How to Properly Prepare Children's Toys for Import into the USA

One of the most common questions we receive from our clients concerns the legal aspects of importing children's toys into the USA: how to properly prepare the products, what the import rules are, how the certificate is issued, etc. It is important to understand that the import of this category of goods into the USA is strictly regulated and requires compliance with a number of safety requirements. In particular, the presence of a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) is necessary.

Definition of the Concept "Toys"

To begin understanding this issue, it is necessary to define how much the product falls under the category of "toy". It is defined as a product intended for use by children under 12 years old. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission highlights the following assessment factors:

1. The manufacturer labels their product as a toy, as indicated on the label.
2. There is labeling that indicates the product is for use by children under 12 years old.
3. The consumer identifies the product as intended for a child under 12 years old.
4. The product is included in the Age Determination Guidelines.

This document specifically defines how children's products should be tested and what safety requirements they must meet. You can familiarize yourself with it by following this link: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_media_adg.pdf.

Obtaining a CPC Certificate

This document is issued to the seller only after receiving a conclusion from a specialized laboratory where the product is tested for the content and concentration of potentially hazardous substances (lead, phthalates), as well as for strength and durability. The list of laboratories approved by CPC can be found at the following link: http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/labsearch/.

The CPC certificate must contain the following information:

• the name of the product for which it is issued;
• the date and place of its manufacture;
• confirmation of the product's compliance with safety rules and standards adopted for children's products;
• the identification data of the importer;
• the contact details of all physical and legal persons involved in importing the goods to the USA;
• the name of the third-party laboratory that conducted the testing;
• the date and place of the testing.

More detailed information about the content of the certificate with real examples can be found at this link.

Please note! Most often, children's toys are not subject to customs duties when imported into the USA. However, it is worth obtaining information in advance from your broker or forwarder about the duty rate on a specific product.

Requirements for Labeling Children's Toys

In addition to the certificate, the seller is required to have a tag (label) that is attached to the packaging or, if possible, to the product itself. The manufacturer or importer places the labeling on it. It must contain the following information:

• the name of the children's toy;
• the country where it was manufactured;
• the date of manufacture;
• the manufacturer's trademark, if available;
• information about the location of the manufacturer and importer, their contact details;
• the minimum age of the child for whom the toy is intended;
• materials of manufacture (for toys in the age category up to 3 years);
• expiry date, if established for the product;
• storage conditions, care instructions for the children's toy (if necessary).

Additional information that may be included on the labeling: completeness, rules and instructions for use, acceptable methods of hygienic treatment, warning labels, safety rules, etc.

You can learn more about toy labeling requirements by following the link.