【USA, 9 June 2026】STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre) exhibited at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy 2026, North America's premier event for the toy industry taking place from 5 June to 8 June in Milwaukee, the USA.

The 2026 edition brought together over 350 specialty toy manufacturers, independent retailers and industry professionals from around the globe. Under this year’s central theme, The Art & Science of Play, the event marked the debut of the Astra Experience interactive zone where attendees could test innovative toys first-hand, alongside a series of deep-dive, expert-led educational seminars addressing the latest retail strategies and regulatory shifts.

Throughout the four-day event, STC's professional team engaged with industry representatives ranging from homegrown local labels to major global brands. The discussions centred on the latest trends in the toy industry, recent product regulations and market developments across North America, providing clients with professional strategic advice to expand their businesses overseas, as well as STC’s bespoke TIC Direct Validation services for Amazon sellers, ensuring robust compliance pathways for brands looking to enter international e-commerce markets smoothly and efficiently.

"This year's theme perfectly mirrors our core mission. Whilst toy design is an art, ensuring consumer safety is a rigorous science," noted Mr Norman ARONOWITZ, Sales Director of North America at STC. "With North American and global jurisdictions tightening restrictions on toy safety and chemical compliance, manufacturers and retailers face heightened hurdles while pursuing innovation. STC provides a comprehensive suite of TIC services from product R&D through to pre-shipment, ensuring that products comply with all safety and performance standards before entering the market."

For more information about STC's TIC services in the USA, please feel free to contact us.

About STC

Established in 1963, Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, providing over 60 years of testing, inspection, and certification expertise. It offers a wide range of conformity assessment services for myriad products including Toys, Children’s Products, Textiles, Apparel, Footwear, Furniture, Electrical and Electronic Products, Food, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, and Medical Devices, as well as Rail Transit and Automotive Parts. To meet the growing global demand for testing and certification services, not only has STC set up cutting-edge testing laboratories and offices in China’s major regions, such as Guangdong, Shanghai, Changzhou and Guangxi, but it has also established offices and testing laboratories in Vietnam, Japan, the USA and Germany. Simultaneously, STC is expanding its business scale to offer comprehensive, professional testing and inspection services to clients from all sectors. For more details about STC, please visit our website: www.stc.group.

【Hong Kong, 30 May 2026】As Hong Kong actively develops the Northern Metropolis and aims to establish dedicated facilities for "testing and certification", local industries, re-export trade, and the testing and certification sectors are embracing brand-new opportunities. To promote local quality brands, enhance public awareness of product safety and strengthen support for Brand Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) and the Hong Kong Certification Centre (HKCC) jointly hosted the 2026 Certificate Award Ceremony and Product Safety Carnival, which officially opened on Friday, 29 May, at Citywalk Phase 1 in Tsuen Wan. The ceremony attracted over 400 representatives from businesses, government officials and the public, creating a vibrant and star-studded atmosphere.

This year, STC was honoured to invite Professor Dong SUN, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, as the guest of honour for the Certificate Award Ceremony, where he presented certificates to 47 enterprises certified by HKCC and had valuable exchange with industry representatives. Professor SUN stated in his speech, "Hong Kong possesses a robust accreditation system mutually recognised by around 120 economies. Together with our professional technical standards, talent pools and our distinct roles as a 'super-connector' and 'super-value adder', Hong Kong's testing and certification industry is well-positioned to help more enterprises 'go global' and expand into international markets through high-level professional services. We aim to leverage Tested in Hong Kong, Certified in Hong Kong to build Hong Kong brands trusted by the global market." He also noted that STC has long served as a "quality gatekeeper", with its certification schemes successfully driving high-quality development across various industries and commended all the participating enterprises for their commitment to product and service excellence.

As Hong Kong’s first non-profit testing, certification and inspection organisation, STC has attained global recognition from numerous international bodies, serving as a trusted partner for companies entering Mainland China and international markets. Over the years, HKCC has rigorously upheld local product quality over the years, ensuring that tested and certified items meet the highest safety and quality standards before being introduced to the market. To elevate the quality of the Chinese medicine sector in Mainland China and Hong Kong and help it reach the global stage, STC has partnered with the Shouchuang Chinese Medicine Trade Platform. This collaboration aims to seamlessly connect the Chinese medicine sector with the market, driving the local market toward a new milestone of “reliable quality, pricing and traceability". Mr. Tom TANG, JP, Chairman of STC, expressed encouragement regarding the partnership in his welcoming speech, "Over the past year, STC has continuously collaborated with various provincial and municipal governments in Mainland China, boosting the Greater Bay Area and Southern China to forge an active 'going-global chain' for enterprises. Through our certification services, safe and high-quality products are propelled from local boundaries to the international arena, fully assisting enterprises in exploring overseas markets to truly achieve 'going out'."

Additionally, “Midlife, Sing & Shine! 4" star Daniel CHAU made a special appearance to show his support for the event. He encouraged the public to purchase certified quality products and delivered a captivating live performance, leaving fans and guests enchanted and bringing the event to a climax. In addition to the Award Certificate Ceremony, the Product Safety Carnival exhibition is on from 29 May to 4 June (Friday to Thursday) for citizens to purchase quality products.

About STC

Established in 1963, Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, providing over 60 years of testing, inspection, and certification expertise. It offers a wide range of conformity assessment services for myriad products including Toys, Children’s Products, Textiles, Apparel, Footwear, Furniture, Electrical and Electronic Products, Food, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, and Medical Devices, as well as Rail Transit and Automotive Parts. To meet the growing global demand for testing and certification services, not only has STC set up cutting-edge testing laboratories and offices in China’s major regions, such as Guangdong, Shanghai, Changzhou and Guangxi, but it has also established offices and testing laboratories in Vietnam, Japan, the USA and Germany. Simultaneously, STC is expanding its business scale to offer comprehensive, professional testing and inspection services to clients from all sectors. For more details about STC, please visit our website: www.stc.group.

Media Enquiries：

Jemmy LEUNG        Tel：2666 1867        E-mail：jemmyleung@stc.group / hkmcd@stc.group

Jack SIU                    Tel：2666 1813        E-mail：jacksiu@stc.group

STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre) will be exhibiting at ASTRA Marketplace & Academy 2026. In line with this year’s theme, "The Art & Science of Play," STC warmly invites you to visit our booth to explore the science of safety behind every toy. STC’s specialists will be available to share the latest regulatory requirements and provide tailored TIC solutions to ensure your products meet the highest standards for the USA, Canada and international markets.

Venue: Baird Convention Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203, USA

Booth: 200

Dates: 5 – 8 June 2026

Visit STC for a Free On-site Consultation offering comprehensive market know-how to secure your smooth and fast product launches offline and online. If you would like to know more about STC's TIC services in the USA or TIC Direct Validation services for Amazon sellers, please feel free to contact us.

Welcome to register by 28 May 2026 (Thursday) via this link to attend the Certificate Award Ceremony and receive a gift after the event (limited quantities available, while supplies last).

Details also available on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Customer Enquiries:

Ms. Tammy WAN

+852 2666 9249

tammywan@stc.group / hkcc@hk-cc.hk

Ms. Eunice CHIU

+852 2661 2083

eunicechiu@stc.group

Media Enquiries:

Ms. Jemmy LEUNG

+852 2666 1867

jemmyleung@stc.group

General Enquiries:

Mr. Sam YEUNG

+852 2666 1851

samyeung@stc.group

【Hong Kong, 8 April 2026】HKCC (Hong Kong Certification Centre), a subsidiary of STC (Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre), is proud to announce with effect from April 2026, three laboratories have been authorised as CB testing laboratories under HKCC’s National Certification Body (NCB) for the IECEE CB Scheme. The new members are: CTS (Dongguan) Testing Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen HongBiao Certification & Testing Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Zhonghan Testing Technology Co., Ltd.

The IECEE CB Scheme is the IEC System for Conformity Assessment for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components. CB test reports and certificates are mutually recognised by 54 member countries, facilitating international market access for compliant products. HKCC is the only China NCB located in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and is authorised to issue CB certificates against over 160 standards across 8 product categories, including batteries, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), household appliances, lighting and IT / AV products. In the past three years, HKCC has issued more than 2,000 CB certificates.

With the addition of the three laboratories delivering excellent testing capabilities, HKCC now operates six authorised CB testing laboratories. HKCC will keep strengthening its laboratory network and technical capabilities to provide a broader range of high‑quality testing and certification services to support manufacturers and exporters all over the world.

About STC

Established in 1963, Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, providing over 60 years of testing, inspection, and certification expertise. It offers a wide range of conformity assessment services for myriad products including Toys, Children’s Products, Textiles, Apparel, Footwear, Furniture, Electrical and Electronic Products, Food, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Products, and Medical Devices, as well as Rail Transit and Automotive Parts. To meet the growing global demand for testing and certification services, not only has STC set up cutting-edge testing laboratories and offices in China’s major regions, such as Guangdong, Shanghai, Changzhou and Guangxi, but it has also established offices and testing laboratories in Vietnam, Japan, the USA and Germany. Simultaneously, STC is expanding its business scale to offer comprehensive, professional testing and inspection services to clients from all sectors. For more details about STC, please visit our website: www.stc.group.