If your business sells consumer products into the United States, you’ve likely had a Certificate of Compliance sitting in a folder somewhere. You knew you needed it. You had it. And for years, that was enough.

Starting July 8, 2026, it’s not enough anymore.

New CPSC eFiling requirements mean shippers of regulated consumer products must now electronically submit certificate data at the time of import—not just keep it on file. Here’s what’s changing, who it affects, and the steps you can take to help prevent your shipments from being held at the border.

What’s actually changing

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has required Certificates of Compliance for regulated consumer products for years. That part isn’t new. What’s new is how and when that certificate data gets submitted.

Under the CPSC eFiling requirements taking effect July 8, 2026, importers must electronically file their certificate data through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)—the US Customs system—at the time of entry. In the past, you needed to have your certificate available if asked. Now, it needs to be transmitted upfront, every time a regulated shipment crosses the border.

Miss that step, and your shipment may be held.

Who’s affected

The short answer: anyone importing finished consumer products into the US that the CPSC regulates. That covers more product categories than most people realize. The list includes children’s products (toys, clothing, furniture, car seats), mattresses and bedding, bicycles and helmets, household goods and appliances, consumer electronics, textiles and apparel, and imitation jewelry.

One thing worth noting: there’s no low-value exemption here. These CPSC eFiling requirements apply regardless of shipment value. If your product is regulated and it’s entering the US, the rule applies.

If you’re not sure whether your products fall under CPSC jurisdiction, the CPSC has a Regulatory Robot tool on their website—a helpful starting point for identifying which rules apply to your specific products.

The two ways to file

There are two submission methods under the new CPSC eFiling requirements, and which one you use depends on how often you ship a particular product. Pre-register your products for easier submission.

CPSC Product Registry (Recommended)

The importer pre-registers their product certificate data in the CPSC Product Registry and receives three reference identifiers: (1) Certifier ID, (2) Product ID, and (3) Certificate Version ID. At the time of entry, the broker transmits only these three identifiers within the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) entry filing—rather than the full certificate data.

Full Certificate Data at Entry

If a product has not been pre-registered, the full certificate details may be requested at the time of entry. This includes: product identifier (GTIN), applicable CPSC safety rules, date of manufacture, manufacturer name and address, most recent test date, testing laboratory name and address, and contact for test result records.

What happens if you don’t comply

Failure to provide required CPSC certificate data at the time of entry may result in: entry delays, shipment holds, examination and documentation requests, and potential refusal of entry into the US.

Beyond delays, non-compliance can create downstream costs: storage fees, additional documentation requests, re-routing, and potential penalties. For high-volume operations, even a short hold can disrupt fulfillment timelines in ways that are hard to recover from quickly.

The good news: if you’re already selling regulated products in the US, you almost certainly have the underlying certificate data. The work ahead is less about getting compliant and more about making sure that data can be transmitted at the right moment in your shipping workflow.

How to prepare now

The deadline is July 8. That gives you a defined window to act. Here’s where to start.

Check your product list against CPSC coverage. Not every product you ship will be regulated. Identify which SKUs fall under CPSC jurisdiction so you know exactly what’s in scope. The CPSC’s HTS code list maps Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes to regulated product categories and is a useful reference.

Locate your existing certificates. For products you’re already selling, you should have a CPC or GCC on file. Confirm you have current, valid certificates for all regulated products you’re importing.

Decide on your filing method. If you ship regulated products regularly, consider pre-registering in the CPSC Product Registry so you can use the abbreviated reference filing. If your product mix is varied, start with the full filing method.

Talk to your carrier. Your carrier or customs broker will have specific guidance on how certificate data should be formatted and transmitted through their systems. Don’t wait on this conversation—carriers are getting their own systems ready, and early coordination helps.

Stay current with CPSC updates. The CPSC has published FAQs, webinars, and technical guidance. It’s worth bookmarking and checking regularly as implementation details continue to be refined.

The bigger picture

Regulatory changes like the CPSC eFiling requirements are a reminder that cross-border shipping isn’t just a logistics challenge—it’s a compliance one, too. The data your shipments carry is increasingly as important as the products inside them.

The sellers who navigate this smoothly won’t be the ones who scramble in late June. They’ll be the ones who treated July 8 like a real deadline months ago, got their certificate data organized, aligned with their carriers, and updated their workflows before the first shipment.

You still have time to be one of them.

For more information on the CPSC eFiling requirements, visit theCPSC eFiling Resource Center.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or trade compliance advice. We recommend consulting with your legal counsel or customs broker to determine how these CPSC regulations apply to your specific business.

Candace Barnette
Candace Barnette
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