As of July 8, 2026, the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) eFiling requirement is officially in effect. Importers of regulated consumer products must now submit Certificate of Compliance data electronically, before their products enter U.S. commerce. The voluntary transition period is over.
What Changed on July 8
Under the eFiling program, certificate data for regulated consumer products must be transmitted to CPSC electronically at the time of entry, giving the agency visibility into compliance information before goods clear the border. CPSC will use this data to target high-risk shipments earlier and, for compliant importers, to reduce unnecessary inspections, holds, and delays.
The program deepens data-sharing between CPSC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of a broader whole-of-government push on import enforcement. CPSC calls it the most significant modernization of its import surveillance program since the agency’s founding.
One key date remains: requirements for consumer products imported into Foreign Trade Zones and later entered for consumption or warehousing take effect January 8, 2027.
No New Compliance Obligations But a New Filing Reality
CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman was direct on this point: eFiling creates no new testing or certification requirements, and it does not apply to domestic manufacturers. Importers were already legally required to create and maintain compliance certificates. What has changed is how — and when — that data reaches CPSC.
That distinction matters at the entry level. Certificate data is now part of the entry filing process, which means:
- Your certificate data must be entry-ready. Missing, incomplete, or inaccurate certificate information can now hold up clearance, not just trigger a records request after the fact.
- Your broker needs the data in advance. Product registries, certificate details, and filing workflows need to be in place before goods ship, not when they arrive.
- Targeting is getting smarter. CPSC has stated plainly that the program is aimed at high-risk foreign shipments, including the flood of direct-to-consumer imports that bypass traditional retail channels. Compliant filers benefit; sloppy filers stand out.
Who Should Act Now
If you import toys, children’s products, apparel subject to flammability standards, electronics, or any other CPSC-regulated consumer product, confirm that your eFiling process is operational today. Importers using Foreign Trade Zones have until January 8, 2027, for FTZ withdrawals, but the systems work is the same, and waiting narrows your runway.
CPSC’s implementation follows nearly a decade of alpha and beta pilots plus a voluntary filing period, so the agency’s expectation is that importers have had ample time to prepare. Full program details are available on CPSC’s eFiling page.
Not sure whether your products are covered, or need help getting certificate data into your entry workflow? Contact the Alba team, we can assess your exposure and make sure your filings are ready.
Want updates like this in your inbox? Subscribe to the newsletter.
