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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Do I need a CPC?

You need a Children’s Product Certificate if four things are true at once: the product is a consumer product, it is designed or marketed primarily for children 12 or younger, at least one CPSC rule applies to it, and you are the one importing it or manufacturing it in the United States. If any of those fail, the CPC obligation may not apply, though other rules might.
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The four questions, answered honestlyWhen the answer is yes

The four questions, answered honestly

  • Is it a consumer product sold in the United States? (Industrial-only equipment is a different regime.)
  • Is it designed or marketed primarily for children 12 or under? Use the CPSC’s four-factor test: your stated intent, packaging and marketing, consumer recognition, and the age determination guidelines.
  • Does at least one CPSC rule, ban, or standard apply? Toys, clothing, jewelry, nursery items, and art materials nearly always trigger several.
  • Are you the importer or the domestic manufacturer? If yes, the certification duty is yours; if you are a pure reseller of an already-certified product, you still need the certificate available.

When the answer is yes

Issue the certificate from your test data: the free generator on this site produces it in minutes and stores it with its test date. The obligation is continuous, so calendar the re-testing triggers (design changes, sourcing changes, production gaps) at the same time.

Questions people ask

I resell branded toys. Do I need my own CPC?

The brand or importer should have one, and you should have a copy available: marketplaces may ask you for documents for any children’s listing you offer.

My product is for pets that belong to children. Is that a children’s product?

Pet products are generally not children’s products unless they are designed or marketed for use by children. Classification follows design and marketing: document yours.

What about collectible figures sealed for display?

Items marketed to adult collectors and not intended for children’s use can fall outside the children’s product definition. Keep the marketing evidence consistent with that position.

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