Children's products and CPC
Products designed mainly for children aged 12 and under fall under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. They need testing by a CPSC-accepted laboratory and a Children's Product Certificate issued by the importer or manufacturer, plus permanent tracking labels.
General consumer products
Many other consumer products that are subject to a CPSC rule need a General Certificate of Conformity, based on testing or a reasonable testing programme. The exact requirement depends on the product type.
Electronics and FCC
Devices that emit radio frequency energy, intentionally or not, are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Depending on the device, that means a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity or certification, with testing against the relevant FCC rules.
- Chargers, power supplies and LED products.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices.
- Any product with a circuit board that oscillates.
What marketplaces add
Amazon and other platforms may require test reports or certificates for certain categories, sometimes before a listing goes live and sometimes after a complaint. Keep reports organised by product and model so you can answer within days, not weeks.
Prop 65 and state rules
Beyond federal rules, some states have their own. California's Proposition 65 requires a warning if a product can expose consumers to listed chemicals above set levels. Many retailers and marketplaces require Prop 65 compliance for everything they sell, so test materials early or plan the warning.
Marketplace requirements
Platforms such as Amazon often ask for documents before listing certain categories: a CPC for children's products, test reports for toys, FCC information for electronics. Having these ready before your stock arrives avoids storage fees while listings wait for approval.
