CPSC Mandatory Electronic Filing Requirements in ACE

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented mandatory electronic filing of Consumer Product Safety Commission Certificates of Compliance through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for CPSC-regulated imports, effective July 8, 2026.

The requirement completes CPSC’s shift from a voluntary eFiling pilot program to full enforcement, as reflected in CBP Cargo Systems Messaging Service bulletin #68290359, issued April 8, 2026.

Mandatory CPSC eFiling applies to entries filed on or after July 8, 2026. Importers bringing in CPSC-regulated products must supply Certificate of Compliance data along with their shipping documentation, so that it can be transmitted electronically through the CPSC Participating Government Agency (PGA) message set in ACE at the time of entry into the United States. Where the required information isn’t provided, shipments can face entry delays, holds, examinations, or requests for additional documentation.

What products are affected

The requirement reaches imported finished consumer products regulated by CPSC that require certification under 16 CFR Part 1110. CPSC regulates finished products only.

Affected product categories include, but are not limited to:

Children’s products
- Toys and games
- Cribs, bassinets, strollers, and playsets
- Children’s clothing and sleepwear
- Child car seats, carriers, and highchairs
Household goods and furnishings
- Furniture, including sofas, mattresses, dressers, and bunk beds
- Rugs, carpets, and window coverings
- Portable fuel containers and candles
Consumer electronics and electrical products
- Power adapters and chargers
- Portable lighting products
- Small household appliances
- Battery-operated consumer devices
Home improvement and recreation products
- Ladders and step stools
- Sporting and recreational goods
- Outdoor grills and related consumer products
Textiles and apparel regulated by CPSC rules
- Flammable fabrics
- Upholstered furniture materials

What data must be provided

ACE filings have to be supported with CPSC certificate data using one of two eFiling methods. Which one applies depends on whether the product has been preregistered in the CPSC Product Registry.

Full PGA message set — per-shipment filing

For products not preregistered in the CPSC Product Registry, importers must supply seven Certificate of Compliance data elements:

Product identifier, such as a Global Trade Item Number
Each applicable CPSC safety rule certified under 16 CFR Part 1110
Date of manufacture for the finished product
Name and address for the manufacturer, producer, or assembler
Date of the most recent test for compliance with applicable CPSC rules
Name and address for the compliance testing facility or laboratory
Contact information for the party maintaining records of the test results

This method is recommended for importers bringing in only a limited number of CPSC-regulated consumer products, or who don’t repeatedly import the same regulated product.

Full PGA message set. Flow adapted from the CPSC eFiling Product Registry user guide.

Reference PGA message set — abbreviated filing

Products preregistered in the CPSC Product Registry qualify for an abbreviated filing method requiring only three data elements:

Product ID — a unique identifier for the product being certified
Certifier ID — the unique identifier created by the certifying importer
Certificate Version ID — the unique identifier for the specific version of the product certificate

Preregistration is optional, but it is strongly encouraged for importers with recurring CPSC-regulated shipments covered by the same product certificates. It streamlines ACE filings and reduces the likelihood of CPSC-related clearance delays. Certificate data can be loaded into the registry manually or through its bulk upload feature.

Reference PGA message set. Flow adapted from the CPSC eFiling Product Registry user guide.

Questions and answers

What is CPSC eFiling, and when did it become mandatory?

CPSC eFiling is the electronic submission of Certificates of Compliance for CPSC-regulated consumer products through ACE using the CPSC PGA message set. It became mandatory for regulated finished consumer products on entries filed on or after July 8, 2026.

What is the CPSC Product Registry, and is it required?

The CPSC Product Registry is an optional online system that lets importers preregister product certificate data and qualify to use the abbreviated message set in ACE.

Using the registry isn’t required, but it is encouraged for importers who frequently bring in CPSC-regulated products, since it simplifies entry filing and lowers the risk of CPSC-related shipment delays. Completing the registry process can take some time, so anyone planning to participate should begin registering well ahead of the shipments that will depend on it.

How can I tell whether my product is regulated by CPSC?

CPSC publishes a product compliance tool called the Regulatory Robot, which helps determine which CPSC rules apply to a given product and what certification requirements attach to it. It’s a recommended starting point for compliance planning.

What should importers do to prepare?

Recommended preparatory steps:

Identify all products you import that CPSC regulates and that require certification.
Confirm that your Certificates of Compliance are complete, accurate, and readily available.
Make sure the required certificate data can be shared electronically with your customs broker.
Review the primary sources linked in the resources section below.
If you regularly import CPSC-regulated products, register eligible products in the CPSC Product Registry so you can use the abbreviated message set to streamline entry filing and reduce the risk of CPSC-related shipment delays.

Are any products exempt from CPSC certification, and how do I find out whether mine qualifies?

Yes. Certain products under CPSC jurisdiction may qualify for a certification exemption or enforcement discretion, including:

Items imported as component parts, since CPSC regulates finished products
Personal-use items exported for repair and then reimported
Gifted products shipped between two individuals

To determine whether a product qualifies, confirm whether the imported item is a finished consumer product or a component part; use the Regulatory Robot to identify the applicable CPSC regulations, whether certification is required, and any potential exemptions; and check whether the product falls under the certification rules in 16 CFR Part 1110.

If you’re claiming an exemption, your shipping documentation or clearance instructions must be updated to indicate the product’s intended end use and any exemptions that apply to that specific product.

What information must be provided when importing CPSC-regulated products?

Certificate data must be provided electronically in ACE by either submitting full certificate details for each shipment with the seven required data elements — recommended for importers with a limited number of CPSC-regulated products, or who don’t repeatedly import the same regulated product — or by using preregistered product information from the CPSC Product Registry to submit a shorter reference filing with only three data elements, recommended for importers who regularly bring in CPSC-regulated products and want to streamline clearance.

What if my HTS code flags for CPSC but my product doesn’t require a certificate?

Provide the appropriate disclaim code, A or B. Disclaim codes aren’t mandatory, but they support CPSC’s review and may reduce delays.

What happens if required CPSC data is missing?

Shipments may be delayed when the required electronic information isn’t provided with the shipment documentation. Importers are responsible for making sure accurate certificate information is available at the time of entry to support ACE filings.