US CPSC eFiling Mandatory Electronic Declaration Interpretation (Effective July 8, 2026)

The new regulations jointly issued by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stipulate: As of July 8, 2026, all consumer products regulated by CPSC must complete the electronic declaration eFiling before entering the US; failure to declare or incorrect information will result in direct seizure of goods, return, or fines.

1. What is eFiling?

eFiling = Mandatory Electronic Registration of CPSC Compliance Certificates ----- Simply put:

• Previously: Paper/PDF certificates were "for reference" and provided only during random inspections by customs;

• Now: Before the goods arrive at the port, the compliance data must be uploaded to the US Customs ACE system for automatic verification during customs clearance; without eFiling → unable to clear customs and goods will be seized directly.

It is a digital import product access mechanism jointly created by CPSC and CBP, aiming to transform regulation from "post-event inspection" to "pre-entry approval", improving traceability and safety standards.

2. Which products need to be declared? (Almost all consumer products)

Covering approximately 600 HS tax codes and 15,000+ types of consumer products, mainly including:

• Childrens products: toys, childrens clothing, baby cribs, pacifiers, childrens furniture, etc.

• Small appliances: chargers, adapters, kitchen small appliances, etc.

• Home furniture: tables, chairs, mattresses, curtains, carpets, etc.

• Sports and outdoor: fitness equipment, bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, ice hockey shoes, etc.

• Cosmetics and beauty products: hair care oil, skin care products, cosmetics (non-washable / washable types), etc.

• Samples, small batches, low-value goods: no exemptions, samples must also be declared

Self-check tool (ASIN precise verification): Log in to the eFiling page on the CPSC website, open the Regulatory Robot tool, enter the ASIN in the store for sale, product name, purpose, material, HTS code, target audience, etc. as basic information, the system can accurately determine whether the corresponding ASIN belongs to the CPSC regulated product category and whether mandatory electronic declaration is required, completely avoiding category misjudgment risks.

• In a nutshell: More than 90% of the consumer products exported to the US are within this scope.

3. 7 core data that must be submitted (all are indispensable)

The essence of eFiling is to upload the key data of the CPC/GCC certificate, not the entire report, but the following 7 items:

1. Product ID: product model, SKU, UPC or GTIN

2. Citation Codes: applicable CPSC safety regulations / standards (such as ASTM F963, CPSIA, 16 CFR Part 1303)

3. Date of Manufacture: production date / batch date

4. Place of Manufacture: full name and address of the manufacturing factory (must be consistent with the certificate)

5. Test Date: most recent test date

6. Testing Laboratory: name and number of the CPSC recognized laboratory

7. Point of Contact: domestic contact person (responsible for traceability)

4. Two declaration methods (how to operate)

Method 1 | Full PGA (direct declaration, suitable for small sellers / single batch)

Enterprise Data Organization ↓ Submit [7 core data items + valid CPC/GCC certificates] to the customs broker ↓ The customs broker logs into the ACE system, enters the complete data item by item, and submits the declaration ↓ The system automatically verifies the information ↓ If verification is passed → Generate an electronic declaration receipt ↓ The goods arrive at the port → Normal customs clearance and release.

Method 2 | Reference PGA (registration and filing, suitable for long-term stable shipments)

Step 1: One-time registration and filing in advance → Enterprise organizes 7 core data items ↓ Log in to the CPSC Product Registry platform and enter the information ↓ After review is passed → Obtain three sets of codes: Certifier ID + Product ID + Version ID

Step 2: Subsequent shipments of each batch → Enterprise only provides [three sets of IDs] to the customs broker ↓ The customs broker associates the IDs in the ACE system and submits the declaration ↓ The system automatically retrieves the filing information for verification ↓ If verification is passed → Generate a receipt ↓ The goods arrive at the port → Normal customs clearance and release