What certificate do I need to import consumer products?

It depends on the product. Children’s products (for ages 12 and under) subject to a safety rule require a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) backed by third-party testing. General-use products subject to a safety rule require a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC). Products not subject to any CPSC rule generally don’t need a certificate.

What is the difference between a CPC and a GCC?

A CPC certifies a children’s product’s compliance based on testing by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab. A GCC certifies a general-use product’s compliance and can be based on third-party testing or a reasonable testing program, depending on the rule. The CPC’s mandatory third-party testing is the key difference.

Do children's products require third-party testing?

Yes. A children’s product designed or intended primarily for children 12 or younger that is subject to a children’s product safety rule must be tested by a CPSC-accepted accredited third-party laboratory, and the importer must issue a Children’s Product Certificate based on those results.

What happens if I import a product without the required CPSC certificate?

A product subject to a CPSC safety rule that lacks the required certificate of compliance may be refused entry at the border. Importers should have the applicable GCC or CPC ready — increasingly in electronic form — at the time of import. CPSC compliance turns on having the right certificate, backed by the right testing, before the product ships. Reidel Law Firm helps consumer-product importers navigate CPSIA certification and testing requirements on flat-fee terms. Get an import compliance memo.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW

CPSC Rules for Importing Consumer Products

Schuyler 'Rocky' Reidel July 14, 2023 4 min read

If you import consumer products into the United States, the Consumer Product