July 8, 2026

CPSC eFiling Requirements 2026

Beginning July 8, 2026, importers of consumer products that require a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) or Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) must electronically submit certificate data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set as part of the CPSC eFiling program.

The new requirement modernizes how compliance information is submitted during the import process. Product safety standards, testing requirements, and certification obligations remain unchanged. The primary change is that certificate data must now be transmitted electronically during customs entry.

This guide explains how CPSC eFiling works, which products are affected, what certificate information must be submitted, and how businesses can prepare before the implementation deadline.

What Is CPSC eFiling?

CPSC eFiling is an electronic certificate submission program developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Previously, manufacturers and importers generally prepared and maintained General Certificates of Conformity (GCCs) or Children’s Product Certificates (CPCs) and made them available upon request by the CPSC or CBP. These certificates were not routinely submitted during customs entry.

Beginning July 8, 2026, required certificate information must be electronically transmitted through CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) using the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set when products are imported into the United States.

The new system enables CPSC and CBP to review compliance information earlier in the import process, helping improve product safety oversight while reducing manual document requests.

Importantly, CPSC eFiling does not introduce new product safety standards or testing requirements. Manufacturers and importers must continue to comply with the same regulations that applied before the implementation of eFiling.

When Do the New Requirements Take Effect?

The implementation timeline is as follows:

July 8, 2026

Electronic filing becomes mandatory for most imported consumer products that require either a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) or a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC).

January 8, 2027

The requirement expands to products entering the United States through a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).

Businesses exporting products to the United States should review their compliance procedures and prepare for the transition well before these implementation dates.

Which Products Are Affected?

The requirement applies to consumer products that are already subject to CPSC certification requirements.

In general, products requiring either a GCC or CPC will also be subject to CPSC eFiling.

Examples may include:

Household products
Furniture
Mattresses
Home décor products
Kitchenware
Electrical products
Sporting goods
Recreational products
Consumer electronics
Seasonal products
Toys
Baby products
Children’s furniture
Juvenile products

Whether a product is covered depends on the applicable CPSC regulations, not simply the product category. Importers should determine whether their products require certification before shipment.

Which Certificates Must Be Submitted?

Depending on the product type, importers may need to electronically submit certificate data for one of the following certificates.

General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)

A General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) applies to general-use consumer products that are subject to one or more CPSC-enforced safety rules.

The certificate confirms that the product complies with all applicable federal consumer product safety requirements based on product testing or a reasonable testing program.

Common examples include:

Furniture
Mattresses
Household products
Kitchenware
Sporting goods
Certain electrical products
Other products regulated under specific CPSC safety rules

Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)

A Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) applies to products designed or intended primarily for children aged 12 years or younger.

In most cases, a CPC must be supported by testing conducted by a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory before the certificate can be issued.

Examples include:

Toys
Children’s furniture
Children’s apparel
Baby products
Childcare articles
Educational products intended for children

If you manufacture children’s products, you should also understand the certification requirements under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

What Certificate Information Must Be Submitted?

One common misconception is that CPSC eFiling requires businesses to prepare a completely new certificate.

This is not the case.

CPSC eFiling generally requires the same certificate information already contained in a GCC or CPC. Rather than creating a new document, importers must electronically transmit the required certificate data during customs entry.

The certificate data includes the following seven required elements.

1. Product Identifier

The certificate should clearly identify the product covered by the filing.

Typical information includes:

Product name
Model number
SKU
Item number
Product description

The product description should be specific enough to match the certificate to the imported product.

2. Citation to Each Applicable Safety Rule

The certificate must identify every applicable CPSC regulation or consumer product safety rule that applies to the product.

Depending on the product, this may include:

Applicable 16 CFR regulations
CPSIA requirements (for children’s products)
Other CPSC-enforced product safety regulations

If an exemption applies under a specific regulation, it should also be identified where appropriate.

3. Manufacturer or Importer Information

The responsible company issuing the certificate must provide:

Company name
Full mailing address
Telephone number

For imported products, the U.S. importer is generally responsible for issuing the GCC or CPC.

4. Record Keeper Contact Information

The certificate must identify the individual responsible for maintaining supporting compliance records.

Include:

Name
Mailing address
Email address
Telephone number

This individual should be able to provide supporting documentation if requested by the CPSC or CBP.

5. Date and Place of Manufacture

The certificate should include:

Month and year of manufacture
Factory location
City or administrative region
Country of manufacture

If products are manufactured at multiple facilities, the correct production location should be identified.

6. Date and Place of Compliance Testing

Provide information about the testing used to support certification, including:

Test date or test report date
Testing location

The testing information should correspond to the documentation supporting the certificate.

7. Third-Party Laboratory Information

If a third-party laboratory was used to support certification, include:

Laboratory name
Full mailing address
Telephone number

For many general-use consumer products certified with a GCC, third-party laboratory testing is not mandatory. However, if third-party testing is used as the basis for certification, the laboratory information should be included.

How Does the CPSC eFiling Process Work?

The CPSC eFiling process follows the same product compliance workflow that manufacturers and importers already use. The main difference is that certificate data must now be electronically submitted during customs entry instead of being retained and provided only upon request.

The typical process is as follows:

Determine whether the product requires a GCC or CPC.
Identify the applicable CPSC regulations.
Complete the required product testing.
Prepare the GCC or CPC.
Coordinate certificate information with your customs broker or filing agent.
Submit certificate data through CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
CBP and the CPSC review the certificate information during customs processing.

The product testing and certification process remains unchanged. The primary difference is that certificate data is now submitted electronically as part of the import entry process.

What Has Changed Compared with the Previous Process?

The table below summarizes the key differences between the previous certificate process and the new CPSC eFiling requirements.

Previous Process	CPSC eFiling Process
GCC or CPC retained by the manufacturer or importer	Certificate data submitted electronically during customs entry
Certificates provided only upon request	Certificate information transmitted through ACE
Manual document requests	Electronic certificate submission through the PGA Message Set
Compliance verified after document review	Compliance information available during customs processing

Although the submission process has changed, manufacturers and importers must continue to meet the same product testing and certification requirements that applied before the implementation of CPSC eFiling.

How Should Importers Prepare?

Companies exporting consumer products to the United States should begin preparing before the implementation deadline.

Recommended actions include:

Review products that require a GCC or CPC.
Confirm the applicable CPSC regulations for each product.
Verify that product testing is current and supports certification.
Organize test reports and supporting compliance documentation.
Review manufacturing records to ensure they are complete and accurate.
Coordinate with your customs broker regarding ACE filing requirements.
Consider using the CPSC Product Registry for products imported regularly.
Ensure certificate information is complete before products are shipped.

Preparing in advance can help reduce administrative delays and support a smoother customs clearance process.

Keep in mind that there is no de minimis exemption for CPSC eFiling. Products requiring a GCC or CPC must comply with the filing requirements regardless of shipment value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Importers should avoid the following common compliance issues.

Assuming eFiling Replaces Product Testing

CPSC eFiling changes how certificate information is submitted. It does not replace existing product testing or certification requirements.

Using Outdated Test Reports

Ensure that supporting test reports reflect the current product design, materials, and manufacturing process.

Incorrect Product Identification

Product descriptions should accurately match the imported products and the accompanying certificate.

Missing Applicable Safety Regulations

All applicable CPSC regulations should be identified on the GCC or CPC.

Incomplete Manufacturing Information

Manufacturing dates and production locations should be complete and accurate.

Waiting Until Shipment

Preparing certificate information only after production has been completed may increase the risk of customs delays.

The new CPSC eFiling requirements represent one of the most significant updates to U.S. consumer product import compliance in recent years. Although the testing requirements remain unchanged, importers must now ensure that certificate data is electronically submitted during customs entry.

Manufacturers, exporters, and importers should review their existing compliance processes, verify that product testing and certification are up to date, and work with customs brokers to prepare for the transition.

Early preparation can help reduce shipment delays, improve customs clearance, and support continued compliance with U.S. consumer product safety regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Does CPSC eFiling replace a GCC or CPC?

No. Importers must still prepare a GCC or CPC where required. CPSC eFiling only changes how certificate information is submitted during customs entry.

2. Does CPSC eFiling replace product testing?

No. Products must continue to meet all applicable testing and certification requirements. The new requirement only changes the certificate submission process.

3. Does every imported product require eFiling?

No. Only consumer products that require a GCC or CPC under applicable CPSC regulations are subject to the eFiling requirement.

4. Is there a de minimis exemption?

No. Products requiring a GCC or CPC must comply with CPSC eFiling regardless of shipment value.

5. Do I still need a GCC or CPC after eFiling?

Yes. eFiling does not replace the certificate itself. It requires the certificate data to be electronically transmitted during customs entry.