Home / CPC vs GCC: which certificate does your product need?

Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

CPC vs GCC: which certificate does your product need?

The difference comes down to who the product is for. A CPC (Children’s Product Certificate) is required for products designed or marketed primarily for children 12 or under, and it must be backed by third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted laboratory. A GCC (General Certificate of Conformity) covers non-children’s products that are subject to specific CPSC rules, and can often be supported by a reasonable testing program. Both are issued by the importer or domestic manufacturer and kept on file for five years.
On this page
Side-by-side comparisonThe quick decision ruleCommon mix-ups

Side-by-side comparison

  • Product scope: CPC = children’s products (12 and under). GCC = non-children’s products subject to specific CPSC rules.
  • Testing: CPC requires third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab. GCC testing basis depends on the rule: some require third-party testing, others accept a reasonable testing program.
  • Contents: nearly identical: product identification, cited rules, certifying party, contact, manufacture date and place, testing details, lab identification where applicable.
  • Recordkeeping: five years for both.

The quick decision rule

Ask one question: is this product designed or marketed primarily for children 12 or under? If yes, it is a children’s product and needs a CPC with third-party testing. If no, check whether any CPSC rule applies to the product category: if one does, issue a GCC; if none applies, no certificate is required (though documenting safety testing is still wise).

Common mix-ups

  • A kids backpack and an adult backpack: the kids version needs a CPC (children’s product), the adult version may need a GCC only if a rule applies.
  • Costumes: children’s costumes are children’s products with flammability rules; adult costumes are general apparel.
  • Baby blankets and adult blankets: the baby version is a children’s product with a CPC; the adult version typically needs neither unless a textile rule applies.

Questions people ask

Can one document serve as both a CPC and a GCC?

No: they certify different product scopes under different testing requirements. A product is either a children’s product (CPC) or it is not (GCC, if a rule applies).

My product is for both adults and children. Now what?

Products marketed to both are generally treated based on their primary design and marketing. When in doubt, the stricter path (CPC with third-party testing) is the safer position.

Do GCCs also need to be eFiled at customs?

The CPSC eFiling rules cover certificates for regulated consumer products imported into the US, including GCC-covered categories, on the published rollout schedule. Budget for electronic filing either way.

Is the format of the two certificates different?

The required contents are nearly identical; the difference is the testing basis and the product scope. The generator produces the correct format once you select the document type.

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