
- Quantity and packing status by style and colour, against the purchase order.
- Comparison with the approved sample and, for hand-made goods, with the agreed range of variation (lightest, target and darkest reference pieces work better than a single golden sample).
- Finish and surface: plating, lacquer, paint and polish evenness, rust, cracks, chips, filler and repairs.
- Safety and use: sharp edges and points, stability of standing pieces, strength of hooks and hanging hardware, electrical tests on anything that plugs in.
- Labels and marks: origin marking, care and warning labels, barcodes and carton marks.
- Packing: inner protection, carton strength, drop test for fragile goods, moisture control for wood and fibre.
Sampling follows ISO 2859-1; our AQL guide explains how sample sizes and accept numbers work. Findings are classed as critical, major or minor and the report ends with one verdict: Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
How the checklist changes by material and product
| Family | What changes in the inspection |
|---|---|
| Metal décor | Solid metal versus plated base metal, lacquer and plating thickness, tarnish and rust, casting porosity, weld quality |
| Wood décor | Moisture content, cracks after drying, mould and insect damage, finish adhesion, timber legality papers |
| Stone and marble | Natural veins versus cracks, resin filling, inlay gaps, weight and crate strength |
| Lighting | On-site electrical checks (dielectric strength, earth continuity, polarity), cord anchorage, stability and the plug and rating label for the market. Product certification itself is done by accredited labs. |
| Bathroom accessories | Corrosion resistance in humid rooms, fixing kits and load on rails and hooks, dispenser pumps, set matching |
| Garden décor | Outdoor durability (galvanising, coating thickness, UV fade, frost resistance), stability on uneven ground, pump safety on fountains |
Start with the material pages, such as brass and copper décor or wooden décor, then the product page for the item you buy. Bathroom and garden ranges have their own overview pages: bathroom accessories and garden décor and ornaments.
Market rules that shape a décor checklist
Most décor is not covered by a product-specific law, so general safety and chemical rules decide what must be checked:
- EU and UK: the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) for traceability and safe design; REACH restrictions such as lead and nickel; LVD and EMC and RoHS and WEEE for lighting; the EU Deforestation Regulation for listed wood products.
- USA: California Prop 65 warnings (lead in brass, finishes); UL or ETL listing expected by retailers for lamps; the Lacey Act for wood.
- Food contact: bowls, trays and serveware sold for food need food-contact compliance (FDA, EU 1935/2004 and LFGB) or a clear "decorative only" marking.
- Packing: solid-wood crates and pallets must meet ISPM 15.
For a full country checklist, see the USA, EU and UK import compliance pages.
Where décor is made in India
India's Foreign Trade Policy lists Jodhpur, Jaipur, Barmer, Saharanpur, Srinagar and Anantnag as Towns of Export Excellence for handicrafts, Firozabad for glass artware and Agartala for bamboo and cane handicrafts. Moradabad and Varanasi were added for handicrafts under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Moradabad metal craft and Saharanpur wood craft are registered Geographical Indications.
Clear To Load is based in Jodhpur and has inspectors in Jaipur, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Delhi NCR and Kolkata. Cluster details, products by town and travel are on the home décor inspection in India page and the coverage page.
Booking a décor inspection
Send the purchase order, approved sample photos and any buyer test reports when you book. For hand-made goods, agree the tolerance for natural variation with the supplier before production; it is the single biggest cause of disputed results. Prices are on the pricing page and you can book an inspection online.
Sources
- DGFT, Foreign Trade Policy Appendix 1B: List of Towns of Export Excellence (read 14 Oct 2026)
- EPCH press release: Moradabad and Varanasi declared Towns of Export Excellence (31 Mar 2023)
- IP India GI Registry: Moradabad Metal Craft, application 161 (certificate 31 Mar 2014, read 14 Oct 2026)
- IP India GI Registry: Saharanpur Wood Craft, application 184 (certificate 31 Mar 2014, read 14 Oct 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (applies from 13 Dec 2024), EUR-Lex
- ECHA: Substances restricted under REACH, Annex XVII (read 14 Oct 2026)
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on food-contact materials, EUR-Lex
- California OEHHA: Proposition 65 warnings (read 14 Oct 2026)
- USDA APHIS: Lacey Act (read 14 Oct 2026)
- IPPC: ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade