The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is embarking on a digital transformation, so to speak.

The U.S. government agency has launched a new electronic data filing system for products entering the U.S. border. Beginning July 8, importers will be required to file key certificate of compliance (CoC) data for most consumer products entering the U.S.

These CoCs are legal documents verifying that a product entering the country adheres to regulatory standards and quality specifications required by buyers, distributors and regulatory bodies. CoCs include product identification information, like SKUs, model information and product descriptions, as well as manufacturer-related information including details about the importer and the testing lab.

According to International Trade Consultant Ashley Kalyn, the requirements for obtaining a CoC do not change, nor do the types of products that require one.

“Essentially, they’re moving from the paper PDFs and the static certificates to structured digital certificate data that can be shared electronically with customs and regulators,” explains Kalyn, who works at Peacock Tariff Consulting, a firm that helps clients work through complex trade and compliance processes. “So, to simplify it even more, it’s about making product safety certificates machine-readable, -searchable and -transferable across import systems instead of relying on PDFs.”

The new eFiling system applies to products requiring a children’s product certificate or a general certificate of conformity. On Jan. 8, 2027, the eFiling requirement extends to products that are entering the U.S. through a foreign trade zone.

“Instead of having to reach out to every single shipment [after a product is recalled], manufacturers will be able to identify which shipments have been effected and at what point in the chain.” Ashley Kalyn, Peacock Tariff Consulting

Pressure To Modernize

So, why is CPSC choosing to enforce such a requirement now? Kalyn says it’s something the agency probably should have done 10 years ago. Of course, it’s no secret that the federal government has been slow to adopt new technology when compared to other industries. According to a report last month from EY, 64% of senior government leaders see AI’s cost savings and service delivery potential, but only 26% have integrated it.

Still, CPSC has felt the pressure to modernize with the rise of e-commerce and the increasingly complex trade environment, the agency noted. The new system allows for faster enforcement, meaning Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) can identify noncompliant imports at the border, instead of after the fact. “This means they’re able to handle issues as the products come in,” says Kalyn. “It’s going to be fast, it’s going to be quick, it’s going to be efficient.”

The eFiling system also promises to equip the compliance process with better targeting capabilities. “So, instead of inspecting everything, they can flag risky products using that data,” says Kalyn.

A More Effective Clearance Process

Ultimately, the updated system should support faster clearance of goods because it mitigates shipment holds at the border, thereby reducing fines and understanding the origin of potential recalls down the line.

“It’s going to figure out what products and shipments were affected by the recall that much quicker,” explains Kalyn. “Instead of having to reach out to every single shipment, manufacturers will be able to identify which shipments have been affected and at what point in the chain.”

Dual Paths to Compliance

When a product enters the border, the importer of record must transmit message set data into CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), a task that can now be accomplished through the eFiling system by either a) submitting all required product certificate data elements into the message set for transmission into CBP’s ACE system or b) entering product certificate data elements into CPSC’s Product Registry, a repository for importers’ product certificate data.

CPSC recommends importers take route A if they do not repeatedly import the same product, or import a limited number of consumer products. Meanwhile, the agency says that companies repeatedly importing regulated consumer products covered by the same product certificates should take route B.

Getting Acquainted With CPSC’s Resources

For companies looking for assistance, CPSC’s website offers a comprehensive checklist to help companies determine how to proceed.

The site also features a regulatory robot, an AI chatbot designed to guide importers and manufacturers through product-specific safety requirements.

“It’s a super-intuitive website,” says Kalyn. “If you go on there and you play around with it, there’s a section that says ‘Does eFiling apply to me?’ And it honestly, it holds your hand like you’re 5 years old. I love this because they’ve made it very easy for people to understand and to navigate.”

For more information on the eFiling process, specifications and requirements, visit cpsc.gov/eFiling.