Federal law requires manufacturers and importers to test many consumer products for compliance with consumer product safety requirements. Based on passing test results, the manufacturer or importer must certify the consumer product as compliant with the applicable consumer product safety requirements in a written or electronic certificate. Certificates are required to accompany the applicable product or shipment of products covered by the certificate, and a copy must be provided to retailers, distributors and, upon request, to the government.
Below are descriptions of types of testing and certificates. Note that requirements for children’s products are different from those for non-children’s products.
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Third Party Testing for Children’s Products
Federal law requires that every children's product subject to a federal consumer product safety requirement be tested by a CPSC-accepted laboratory for compliance with the applicable federal children's product safety requirements.
Begin by reviewing the Initial Certification Testing FAQ below for more information about third party testing generally. We've also provided FAQs about additional kinds of third party testing that may be required. The type of third party testing that may apply to an individual product may vary based on a variety of factors related to production choices. Companies should pay close attention to these mandatory testing requirements and maintain good records to document their compliance.
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Testing for Non-Children’s Products
Federal law requires that certain non-children's, or general use, products, subject to a federal consumer product safety requirement be certified based on a test of each product or a reasonable testing program for compliance with applicable consumer product safety requirements.
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CPSC-Accepted Laboratories
A manufacturer or importer of a children’s product must use a third party, CPSC-accepted laboratory to test its product for compliance with the applicable federal children's product safety requirements.
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Tracking Labels
All children’s products and their packaging must bear permanent tracking information, if this can be done. Durable infant or toddler products also must be marked with specialized tracking information and must have a postage-paid customer registration card attached. This information will be used f the product is recalled.