What is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a US government agency tasked with protecting the public from risks of injury or death associated with consumer products. The CPSC enforces safety standards across a variety of consumer goods, including children’s toys, furniture, electrical appliances, and more.
If you sell products to US customers, it’s crucial to ensure your products comply with CPSC regulations to meet legal safety requirements. The regulations aim to minimize hazards like choking, fire, electrical, or chemical risks, ensuring consumer safety.
Faire provides this information for educational purposes and does not offer legal or regulatory guidance. Sellers on the Faire platform are responsible for understanding and complying with CPSC guidelines and any other applicable laws in their markets.
Does CPSC compliance impact how my product is listed on Faire?
No, CPSC regulations do not directly impact the way products are listed on the Faire marketplace. Faire operates as a B2B wholesale platform and does not regulate product compliance. However, as a seller, you must ensure that your products meet CPSC standards before they are sold to US customers. Non-compliance can result in penalties, product recalls, or other legal issues.
Product listings on Faire are not linked to physical compliance requirements, such as labeling or safety testing. These obligations must be addressed in the production and packaging of your products.
What steps do I need to take to comply with CPSC regulations?
If you are selling consumer products in the US, you need to determine whether your products are subject to CPSC regulations and take appropriate steps to ensure compliance. Key steps include:
- Understanding applicable regulations: Identify which CPSC standards apply to your product category.
- Testing and certification: Conduct required safety testing and obtain certifications, especially for children’s products.
- Labeling requirements: Include proper labeling, such as warning labels, manufacturer details, and tracking information for children’s products.
Resources related to these requirements are listed below. We recommend consulting legal advisors or using CPSC resources to understand your specific compliance obligations.
What products are regulated by the CPSC?
The CPSC oversees a wide range of consumer products, including but not limited to:
- Children’s Products: Toys, cribs, clothing, and strollers
- Household Items: Furniture, mattresses, and bedding
- Electrical Products: Appliances, lighting, and electronics
- Recreational Equipment: Bicycles, helmets, and playground equipment
- Outdoor Products: Grills, lawnmowers, and patio furniture
- Chemicals: Cleaners, personal care items, and art supplies
- Flammable Items: Fireworks, lighters, and fuel systems
For a full list of regulated product types, visit the CPSC website.
I manufacture my own products. What steps should I take to comply with CPSC?
If you manufacture products for the US market, you are responsible for:
- Conducting safety testing: Products must be tested to meet CPSC safety standards, usually by a certified third party. For children’s products, see the CPSC’s Third Party Testing Guidance, and for other products see What is a reasonable testing program? in the CPSC’s General Certificate of Conformity FAQ.
- Certifying compliance: Issue a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) for children’s products or a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) for general products, based on the appropriate testing program.
- Proper labeling: Ensure that your products and packaging include required information, such as warnings, manufacturer details, and tracking labels (for children’s products).
I source pre-manufactured products. What steps should I take to comply with CPSC?
If you source pre-manufactured products for the US market, you are responsible for ensuring that:
- The manufacturer complies: Verify that the manufacturer adheres to CPSC regulations and provides the necessary certifications (either a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) or a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)).
- The product is labeled correctly: Confirm that all required information, such as warnings and tracking labels, is included on the product or its packaging.
- Compliance documentation is available: Keep records of test reports and certifications as required by CPSC.
Additional CPSC resources
- CPSC Website
- CPSC Regulatory Robot: Guidance for Businesses
- Resellers Guide to Selling Safer Products
- What is a Children’s Product?
- Flammable Fabrics Act
- Children’s Product Certificate (CPC)
- General Certificate of Conformity (GCC)
- (Children’s Products) Third Party Testing Guidance
- General Certificate of Conformity FAQ
This article was last updated in December 2024. It is not legal advice and may not reflect future changes to CPSC regulations. For tailored legal advice, consult a qualified professional.