CPSC eFiling starts July 8, 2026: what importers from China must do
Customs & rules · Updated
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finalized a rule that changes how certificates of compliance are filed for imported consumer products. Starting July 8, 2026, importers of most regulated products must file their certificate data electronically with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the time of entry. This is called eFiling.
If you import regulated goods from China, such as toys, children's products, electronics, lithium batteries, or other items covered by a CPSC safety rule, this affects your shipments. This guide explains what changed, who it covers, and how a small importer gets ready without scrambling at the border.
What actually changed
Before this rule, a certificate of compliance traveled with the shipment as a paper or PDF document that you produced if CBP or CPSC asked. Under eFiling, the certificate data is transmitted electronically to CBP at entry through the Partner Government Agency (PGA) Message Set, the same electronic channel CBP already uses for other agencies.
The certificate itself is not new. US importers of regulated consumer products were already required to have a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) or a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) based on testing. What changes is that the certificate data now has to be filed electronically as part of the customs entry, rather than held on the side.
Key dates
- July 8, 2026: eFiling becomes mandatory for most regulated consumer products imported into the US.
- January 8, 2027: the requirement extends to products imported into a Foreign Trade Zone and later entered for consumption or warehousing.
- Before July 8, 2026: CPSC runs a voluntary beta so importers and brokers can test their filings in advance.
Who this covers
eFiling applies to consumer products subject to a CPSC safety rule, ban, standard, or regulation that already require a certificate. Common examples for small China importers include children's products and toys, products with small parts, electronics and chargers, products containing lithium batteries, sleepwear, and many household items.
If your product needs a CPC or GCC today, plan for eFiling. If you are not sure whether your product is regulated, that is exactly the question to settle before your next order ships, not after it lands.
How a small importer gets ready
- Confirm whether your products are regulated by CPSC and need a certificate. Your product category and HS code are the starting point.
- Make sure you have valid test results from a CPSC-accepted lab and a complete certificate (CPC or GCC) with all required data elements.
- Tell your customs broker or forwarder which products are CPSC-regulated so the certificate data is filed correctly at entry.
- Build the certificate step into your timeline before goods leave China, so a missing data element does not hold your shipment at the port.
The importer of record is responsible for the certificate, even when a broker files it. The practical fix is to work with one party that connects your product classification, your certificate data, and the customs entry, so the filing is right the first time.
FAQ
When does CPSC eFiling become mandatory?
July 8, 2026 for most regulated consumer products imported into the US. Products imported into a Foreign Trade Zone and later entered for consumption or warehousing are covered starting January 8, 2027. CPSC runs a voluntary beta before the mandatory date so filers can test.
Does CPSC eFiling apply to small shipments from China?
Yes. The requirement is based on whether the product is regulated by a CPSC safety rule and needs a certificate, not on shipment size. A small parcel of regulated goods, such as toys or electronics, is covered the same as a full container.
What happens if I do not eFile the certificate?
Filing an entry without the required certificate data can cause the shipment to be held, delayed, or refused entry by CBP, and can expose the importer to penalties. The certificate data needs to be ready and filed correctly at the time of entry.
Who is responsible for filing, me or my broker?
The importer of record is responsible for having a valid certificate, even when a customs broker transmits the data. In practice your broker or forwarder files it, so they need to know which of your products are CPSC-regulated and have the certificate data in hand before entry.
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