What Importers Need to Know About New Certificate Requirements

Importers of regulated consumer products now have another important compliance requirement to manage. As of July 8, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission began implementing mandatory eFiling for Certificates of Compliance for most regulated imported consumer products. For companies bringing products into the United States, this means certain certificate data must be filed electronically as part of the import process.

This update is especially important because CPSC eFiling is not limited to toys. While children’s products are often the first category importers think of when they hear “CPSC,” the new eFiling requirements may apply to a much broader range of consumer goods, including bicycles, clothing, button cell and coin batteries, and even lawnmowers. (The full list can be accessed here.)

For importers, the key takeaway is simple: if your product is subject to a CPSC rule, requires certification, you may now need to electronically file the required certificate data before your goods can move smoothly through the import process.

How Sheltered International Can Help

Sheltered International can manage CPSC eFiling on your behalf as part of the import and customs brokerage process. To do this, importers will need to register their account in the CPSC eFiling portal and then invite Sheltered International as a designated user or trade partner.

Sheltered’s ID is: ops@siships.com

Once access is set up, our team can help coordinate the filing process, review the required data elements, and support your shipment through customs clearance. This is especially helpful for importers managing multiple product categories or consumer goods that may fall under CPSC oversight.

What is CPSC eFiling?

CPSC eFiling is the electronic submission of certificate information for imported products that are subject to CPSC certification requirements. Instead of relying only on paper certificates or internal compliance files, importers must provide specific certificate data electronically through the import entry process or through the CPSC Product Registry. 

The goal is to give CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection better visibility into regulated consumer products entering the country. By having certificate data available electronically, CPSC can more efficiently identify high-risk shipments while allowing compliant importers to move legitimate goods through the process with fewer unnecessary delays.

Examples of product categories included in the CPSC guidance include:

  • Toys
  • Clothing
  • Carpets and rugs
  • Button cell and coin batteries
  • Imitation jewelry
  • Infant sleep products
  • Child chairs and children’s furniture
  • Mattresses
  • Pacifiers
  • Bicycles and bicycle helmets
  • Cigarette and multipurpose lighters
  • Fireworks
  • Lawn mowers
  • Strollers and carriages

 

It is also important to note that the HTS list is not exhaustive. In other words, just because a product’s HTS code is not on the list does not automatically mean that no CPSC certificate is required. Importers are still responsible for determining whether their products are subject to CPSC certification requirements.

This is where working closely with an experienced customs broker and freight forwarder like SiShips can help. Product classification, CPSC applicability, testing documentation, and entry data all need to align.

What Information is Required?

To prepare for CPSC eFiling, importers should make sure they have the required certificate data available for each product. The key data elements include:

Product ID: A unique identifier for the finished product. This may include a SKU, UPC, GTIN, model number, serial number, or another unique alphanumeric identifier.

Citation Codes: The specific CPSC safety rules, bans, standards, or regulations to which the finished product is being certified.

Manufacture Date: The date the product was manufactured or assembled. At minimum, this should include the month and year.

Manufacture Place: The location where the product was manufactured, produced, or finally assembled. This must include the city, state or region, and country.

Product Test Date: The date the finished product was most recently tested for compliance with the applicable safety rules.

Testing Laboratory: The name and address of the laboratory that conducted the testing. For children’s products, this must be a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory.

Point of Contact: The name and contact information of the person responsible for maintaining the product’s test records, including address, email, and phone number.

Having this information organized before goods ship can help reduce the risk of clearance issues, data mismatches, or last-minute scrambling when an entry is being filed.

Prepare Now to Avoid Delays

CPSC eFiling is an important shift for importers of regulated consumer products. Review your products, confirm whether CPSC certification applies, gather the required data, and make sure your trade partners have the access and information they need before your next shipment arrives.

If you are unsure how the new CPSC eFiling requirements apply to your products, contact us today and SiShips can help you navigate the process and manage the filing requirements on your behalf.