In this article, learn about:
What WERCS is
Which retailers require WERCS compliance
How to register and submit products
How to maintain WERCS compliance over time
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In the past few years, retailers have placed a growing emphasis on environmental and regulatory compliance, especially for products that include chemicals or hazardous materials. For suppliers, staying aligned to their retailer’s compliance expectations means understanding WERCS.
WERCS system is designed to assist retailers like Walmart, Publix, The Home Depot, Target, etc. in product onboarding and compliance. Without WERCS compliance, products in certain product categories may be blocked from item setup, delayed during onboarding, or rejected entirely.
What Is WERCS?
WERCS, which stands for Worldwide Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Solutions, is a system that gathers and organizes important information about a product, specifically if the product contains chemicals or any hazardous content. WERCs checks how safe the product is, how it affects the environment, and whether or not it meets legal rules.
WERCSmart example of its process
Suppliers use WERCSmart, a software managed by UL Solutions, to handle WERCS product registrations. Instead of sending the same information to each store, suppliers only need to enter their product details once. WERCS then shares that data with all participating retailers, which saves time and reduces errors.
While WERCS facilitates compliance, it is important to note that WERCS itself does not approve or reject products. Instead, it provides retailers with structured data to support their internal review processes. Retailers make final decisions based on their own standards and category-specific requirements.
Why Retailers Require WERCS
Retailers utilize WERCS to comply with federal, state, and internal regulatory standards. These may include OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, GHS (Globally Harmonized System), EPA regulations, and internal chemical management programs.
Below are examples of how leading retailers use WERCS:
Walmart: Requires WERCS submissions for chemical-containing products before they can be set up in SupplierOne.
Publix: Uses WERCS to validate product safety and screen for hazardous materials.
The Home Depot: Integrates WERCS data as part of its item onboarding process, particularly for household and DIY products.
Target: Relies on WERCS to support its chemical policy and sustainability goals, specifically for “formulated” products.
Each retailer uses WERCS a little differently, but the main goal of safer products and clean information is the same.
Which Products Require WERCS Compliance?
Not all products require WERCS submission. However, if a product includes chemical compounds or comes with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), WERCS is likely required. Categories that commonly require registration include:
Household cleaning products
Aerosol sprays and pressurized containers
Paints, solvents, adhesives, and sealants
Automotive chemicals and fluids
Batteries, especially lithium-ion
Personal care and cosmetic products with active ingredients
Pest control and insecticides
Fragrance-containing or flammable items
Retailers will typically flag the need for WERCS compliance during the item setup process. However, it is best practice for suppliers to proactively assess whether a product falls within these categories prior to initiating setup.
How to Register and Submit to WERCS
The WERCS compliance process begins with registration and submission through the UL WERCSmart portal.
Step 1: Create a WERCSmart Account
Visit ulwercsmart.com to register your company and begin the product submission process.
Step 2: Enter Product Information
Suppliers will be required to fill out detailed product level information, such as:
Product type
Safety documents, labels and testing documents/certificates
Full chemical formulation, including ingredient percentages and CAS numbers
Physical and chemical properties
Packaging type and material composition
UPCS
Transportation Information
Step 3: Pay Registration Fees
WERCSmart offers a limited, standard, and premium subscription price list which depends on how many products you register for and how many retailers you’re selling through. Base prices for their limited plan include $440 for formulated products, $352 for enhanced articles, and $77 for articles. The more products registered, the more the product rates are reduced.
Step 4: Submit and Share Data
Once a product is registered in WERCSmart, it goes through two stages of quality control: automation assessment and human assessment. First, the system checks that the data in the registration matches the safety documents and certifications provided. If everything is consistent, the results are automatically approved and sent to retail partners. If there are inconsistencies—such as mismatched ingredient data or entry errors—the registration is flagged for manual review by a UL specialist. When all the required information is entered, WERCS generates regulatory documentation and transmits the product record to selected retailers for their internal review.
WERCSmart example of product registration assessment
Step 5: Retailer Validation
Each retailer will review the information in their own system. If everything looks good, they’ll approve the product and allow suppliers to continue setup and sourcing. If not, the retailer may require additional documentation to be provided.
For example, Walmart will not let you complete item setup in Supplier One until WERCS compliance is confirmed.
Related Reading: How to Do Item Setup in Supplier One
Timeline and Review Expectations
WERCS submissions can range anywhere from a few days to weeks, depending on:
Product complexity
Data completeness
Retailer backlog and review schedules
Suppliers should plan for this timeline during product launch or refresh cycles. Early submission is recommended to prevent item setup bottlenecks.
Maintaining Ongoing WERCS Compliance
WERCS compliance is not a one-time activity. Suppliers will need to stay up to date each year and anytime changes are made.
Key ongoing requirements include:
Each product must be renewed every 12 months to remain active in the WERCS system. Expired entries may trigger retailer delisting or blocked maintenance requests.
Any change to the product formulation requires a new submission, even if minor.
New retail partners must be added to each product record to authorize WERCS data sharing.
Changes that affect safety, warnings, or physical structure to packaging or label updates may require documentation updates.
Suppliers are encouraged to maintain internal calendars and assign compliance ownership to get these tasks completed on time.
Best Practices for WERCS Submission
To avoid mistakes and delays, here are some helpful tips when submitting your product to WERCS:
Work with your product and legal teams early to collect the correct ingredient information.
Double-check that all chemical codes match the right amounts.
Make sure packaging details—including any smaller packages inside—are listed clearly.
Keep track of which products you’ve submitted and set reminders to renew them every year.
Put one person in charge of WERCS compliance and retailer communication.
Following these steps helps reduce the risk of non-compliance, delays, or rejections. It also builds trust with retail partners by demonstrating accuracy and preparedness. While the submission process can take time, it supports product safety, regulatory accuracy, and transparent communication across the supply chain.
Protect Your Business at Walmart
Deductions and compliance fines are commonplace when selling to any retailer. SupplyPike helps suppliers get paid and get better. Our software tests the validity of deductions, collects proof documentation, and takes disputing a claim down to a few (or zero) clicks.
Our software also helps suppliers avoid fines by digging into root cause analysis and providing executive-level oversight of the supply chain. Schedule a meeting with a team member to find out if SupplyPike is right for your retail business.
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