OnJanuary 8, 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published its long-anticipated final ruleintroducing mandatory electronic filing (eFiling) requirements for consumer product imports.
This updated process represents the most significant change to U.S. product safety enforcement in over a decade and aims to increase transparency, traceability, and compliance at the border.
BeginningJuly 8, 2026, importers will be required to upload detailed product safety information—digitally and in advance—whenever a covered consumer product enters the United States.
As a trusted testing and compliance partner for global brands,BACL is preparing our clients and manufacturers to meet these new data, documentation, and verification requirements.
What Is CPSC eFiling?
eFilingis an electronic submission of key compliance data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the time of import.
Instead of manually presenting compliance documents, importers will submit a structuredProduct Registry Entry (PRED), aligned with:
• The Children’s Product Certificate (CPC), or
• The General Certificate of Conformity (GCC).
This information flows directly from the importer to CPSC in real time, enabling faster risk assessments and border decisions.
When Will eFiling Become Mandatory?
The CPSC’s implementation timeline is:
• Mandatory for most imports: July 8, 2026, All consumer products requiring a GCC or CPC must begin eFiling on this date.
• Mandatory for Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ): January 8, 2027
• Voluntary Pilot Program (Now Active)
CPSC encourages importers to join early to test system connectivity, validate internal processes, and avoid disruptions when the rule becomes mandatory.
BACL recommends clients begin internal preparation now—especially high-volume importers.
Who Is Affected?
eFiling applies toany importer bringing into the U.S. a consumer product that requires:
• A CPC (children’s products), or
• A GCC (general consumer products regulated by CPSC).
This includes—among many groups:
• Toys
• Apparel & footwear
• Household products
• Electrical goods
• Juvenile products
• Furniture
• Seasonal/holiday goods
• Textile products with safety standards
• Products containing regulated chemicals (e.g., lead, phthalates)
If your product needs testing or certification under any CPSC rule, it will fall under the new eFiling requirements.
What Information Must Be Submitted?
The importer must provide structured digital data including:
• Product identifying information
• Mandatory safety standards
• Testing laboratory information
• Certificate details (CPC/GCC)
• Manufacturing date and location
• Tracking label information (for children's products)
• Contact details of importer of record
This information must be verified and accurate, as errors will lead to cargo holds or examination.
How BACL Supports Compliance Ahead of the Deadline?
As a long-established partner for global brands and supply chains,BACL is preparing a complete support package to help importers comply with eFiling requirements:
1. Complete Testing & Certification Services
Aligned with all CPSC mandatory standards for CPC and GCC.
2. Data Accuracy & Alignment
We help ensure all certificate data matches the digital requirements of the Product Registry.
3. Supplier & Factory Readiness Programs
Training factories to prepare correct test reports, batch-level documentation, and traceability elements.
4. Exporter–Importer Coordination
Ensuring the certificate data provided by suppliers is accurate, complete, and compatible with eFiling fields.
5. Pre-Audit of Certificates
Verifying testing, labeling, and documentation before the importer attempts to file electronically.
Why This Matters?
CPSC’s eFiling requirement meansimporters will face stricter scrutiny and potential border delays if compliance documentation is incomplete or inconsistent.
The rule also increases accountability in the supply chain—making accurate testing and certification essential.
Partners like BACL play a critical role in ensuring manufacturers and importers are fully prepared before July 8, 2026.
Conclusion
With the upcoming mandatory eFiling rule, importers must strengthen their compliance processes and documentation across all regulated product categories. Beginning preparation early is key to avoiding disruptions.
BACL is committed to supporting brands, manufacturers, and importers through each stage of this transition—ensuring product safety, regulatory compliance, and smooth market access into the United States.
BACL Services
BACL can provide you efficient and reliable global market certification services, such as IECEE CB Scheme NCB and CBTL, United States(NRTL, FCC, ENERGY STAR), Canada(ISED, SCC), EU(CE), United Kingdom (UKCA AB & AOC), Northern Ireland(UKNI), Korea(KC), Japan(MIC), Singapore(IMDA),China Hong Kong(OFCA), China Taiwan (NCC, BSMI), Egypt (NTRA, GOEIC), South Africa(SABS), Vietnam (MIC), Saudi Arabia (SASO, CITC), Philippines (NTC), Thailand (NBTC), Malaysia (SIRIM), India(BIS, WPC, TEC)and other services to assure your products still smoothly entering into the international trade market even when the international trade barriers are becoming increasingly fierce.
