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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Why Customs holds children’s product shipments

Since July 2026, children’s product certificate data must be filed electronically with Customs (CBP ACE) at entry, and CBP jointly targets children’s product shipments with the CPSC. Common hold reasons: eFiling data missing or mismatched with the invoice, no certificate available for review, certificates citing rules the test report does not cover, and lab documents that cannot be verified.
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Preventing holds before shippingResolving a hold

Preventing holds before shipping

  • eFiling data complete and matching the commercial invoice: product, manufacturer, and certificate linkage.
  • The CPC on file and consistent with the test report (same product, same factory, same rules).
  • Test reports from a CPSC-accepted lab, within the freshness window your category is held to.
  • Tracking labels on the product: photographed and documented, because inspectors check.

Resolving a hold

Respond through your broker with the certificate, the test report, and the lab acceptance proof. If the hold stems from eFiling mismatches, correct the entry data. Shipments that stay unresolved risk refusal and re-export, so the pre-shipment document review (generate, verify, archive) is the highest-value hour in the whole import calendar.

Questions people ask

Does every children’s product shipment get checked?

No: CBP targets shipments by risk scoring. But targeting includes children’s products specifically, so assume scrutiny and have the documents ready before the vessel lands.

What is CPSC eFiling exactly?

The electronic submission of certificate data (product, rules, manufacturer, lab) into the CBP ACE system at entry, mandatory per the phased rule that went live July 8, 2026 for covered products.

Who files the eFiling data?

Typically the importer of record or their broker files it in ACE. The certificate data must come from you: which is why keeping certificates and reports organized in the vault pays for itself at every entry.

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