Find US, EU, UK, CA, & AU requirements
Are you importing children’s products or general-use products to the United States? Starting July 8, 2026, you will be required to submit certificate data via the CPSC eFiling portal.
That said, you must register before you can submit data via eFiling. This guide explains what you need to register and the information you must submit for each shipment that requires eFiling going forward.
Content Overview
FREE CONSULTATION CALL (30 MIN)
Ask questions about compliance requirements- Countries/markets:
.png)
.png)
.png)
- Learn how we can help your business
You will speak with:Ivan Malloci
Step 1: Get your product ready for eFiling
Before you can submit certificate data via eFiling, you need to have certificate data in the first place. eFiling is an extension of requirements for children’s products and general use products that have been in place for almost two decades.
A summary of the requirements can be found below:
Children’s products
✅ Identify relevant children’s product safety rules
✅ Arrange testing with a CPSC-accepted lab
✅ Obtain test report
✅ Create a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)
✅ Affix tracking label
General Use Products
✅ Identify relevant product safety rules
✅ Arrange testing (based on a reasonable testing plan)
✅ Obtain test report
✅ Create a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)
Learn more
eFiling for Toys & Children’s Products in 7 Steps
eFiling for General Use Products in 6 Steps
Step 2: eFiling registration
| Step 1 | Step 2 |
 |
 |
Source: United States CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
Once your products are tested and certified, you can proceed to eFiling registration. Doing so is free and can be done via the CPSC eFiling portal.
Insert your email address. This is usually your work email address that is actively monitored to stay up to date with messages and notifications.
Company name
Write the name of the company importing the products. This should likely be the same company specified on the CPC or GCC.
Importer of Record (IOR) Number
You need an Importer of Record (IOR) Number before you can complete the registration for eFiling. This is a unique ID assigned by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the company responsible for imported goods.
Examples
- US Businesses: EIN
- Sole proprietors: SSN
- Foreign businesses: Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN)
CAIN
CBP Form 5106 must be submitted before obtaining a CAIN. You can find CBP Form 5106 here.
Step 3: eFiling of Certificate Data
You can proceed to submitting certificate data via eFiling once registration is complete. The information listed below is based on the CSV Template for Bulk Upload V3 provided by the CPSC.
Note that the information required for eFiling largely reflects information required in a CPC or GCC. Companies that are already importing compliant products, therefore, already have most of the information they need to submit certificate data via eFiling.
| Product information |
| Product ID ID type GTIN, UPC, or SKU Model Number Serial Number Registered Number Alternate Identifier Product Name (Model) Trade/Brand Name Product/Model Description Product/Model Color Product/Model Style |
| Certificate Type |
| Option A: Specify CPC or Children’s Product Certificate for toys and other children’s products.
Option B: Specify GCC or General Certificate of Conformity for general use products |
| Manufacturer information |
| New manufacturer: Yes / No GLN Alternate ID Company name Small batch ID Address Apt/Suite State/province Zip/postal code Country Phone and email |
| Production information |
| Manufacturer date Prosecution start and end dates Lot/batch number Lot number assigned by: Manufacturer or seller |
| Lab information |
| Type New lab: Yes / No Lab CPSC ID Lab GLN Address Apt/Suite State/province Zip/postal code Country Phone and email |
| Test report data |
| Citation codes (i.e., children’s product safety rules) Test report ID Test report URL Access key (if any) Lab test date |
| Point of Contact (POC) for Test Result Records |
| POC New: Yes / No ID GLN Name Address Apt/Suite State/province Zip/postal code Country Phone and email |
| Production information |
| Manufacturer date Prosecution start and end dates Lot/batch number Lot number assigned by: Manufacturer or seller |
eFiling Registration FAQ
Do we need to register for eFiling?
Yes, companies importing either children’s products or general use products are required to register for eFiling via the CPSC website before their first shipment arrives, after July 8th, 2026.
Is eFiling registration required for all US importers?
No, it is only a requirement if you import products that need either a CPC or a GCC. As such, not all importers are required to register for CPSC eFiling.
Do domestic US manufacturers need to register for eFiling?
No, eFiling is required for importers of children’s products and general use products for the time being. Not companies that only manufacture products domestically.
Do foreign exporters need to register for eFiling?
Not necessarily if you are an exporter selling products to a US importing business. In that case, it is likely the US entity that will be responsible for registration.
For example, if a US company imports button cell battery devices from a factory in China, then the US importer needs to register.
Do we need to register for CPSC eFiling if importing products from China?
Yes, if you import children’s products or general use products from anywhere in the world, then you need to submit certificate data via eFiling, which requires registration. This is not strictly a requirement for goods imported from China.
What is the deadline to register for eFiling?
You must register for eFiling before your next shipment arrives in the United States, starting from July 8th, 2026.
As such, you could register after the date, assuming your shipment is inbound after registration is completed.
Is eFiling registration free?
Yes, the eFiling registration is free. That being said, there are costs associated with eFiling in the sense that product testing and certification is required before there is anything to submit via eFiling.
Do we need to test our products before eFiling registration?
Yes, you must create a CPC or GCC (depending on the product type) and arrange testing. You will need to submit certificate and test information when submitting eFiling data.
Is eFiling registration required for Amazon sellers?
Yes, companies importing children’s products and general use products to the US, that are later sold via Amazon, are subject to the same eFiling requirements as everyone else.
What can happen if we forget to register for eFiling before importing goods?
This could potentially trigger a review of the shipment. That said, the CPSC states that shipments will not be refused entry simply because eFiling data was not submitted (which can only be done post-registration).
In any case, it is a good idea to ensure that you are registered and ready for eFiling well before your cargo departs.
Can non-US companies register for eFiling?
I did some research into this and found the following:
a. The CPSC requires an Importer of Record (IOR) Number as part of the eFiling registration process
b. The US CBP states that a Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) can be issued to foreign company entities
That said, I am personally not aware of any non-US company that has completed registration using a CAIN.
