Test of Electronic Filing of Compliance Certificate Data Expanded

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have announced plans to expand an ongoing beta pilot that is testing importers’ and brokers’ ability to file data from certificates of compliance for CPSC-regulated consumer products and substances (classified under approximately 300 HTSUS numbers) in the Automated Commercial Environment at the time of entry filing as well as the CPSC’s capability to collect and risk assess this data.

The pilot currently has 38 importer participants (and their trade partners, such as brokers and laboratories) and up to an additional 2,000 will now be accepted. The pilot is also to be extended for up to three years or until an e-filing requirement becomes permanent, whichever comes first. The CPSC issued earlier this year a proposed rule that would implement that requirement.

The CPSC has said that importers participating in the pilot will see reduced risk scores over time based on the amount of data provided, which may result in reduced hold times, fewer exams, and reduced importer costs.