Home / Who can issue a Children’s Product Certificate?

Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Who can issue a Children’s Product Certificate?

Exactly two parties can issue a CPC: the importer of record for imported products, or the domestic manufacturer for US-made products. The overseas factory cannot issue it, the testing laboratory does not issue it, and the retailer does not issue it. If you import children’s products and sell them in the US, the legal responsibility for the certificate is yours.
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What each party actually doesWhy the rule is written this way

What each party actually does

  • The factory: manufactures the product and may arrange testing, but cannot be the certifying party.
  • The laboratory: tests the product at a CPSC-accepted facility and issues the test report; some labs prepare a draft CPC as a service.
  • The importer or domestic manufacturer: issues the CPC, owns the underlying test records, and answers for its accuracy.

Why the rule is written this way

The certifying party is the party with the obligation to ensure compliance: putting the certificate in the hands of the importer or domestic manufacturer means someone accountable to US law signs for the product. That is also why documents drafted by factories or suppliers need careful review before you adopt them as your own certification.

Questions people ask

My supplier sent me a CPC they drafted. Can I use it?

Only after verification: confirm the lab is CPSC-accepted, the report matches your exact product and production run, and every required element is present. Many sellers regenerate the certificate from verified data instead, so the document is provably theirs.

Can a fulfillment center or agent issue it on my behalf?

An agent can prepare the document for you, but the certification obligation stays with the importer or domestic manufacturer. The certificate must identify the correct certifying party: you.

What happens if the wrong party is listed on the CPC?

The certificate misrepresents who certified the product, which is a compliance defect on top of any product issues. Regenerate the certificate with accurate certifying party details.

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