Compliance Gate Platform: General-Use Products Use Case

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Compliance Gate Platform + General-Use Products

This page explains how you can use the Compliance Gate Platform in relation to General-Use Products sold in the United States. Note that you must ultimately take action based on the latest version/s of the relevant regulations, guidance pages, or other sources.

Process

Step 1: Find product safety rules

Start by creating a requirements list to map out relevant product safety rules for your product

  • Select the US as the market
  • Select the general use products module
  • Select other relevant modules
  • Select specifications
How it works

Step 2: General-Use Products Project Management

Use the project module to break down several key steps of the process for general-use products into actionable tasks.

How it works

Step 3: Book Lab Testing

General-use products must be subject to a reasonable testing program. You can request quotes from third-party testing companies via the platform.

  • Book testing in the US or Asia
  • Compare prices
  • Request free quotations
  • Dedicated lab contact person
How it works

Step 4: General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)

You are required to create a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) for each product. We provide a template.

Note: The GCC information is required for eFiling

See templates list

Other features

LexDatabase

Product safety rules are subject to updates. With the LexDatabase, these can be tracked from a single dashboard.

  • Track upcoming regulations
  • Track updates in the last 90 days
  • We send email alerts
How it works

Support Tickets

You can ask questions about the general-use product compliance process and requirements to our support team

  • Ask questions about GCC requirements
  • Ask up to 5 questions per support ticket
  • We normally respond in 1 to 2 business days
How it works

Note: The Compliance Gate Platform is continuously updated. Note that the video and the images may not fully reflect the current version of the platform.

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Interested in learning more about general use products?

Read all general use product guides

FAQ

How can the Compliance Gate Platform help us with the process for general-use products?

The Compliance Gate Platform can help you with the following steps in the compliance process for general-use products:

1. Identify mandatory product safety rules

Examples

16 CFR part 1262 – Magnets

16 CFR part 1263 – Button cell or coin battery

16 CFR part 1610 – Wearing apparel

2. Book third-party testing to verify compliance with applicable product safety rules

3. Use the GCC template to create a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)

4. Track future and updated product safety rules

You can also send your questions to our support team if you get stuck during the process or have questions. We have worked on many projects involving general-use products destined for the United States.

Why do I need to track new versions of product safety rules?

Product safety rules are not static. New versions replace older ones which can result in new and updated:

  • Product requirements
  • Labeling requirements
  • Testing requirements

Compliance with product safety rules is rarely something you do once and never have to revisit. It is therefore important to track new versions, which can be done via the LexDatabase.

Can I manage the general-use products process on my own instead?

Yes, you can certainly manage the entire process on your own. The CPSC provides expensive guidance and FAQs on their website, which is free of charge.

That said, the Compliance Gate Platform provides a visual workflow, ready-made templates and support from an experienced team that can help you save time and money (compared to if you try to piece everything together on your own).

Does the platform cover the entire process for general-use products?

No, there are aspects that are beyond the capabilities of the Compliance Gate Platform. For example, the platform does not have the ability to re-design your product to become compliant.

For instance, 16 CFR part 1263 sets requirements concerning battery compartments. While you can identify 16 CFR part 1263 as applicable to your product using the platform, it cannot redesign your products battery compartment on your behalf.

The purpose of the Compliance Gate Platform is to help you manage the administrative process around product compliance, but there are limits to what it can achieve.

Can we submit eFiling GCC data via the Compliance Gate Platform?

You can access the CPSC eFiling portal via the service page within the Compliance Gate Platform.

However, the actual registration and eFiling submission of GCC data takes place within the CPSC portal.