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Import requirement

What is the CPSC eFiling requirement?

CPSC eFiling is the electronic filing of the data from a certificate of compliance when a regulated consumer product is imported. It became mandatory for most regulated products on July 8, 2026. It adds no new testing — the certificate behind it was already required by law.

— watch the question underneath eFiling answered in under a minute: does this product need a certificate?

What eFiling actually is

CPSC describes eFiling as an initiative that lets importers of regulated consumer products electronically file the data elements from a certificate of compliance through a Partner Government Agency (PGA) message set. In plain terms: the certificate data now travels to CPSC electronically at the time of entry, instead of only being produced later on request.

The important word is data. eFiling changes how a certificate's information reaches CPSC. It does not change whether a certificate is needed, what it has to say, or the testing that stands behind it.

Who has to eFile

The requirement sits with the importer of record for a regulated consumer product. If you are importing a product that CPSC requires a certificate for, the filing obligation is yours. CPSC has said eFiling does not apply to domestic manufacturers who are not importing.

The dates

eFiling became mandatory for most regulated consumer products on July 8, 2026. For regulated consumer products entered into a Foreign Trade Zone and later withdrawn, the requirement applies on January 8, 2027. A voluntary stage ran before the mandatory date so importers could practice without shipping delays.

What eFiling does not change

CPSC has been explicit that eFiling creates no new testing, certification, or compliance obligation. If a product needed a certificate before July 8, 2026, it still needs the same certificate, supported by the same testing. What changed is the transmission method, not the underlying rule. That distinction matters, because it means the real question for most importers is the one underneath eFiling: does this product need a certificate at all, and which kind?

Two things people mix up

First, "eFiling" names two different things. One is the certificate data filed through a PGA message set when goods are entered. The other is certificate data uploaded to the CPSC Product Registry — an account held in the certifier's own name. CPSC brands both as eFiling, so the only reliable way to tell them apart is to name the destination.

Second, whether a specific product needs a certificate is a product-level question. An HTS code being on CPSC's flagging list means an electronic certificate is required for entry under that code — but it does not, by itself, tell you which certificate your product needs, and the list is not exhaustive. That answer comes from the product's own attributes.

Next step

The free Certificate Requirement Check answers the question underneath eFiling — whether your product needs a CPSC certificate, and which kind — from the product's own attributes, not just its HTS code.

Run the free Certificate Requirement Check →

Want to see what the Product Registry data behind an eFiling actually looks like? See a sample →

When this changes

Tell me when the rules on this page change

The rules on this page do change — an eFiling date, a list, a threshold. Leave an email and a short note goes out if one does: a few a year at most, one click to stop, and the address is used for nothing else. A summary of the guide and a link arrive now, as confirmation.

Just want a copy? . How the address is handled is in the privacy policy.

Related

  • CPC vs GCC — which certificate does my product need?
  • CPSC vs FCC: which certificate does my product need?
  • Customs is holding my shipment for a CPSC certificate
  • What is a Children's Product Certificate (CPC)?
  • What is a GCC certificate? (General Certificate of Conformity)
  • CPSC disclaim vs certificate: how to tell which one applies
  • What documents does my customs broker need?
  • What is Reese's Law (button cell battery rules)?

Sources

  • CPSC — eFiling program overview (slick sheet) · read 2026-08-13
  • CPSC — eFiling: a modern approach for filing certificate data · read 2026-08-13
  • CPSC — CPSC Implements Mandatory eFiling for Certificates of Compliance (news release) · read 2026-08-13

Information current as of 2026-09-03.

Legal Disclaimer+

This report is an automated, informational screening tool only. Tiana & Co. is not a licensed customs broker and does not conduct customs business. This report does not constitute legal advice, a compliance determination, or a certification of admissibility for any supplier, product, or shipment.

Verdicts in this report are produced by deterministic code, not by a language model. The explanatory paragraph accompanying each check is model-generated and checked against the cited sources before delivery. No part of this report is reviewed by a person before it is issued, so every material finding and citation should be confirmed against the underlying government source before it is relied on.

This report reflects data available as of the report date. The OFAC SDN and Consolidated lists, the other U.S. Consolidated Screening List constituents, the UFLPA Entity List, CBP withhold release orders, CPSC's eFiling list, and regulatory guidance are updated frequently and without prior notice. Users should re-screen periodically and consult qualified counsel for compliance decisions.

Name-similarity results do not establish or rule out the identity of any company. Where multiple similarly named records exist, none should be treated as confirmed without independent verification against the primary government source.

This tool is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a substitute for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or any other government agency. No warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any finding.

Use of this report for import, procurement, sanctions-compliance, or investment decisions is at the user's own risk. Anyone with compliance obligations under UFLPA, OFAC, or CPSC regulations should consult qualified legal counsel before making a transactional decision.

Legal Disclaimer

This report is an automated, informational screening tool only. Tiana & Co. is not a licensed customs broker and does not conduct customs business. This report does not constitute legal advice, a compliance determination, or a certification of admissibility for any supplier, product, or shipment.

Verdicts in this report are produced by deterministic code, not by a language model. The explanatory paragraph accompanying each check is model-generated and checked against the cited sources before delivery. No part of this report is reviewed by a person before it is issued, so every material finding and citation should be confirmed against the underlying government source before it is relied on.

This report reflects data available as of the report date. The OFAC SDN and Consolidated lists, the other U.S. Consolidated Screening List constituents, the UFLPA Entity List, CBP withhold release orders, CPSC's eFiling list, and regulatory guidance are updated frequently and without prior notice. Users should re-screen periodically and consult qualified counsel for compliance decisions.

Name-similarity results do not establish or rule out the identity of any company. Where multiple similarly named records exist, none should be treated as confirmed without independent verification against the primary government source.

This tool is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a substitute for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or any other government agency. No warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any finding.

Use of this report for import, procurement, sanctions-compliance, or investment decisions is at the user's own risk. Anyone with compliance obligations under UFLPA, OFAC, or CPSC regulations should consult qualified legal counsel before making a transactional decision.

© 2026 Tiana & Co. LLC · Import Intelligence for small importers · Not a licensed customs broker. Not legal advice. Sources and retrieval dates are shown with each result.
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