What is CPSC eFiling? A plain-English guide for importers
Since 8 July 2026, certificate data for most CPSC-regulated products is filed electronically with every US entry. Here is what that means for you.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
What changed
Before eFiling, importers had to have a certificate for regulated products and show it when asked. Now the data on that certificate is filed electronically with the customs entry, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ACE system.
The rule itself is not new testing: products that did not need a certificate before still do not. What changed is that your certificate data is now checked at the border, entry by entry.
Who it affects
- Importers of consumer products covered by a CPSC rule that requires a certificate. For imported products, the importer is the certifier.
- Amazon sellers and brands who import their own stock are importers too.
- Small shipments are not exempt. De minimis value does not remove the need for an eFiled certificate.
- Customs brokers file for most importers, so they need your certificate data before the goods arrive.
What data is filed
The filed data mirrors what a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) or Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) must contain under 16 CFR part 1110:
- Product identification, with at least one unique identifier such as a model number, SKU or GTIN
- Each CPSC rule the product is certified to
- The certifier’s contact details, and who keeps the test records
- Date and place of manufacture
- Date and place of testing, and the lab that tested
- An attestation that the product complies
Two ways to file
Full message set: every certificate data element is sent through ACE with each entry. Simple for one-off imports, but repetitive.
Reference filing: the certificate data is entered once in CPSC’s Product Registry, and only a reference ID is sent with each entry. This suits importers who bring in the same products again and again. Per the final rule, products imported by international mail must use the Product Registry, entered before the shipment arrives.
Key dates
| Date | Applies to |
|---|---|
| 8 July 2026 | Most CPSC-regulated products that must be certified, except entries from foreign trade zones |
| 8 January 2027 | Products entered from a foreign trade zone for consumption or warehousing |
Dates as published in the final rule (Federal Register, 8 January 2025). Requirements can change, so always confirm with CPSC.
What to do now
- List your SKUs and mark which ones are covered by a CPSC rule.
- Collect certificates and test reports for each SKU, from suppliers or labs if you do not have them.
- Check every field against its source: model numbers, rules cited, dates, lab, factory, contacts.
- Choose a filing route with your broker: Product Registry reference or full message set.
- Keep records for five years from the date the certificate was created.
A plain-language guide, not legal advice and not an official CPSC publication. eFiling Ready is not affiliated with CPSC or CBP. Always confirm requirements with CPSC and your customs broker.
Official sources
- CPSC eFiling: CPSC’s eFiling hub, with pages for importers and brokers, FAQs and the Product Registry.
- Final rule: Certificates of Compliance (Federal Register, 8 January 2025).
- 16 CFR part 1110 (eCFR): current text of the Certificates of Compliance regulation.
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