General Conformity of Certificate

GENERAL CONFORMITY CERTIFICATION FOR ALL CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Certification

Section 102 of the CPSIA mandates certification for all consumer products sold in the USA, both imported and domestically manufactured that are subject to the CPSIA and any of the other bans, acts or standards for which the CPSC has jurisdiction.

• General Conformity Certification of any Consumer Products
  Consumer products are defined as any product for sale to a consumer for use in or around a permanent or temporary household or residence, a school, in recreation, or for the personal use, consumption or enjoyment of a consumer in or around a permanent or temporary household or residence, a school or in recreation. The general conformity certification is an amendment of paragraph (1) of section 14(a) (15 U.S.C. 2063(a). It is required for all consumer products subject to CPSA bans and standards and to products subject to any similar rule, standard, ban, or regulation under any other Act enforced by the Commission such as Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) and Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA).
  
  A general conformity certificate shall certify, based on “a reasonable testing program”; that the product meets all applicable CPSC requirements. As items require accredited third party testing, the certificate shall specify each test that requires third party testing and certify that the item meets the CPSIA requirements. Certification will be required for products that are manufactured on or after November 12, 2008. Enforcement of some third party testing and certificates have been stayed until February 10, 2010.  For the most updated information, see note below.
  
  
• Certification of Children’s Products
  Certification of children’s products imposes an additional third-party testing requirement for consumer products primarily intended for children that are twelve or younger. Each children’s product in the following categories that is manufactured more than 90 days after that date (when CPSC publishes accreditation procedure) must be tested at a CPSC accredited third party laboratory and certified to the applicable requirements.

For further information regarding the SGS accredited laboratories, please kindly visit the List of Accredited Testing Laboratories.

Certificates must “accompany” each product or shipment of products covered by the same certificate. This may not include certain products that are imported for testing, for trade shows or for re-export, etc. Importers of products manufactured outside the US and domestic manufacturer of products manufactured in the US are responsible for issuing the certificates. Testing laboratories cannot issue certificates.

Visit US Consumer Product Safety Commission for the latest updates on CPSIA.