Amazon US Responsible Person Service

Case Introduction

A seller on Amazon shared that he sells electronic products on Amazon US. Although his listing has not been removed, his goods were detained by customs. They cannot be released and circulated without a US Responsible Person and fcc certificate.

It is reported that toy products were also detained at the same time. Customs requires a CPC Certificate for release; otherwise, the products will be deemed non-compliant and destroyed!

So, what exactly is a US Responsible Person? What are fcc and CPC? Which products require such compliance? Let’s find out in detail with us today!

 What is a US Responsible Person?

US Responsible Person, also known as a United States Agent, refers to a qualified U.S. agent that must be appointed by a foreign entity that manufactures, processes, compounds, or imports products into the United States.

A U.S. Agent cannot be an individual; it must be a stable institution or company capable of communicating with regulatory authorities around the clock.

Under regulations from U.S. authorities including the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), FCC (Federal Communications Commission), and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), foreign sellers in fields such as medical devices, cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, laser products, wireless devices, children’s toys, and maternal & baby products must register and appoint a U.S. Agent before entering the U.S. market. This agent handles emergency situations and daily communications.

A U.S. Agent must have a commercial business address in the U.S. with valid proof of actual existence and operation, such as corporate bank statements or utility bills under the company name. It must be reachable by phone or mail during normal U.S. business hours, and may not rely solely on email, voicemail, or personal addresses, which do not meet regulatory requirements.

Therefore, major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, TEMU, SHEIN, Walmart, and others must comply with U.S. local laws and require sellers to provide valid U.S. Agent information.

Using a shell corporation (a non-operating company) as a US Responsible Person is a violation. Such applications will be rejected by regulators and platforms, and goods will be detained at customs.

Which Sellers Need to Register a US Responsible Person?

Sellers meeting the following conditions must register a US Responsible Person:

1. Selling products within the United States;

2. Products requiring compliance with U.S. certifications such as FCC, CPC, FDA, EPA, DOE, Law Label, Energy Star, etc.;

3. Manufacturer located outside the United States.

Applicable Product Categories

1. Radio products requiring fcc certification

e.g., WiFi devices, Bluetooth devices, mobile phones, computers, fax machines, electronic equipment, radio transceivers, radio-controlled toys, telephones, etc.

2. Children’s products requiring CPC Certification

e.g., toys, cradles, hip seats, children’s clothing, etc.

3. Products requiring FDA certification

e.g., medical devices, cosmetics, food, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, laser products, etc.

4. Products requiring epa certification

￮ Pesticide products: insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, fungicides, repellents, antimicrobial pesticides, etc.

￮ Pesticide devices: UV devices, sound generators, insect traps, ground vibrators, water treatment units, air treatment units, etc.

5. Products requiring U.S. energy labeling certification

e.g., TVs, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, dishwashers, water heaters, ceiling fans, pool heaters, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, etc.

Potential Risks Without a US Responsible Person

When exporting children’s toys, electronic products, and other goods to the U.S., random inspections by U.S. Customs and other government agencies are common. Exporters may be required to provide contact details and information related to the US Responsible Person.

Failure to provide such information may result in:

1. Goods being detained or facing legal prosecution;

2. Fines or product sales bans;

3. Restrictions on store permissions.

In addition, platforms like Amazon require:

• Sellers of children’s toys to provide a cpc certificate with US Responsible Person information;

• Sellers of electronic products to provide an FCC Certificate with US Responsible Person information.

Otherwise, related products will be removed from the platform.

What is an FCC Certificate?

FCC is a mandatory U.S. certification that regulates the import and use of radio frequency devices, including computers, fax machines, electronic devices, radio receiving/transmitting equipment, radio-controlled toys, telephones, personal computers, and other products that may pose safety hazards.

All such products require an FCC Certificate for sale.

Important Note: FCC applications must include US Responsible Person information.

What is a CPC Certificate?

CPC (Children’s Product Certificate) applies to all products intended primarily for children aged 12 and under, such as toys, cradles, children’s clothing, etc.

Children’s products without a CPC may be sampled during customs inspections, deemed non-compliant, and detained.

Furthermore, CPC certification is mandatory for children’s products on Amazon US. Products without CPC cannot be listed for sale.

Recently, U.S. compliance inspections on electronic and children’s products have been strengthened. To avoid goods being detained or listings removed, we strongly recommend sellers complete the US Responsible Person registration and obtain FCC/CPC certificates as soon as possible.

Duties and Roles of the US Responsible Person

The US Responsible Person has similar functions to EU Responsible Persons and UK Responsible Persons. Its main responsibilities include:

1. Ensuring the client’s products and business activities in the U.S. comply with relevant U.S. laws and standards;

2. Assisting manufacturers or sellers with product registration to enable lawful sales in the U.S.;

3. Ensuring product labels and packaging meet U.S. regulatory requirements, including mandatory markings, warnings, and instructions.

Additional responsibilities:

1. Assisting in communications with U.S. regulators (e.g., FDA) to resolve compliance and regulatory issues;

2. Supervising and supporting manufacturers in maintaining quality management systems to meet U.S. standards;

3. Recording and reporting product safety and compliance information for submission to regulators when required;

4. Acting as the legal representative of non-U.S. enterprises in the U.S. market, providing necessary information and documents to regulators and customers;

5. Serving as a communication bridge between cross-border sellers and U.S. authorities (FDA, FCC, CPSC) and major platforms;

6. Responding to audits by platforms or official agencies, assisting cross-border enterprises with reviews, document submission, and information exchange to resolve issues.

How to Apply for a US Responsible Person?

The application process includes the following steps:

1. Choose a compliant agent

Select a qualified U.S. authorized agent, typically a U.S.-registered company with extensive experience and familiarity with regulatory policies. JJR LAB provides this service.

2. Submit application documents

Provide materials including manufacturer information, product details, registration certificates, production qualifications, etc. The agent will evaluate eligibility based on these documents.

3. Sign an agency agreement

Upon approval, sign an agency agreement with the U.S. authorized agent to clarify rights and obligations for smooth follow-up services.

4. Validity period

The US Responsible Person agreement and certificate are valid for 1 full calendar year. Renewal can be applied for before expiration to maintain continuous validity.

Amazon US Responsible Person Service Fee

Service provided by JJR/LIO Laboratory

• Validity: 1 year

• Processing time: only 3 working days

• Price: starting from $299

Welcome to inquire!

FAQs

What is the difference between US Responsible Person, EU Responsible Person, and UK Responsible Person?

Unlike EU and UK Responsible Persons, US Responsible Person information does NOT need to be printed on product packaging or labels.

It only needs to be:

• Submitted to backend systems of e-commerce platforms such as Amazon;

• Presented to U.S. Customs during market supervision inspections.

The US Responsible Person acts solely as a communication bridge between the FDA and foreign factories and must be available to answer FDA calls at any time.

How is US Responsible Person information used?

1. Provided during certification registration (FCC, CPC, FDA, etc.);

2. Uploaded to e-commerce platform backends (e.g., submitted together with FCC certification on Amazon);

3. Presented to inspection authorities during customs clearance.