US Consumer Product Imports Face New Electronic Compliance Filing Rules

US importers of regulated consumer products are facing new electronic compliance requirements as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) moves certificate filing into the digital customs environment.

The CPSC's mandatory eFiling programme took effect on 8 July 2026, requiring importers of applicable regulated consumer products to electronically submit certificate data through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) before products enter US commerce.

The change affects products that require a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) or Children's Product Certificate (CPC).

What is changing?

Previously, businesses could provide required compliance certificates through traditional documentation processes.

Under the new system, applicable certificate information must be electronically filed through ACE.

The CPSC says the programme is intended to give the agency access to certificate information earlier in the import process, allowing it to identify higher-risk shipments and focus enforcement resources where they are needed.

The requirement applies to most regulated consumer products imported into the US.

However, products entering from a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) have a later implementation date of 8 January 2027.

International mail shipments are next

The requirements are also expanding to consumer products arriving through international mail.

In guidance published in September, CPSC said that regulated consumer products arriving by mail will need to have their certificate data electronically filed beginning 22 October 2026. The change follows CBP's introduction of a new Entry Type 13 process for international mail shipments.

This means businesses selling consumer products directly to US customers through international ecommerce channels may need to pay particular attention to the upcoming deadline.

What information needs to be managed?

For businesses importing regulated products, compliance can involve more than simply having a certificate available.

The CPSC requires certificate information to identify the relevant product, and its Product Registry uses identifiers such as a Product ID and Version ID to connect certificates with specific products.

Businesses may therefore need to maintain accurate information across their:

• Product catalogue
• Product identifiers
• Compliance certificates
• Testing information
• Manufacturer details
• Importer information
• Customs entries
• Product classifications

For businesses with large product catalogues, keeping this information accurate and connected can become increasingly difficult.

What happens if businesses don't comply?

CPSC says it does not initially intend for CBP to automatically deny entry solely because certificate data has not been eFiled.

However, the agency will continue enforcing existing certificate requirements and can request that CBP take action against non-compliant products. CPSC also says certificate information can be used as part of its risk-scoring process for imported shipments.

This means that while eFiling is primarily a change in how compliance information is submitted, businesses still remain responsible for ensuring that their products meet the underlying safety and certification requirements.

Why this matters for global ecommerce sellers

For businesses selling consumer products into the US, compliance can now involve another layer of digital data management.

A product may need to satisfy applicable safety requirements, have the appropriate certificate, contain accurate product information and have that certificate data electronically submitted at the appropriate stage of the import process.

For sellers managing hundreds or thousands of SKUs, manually tracking which products require which certificates can quickly become challenging.

How Gloco can help

Gloco is designed to help global sellers identify product-level compliance requirements before they become a barrier to market entry.

Businesses can provide a product link and use Gloco's AI-powered platform to identify potential licensing, tariff and other compliance considerations.

Gloco also supports certificates and permits, as well as customs duty calculations and documentation, helping businesses understand the requirements associated with their products.

And because requirements can change, Gloco provides ongoing monitoring and alerts for compliance risks and deadlines.

The CPSC's eFiling rollout highlights a wider shift in cross-border commerce: product compliance is becoming increasingly data-driven and closely connected to the customs process.

For global sellers, having the right product information is only part of the challenge. Keeping that information accurate, accessible and compliant as products move across borders is becoming just as important.