Overview

Starting March 8, 2026, all importers of consumer products regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission must electronically file certificate of compliance data before goods can clear U.S. customs. The new mandate eliminates paper-based documentation and applies to every shipment regardless of value, closing the $800 de minimis loophole. For Amazon sellers who source inventory overseas, this is a major shift in import compliance that requires immediate action.

What's Changing

• Electronic filing becomes mandatory — All certificate of compliance data must be submitted through the CPSC's new eFiling portal before imported goods are released by customs, replacing legacy paper processes entirely.
• Two filing options — Importers can either include all certificate data directly in their customs entry via the PGA Message Set method, or link to certificate data previously registered in the CPSC system.
• No de minimis exemption — Unlike many customs rules, this mandate covers all shipments regardless of declared value, meaning low-value direct-to-consumer packages are no longer exempt.
• Foreign Trade Zone extension — Products entering through Foreign Trade Zones have a later deadline of March 8, 2027.
• Domestic products partially exempt — Goods manufactured in the U.S. must meet updated certificate content standards but are not subject to the electronic filing requirement at customs entry.

Which Products Are Affected

The rule applies to products already subject to CPSC certification requirements. Sellers need to determine whether their imported inventory requires a Children's Product Certificate or a General Certificate of Conformity.

Children's products — those designed for kids 12 and under — carry the strictest requirements, including mandatory third-party lab testing. This covers toys, children's clothing and sleepwear, nursery items like cribs, strollers, and car seats, as well as feeding products such as bottles and pacifiers. Sellers in these categories should prioritize preparation, since accredited lab testing can take weeks to arrange.

General Certificates of Conformity cover a broader range of goods that many sellers may not realize are regulated. These include sporting equipment subject to safety standards, textiles covered by flammability rules, products containing hazardous magnets, consumer electronics with button batteries, and furniture subject to tip-over prevention standards. A thorough inventory audit is essential to identify which SKUs fall under these requirements.