Are You an E-commerce Brand Selling Children’s Products in the US? Here’s What You Need to Know About New Import Regulations.
If you're shipping children's products to the United States, new regulatory changes are coming into effect that could impact how your products clear customs.
For many UK retailers and e-commerce brands, navigating international regulations can feel daunting. The good news? With the right preparation, staying compliant is straightforward. At SAMOS, we're here to make shipping to the US from the UK as simple and stress-free as possible.
#What Is Changing?
From 8th July 2026, certain regulated consumer products entering the US must have a digital Certificate of Compliance (CoC) electronically filed with US authorities before import.
This new requirement affects a wide range of children's products, including:
- Toys
- Baby products
- Children's footwear
- Children's clothing with safety requirements
- Books and printed materials
- Educational products
- And many more
For businesses involved in UK to US e-commerce shipping, it's important to understand whether your products are affected and what steps you need to take before the deadline.
#Step 1: Check Whether Your Products Are Affected
The first step is to review your product HTS codes and determine whether they appear on the affected list.
Affected HTS Codes:
Click here for the affected HS Codes
If any of your products appear on the list, you'll need to take action before shipping to the US from the UK after 8th July 2026.
#Step 2: Obtain a Certificate of Compliance
You'll need a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for affected products.
In many cases, your manufacturer or supplier may already have this documentation available, so it's worth checking with them first.
If not, you can register directly through the CPSC Product Registry and complete the process yourself.
Visit: https://www.cpsc.gov/eFiling-CPSC-Product-Registry
Select "Register Now" and follow the registration process. You'll be asked to provide information such as:
- Business email address
- Company name
- Importer of Record (IOR) details (where applicable)
If your manufacturer already has the required compliance information in place, customs clearance should continue largely as normal.
If you need support, our Integration Team can help ensure everything is set up correctly.
#Step 3: Make Sure You Can Provide the Required IDs
The new electronic filing system requires three key identifiers:
- CPSC Product ID - CPSC Certificate Version ID - CPSC Certifier ID
Your shipping partner, customs broker, or fulfilment provider will need these details when filing customs entries.
For businesses involved in cross-border shipping from the UK, ensuring these IDs are available before shipping will help prevent unnecessary delays.
#What Happens If You Have a Certificate of Compliance?
If you have the required documentation and IDs in place:
✔️ Products clear customs as normal
✔️ Your broker or carrier submits the required information electronically
✔️ No additional bond costs
✔️ Reduced risk of customs delays
For most UK retailers shipping to US customers, this will be the simplest and most cost-effective route.
#What Happens If You Don't Have a Certificate of Compliance?
If the required compliance information isn't available, your shipment could be held at customs.
In this scenario, your carrier or broker may be unable to clear the goods automatically.
Option A: Clear the Goods Yourself
This process may require:
- A Power of Attorney
- Participation as a Foreign Importer of Record
- A customs bond
Typical bond costs include:
- Annual bond: approximately $600
- Single-entry bond: $6 per $1,000 of merchandise value (minimum $60)
This can add both cost and administrative complexity to your international shipping operations.
Option B: Abandon the Shipment
If compliance requirements cannot be met, the shipment may need to be abandoned.
#How SAMOS Can Help with CoC Certificate of Compliance
One of the most important things to understand is that you do not necessarily need to become the US Importer of Record yourself.
The system is designed to allow different parties to fulfil different roles:
Put simply:
You provide the compliance information.
Your shipping partner, broker or fulfilment agency handles the customs filing.
As specialists in international shipping for e-commerce brands, SAMOS can help ensure you're prepared well before the regulations take effect.
#What To Do Next
To stay ahead of the changes, we recommend taking the following steps now:
Priority 1: Review Your Product Catalogue
- Identify all affected HTS codes
- Determine which products may require electronic compliance filing
Priority 2: Contact Your Manufacturers
Ask whether they already have:
- Certificates of Compliance
- CPSC Product IDs
- CPSC Version IDs
- Certifier IDs
Priority 3: Register If Needed
If the required information isn't available:
- Register with the CPSC Product Registry
- Obtain a Certifier ID
- Create Product IDs and Version IDs
Taking these steps now will help avoid last-minute disruption to your US shipping operations.
#Why Having the Right Shipping Partner for CoC Certificate of Compliance Matters
Regulatory changes are becoming increasingly common in international e-commerce, particularly when shipping children's products and other regulated goods.
That's why working with an experienced shipping partner can make a significant difference.
At SAMOS, we help UK retailers and e-commerce brands navigate cross-border shipping requirements with confidence.
How We Support Growing Brands
- Stay ahead of changing international regulations
- Provide guidance on customs clearance and compliance requirements
- Help minimise delays and unexpected costs
- Offer transparent, scalable solutions for global growth
- Support seamless UK to US e-commerce shipping as your business expands
Whether you're already shipping to the US from the UK or planning to expand into the market, we're here to help make the process straightforward.
#Need Help Navigating the New Regulations?
If you're selling children's products into the US and aren't sure how these changes affect your business, our team is happy to help.
Get in touch with SAMOS and we'll explain everything in simple, practical terms — so you can focus on growing your business while we help keep your international shipping running smoothly.
