Understanding US CPSIA Product Certification

The United States is the world’s largest toy consumer, accounting for over a quarter of global toy retail sales. In 2022 alone, U.S. toy sales reached USD 29.2 billion. To ensure the safety and quality of toys, U.S. federal law requires all toys imported into or sold in the U.S. to comply with American toy safety standards. As a result, all toys exported to the U.S. must be accompanied by a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), certifying that they meet U.S. toy safety requirements.

Let’s take a closer look at what a CPC certificate is.

What is a CPC Certificate?

CPC stands for Children’s Product Certificate, and it applies to all products intended primarily for use by children aged 12 and under. This includes toys, cribs, children’s clothing, and more.

1. If a product is manufactured within the U.S., the manufactureris responsible for providing the CPC.

2. If the product is made outside the U.S., the importermust provide the CPC.

This means cross-border sellers, as “importers,” must furnish a CPC certificate to platforms like Amazon when selling products manufactured in countries like China to the U.S. market.

Why is CPC Certification Required?

Amazon U.S. requires that all children's toys and child-related productsmust have a valid Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)before listing. The CPC is similar to a Certificate of Conformity (CoC).

Even though it is called a "certificate," the CPC is not issued by a government agencyand does not need to be filed with any authority. It is essentially a self-issued declarationby the manufacturer or importer, stating that the product complies with all applicable U.S. child product safety regulations and laws.

Having a valid CPC is mandatoryfor exporting any children’s products to the U.S. Without it, the following issues may arise:

1. Products may be seized by U.S. Customs

2. Freight forwardersmay refuse to ship the products

3. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)may issue a mandatory recall

4. Amazonmay refuse to listyour products

5. You will also need a test reportto support the CPC

What Products Require a CPC Certificate?

All products covered under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)must have a CPC. Broadly, this includes all toys and children’s products sold in the U.S.A product must comply if any of the following apply:

1. The product is marketed for use by children under 12

2. The packaging includes itemssuitable for children under 12

3. The product is displayed or sold in stores/sections targeted at children under 12

4. The product is generally recognizedas intended for children under 12

In summary, any product that could reasonably be interpreted as a children's product requires a CPC certificate.

Examples of products that require CPC (including but not limited to):

1. Plastic toys

2. Plush toys

3. Dolls

4. Children's clothing

5. Baby products

6. Children's furniture

7. Children's accessories

8. Children's jewelry

9. Toy vehicles

10. Wooden toys

11. Beach buggies

Important Note:

The CPC certificate must be supported by testing conducted by a CPSC-accepted lab. Before initiating CPC certification, sellers should confirm that the testing lab is authorized by the CPSC—this is crucial!

Why Choose JJR Test Lab?

JJR Group’s laboratories are authorized by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)to provide CPC testing and certification servicesfor children’s products. We help you efficiently obtain CPC certification and ensure a smooth path for your products to enter the U.S. market.

Verify our accreditation on the CPSC official website:

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/