CPSC's Mandatory eFiling Requirement Is Now in Effect: What Importers Need to Know
Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash
toys and affected other CPSC products
On July 8, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officially implemented its mandatory eFiling program for Certificates of Compliance. The new requirement applies to importers of CPSC-regulated consumer products and requires compliance certificate information to be submitted electronically before products enter U.S. commerce. According to the CPSC, the program is designed to improve the agency's ability to identify high-risk imported products, reduce unnecessary inspections for compliant importers, and strengthen coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Requirements for products imported into Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) and later entered for consumption or warehousing will become effective on January 8, 2027.
What Has Changed?
The most significant change is how compliance information is submitted—not what products must comply.
Previously, importers of products such as children's toys and other regulated consumer products were generally required to create and maintain a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) or General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) and provide it to CPSC or CBP only upon request. Under the new eFiling program, importers must now ensure that the required certificate information is electronically transmitted before the shipment enters U.S. commerce, representing a shift from a document-retention model to a proactive electronic reporting process.
Importantly, the new rule does not create new testing, certification, or product safety requirements. Instead, it modernizes how existing compliance information is shared with regulators, allowing CPSC to target higher-risk shipments while facilitating the clearance of compliant imports.
Which Businesses Are Affected?
The eFiling requirement applies to importers of many CPSC-regulated consumer products, including:
Toys and children's products
Household appliances
Consumer electronics
Furniture
Sporting and recreational goods
Lighting products
Power tools
Other consumer products subject to CPSC certification requirements
Businesses importing these products should review their compliance obligations to determine whether their products require a CPC or GCC.
What Should Importers Do Now?
Importers should verify that they have complete and accurate compliance documentation before products are shipped to the United States. Although many customs brokers will submit the required eFiling data through CBP's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), importers remain responsible for ensuring that the certificate information provided is accurate and complete.
Companies should also coordinate closely with overseas manufacturers, testing laboratories, and customs brokers to ensure the required compliance information is available before entry. Businesses that previously relied on retaining certificates for possible inspection should update their import procedures to accommodate the new electronic submission process.
How TradeSmart USA Can Help
Mandatory eFiling represents another step toward increased importer accountability and data-driven customs enforcement. Businesses that proactively review their compliance procedures will be better positioned to minimize shipment delays, customs examinations, and regulatory risks.
At TradeSmart USA, we help importers understand CPSC requirements, determine whether their products require a CPC or GCC, evaluate importer responsibilities, coordinate with customs brokers, and establish practical import compliance procedures. If your company imports consumer products into the United States, now is an excellent time to review your compliance program before your next shipment arrives.