If you're producing children's accessories for the U.S. market, there's one regulation you can’t ignore: CPSIA. Many importers think of safety tests as a formality, but if your shipment lacks the right documentation or fails a lead content test, your products won’t just be delayed—they might be destroyed or recalled.
To comply with the U.S. CPSIA law, your children's accessories must meet strict standards on lead, phthalates, labeling, and documentation—including lab tests and traceability.
At AceAccessory, we manufacture a wide range of children's items like hairbands, scarves, and gloves. Here's how we help our international clients ensure full CPSIA compliance before shipment.
What does CPSIA require for children's fashion accessories?
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a U.S. federal law that sets safety standards for all products intended for children under 12 years old. Accessories fall fully under this scope.
CPSIA mandates strict limits on toxic substances, safety labels, age grading, tracking information, and certified lab testing for children’s accessories.
What are the main safety content rules?
CPSIA places heavy focus on chemical content. Here are the key material safety limits:
- Lead: Surface coatings and substrates must have <90 ppm lead content (CPSC Guidance)
- Phthalates: Restricted to <0.1% for certain types, used in plastics (Phthalate Ban Info)
This affects hair clips with plastic parts, metal belt buckles, printed gloves, or even coated fabrics. Many items require third-party testing by a CPSC-accepted lab.
What labeling and tracking is required?
All children’s accessories must include:
- Age grading (“3+” or “Not for children under 3”)
- Manufacturer/importer name
- Date and batch of production
- A tracking label permanently affixed to product or packaging
This helps retailers or the U.S. CPSC trace defective batches quickly. At AceAccessory, we provide these via printed hang tags or woven label inserts.
How can manufacturers test products to meet CPSIA?
Testing is the foundation of CPSIA compliance. But not all labs or test methods are accepted. You must work with accredited labs that issue reports in the correct format.
Only certified third-party labs recognized by CPSC can conduct CPSIA compliance testing, covering lead, phthalates, and flammability.
Where can I get CPSIA-compliant testing?
We regularly work with SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas—all CPSC-recognized. These labs can test:
- Plastic buttons, trims, and hair clips for lead and phthalates
- Fabrics for flammability under 16 CFR 1610
- Paints or coatings on hats and belts
They issue a detailed report with sample photos, component breakdown, results, and PASS/FAIL statements.
How much does testing cost and how long does it take?
Typical cost for a full CPSIA panel is $80–150 per item depending on materials. Turnaround time is 3–5 days. If you test multiple similar SKUs using the same materials, you can often group them under one report.
We manage this process directly for our clients, sending samples to the lab, reviewing results, and issuing digital PDF reports before shipment.
What is a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) and how do I issue it?
The Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) is a required document that must accompany each product or shipment into the U.S. It's based on lab test results and factory information.
CPCs are mandatory for all children’s products and must include full details on product safety standards, test labs, importer identity, and batch traceability.
What information goes into a CPC?
A valid CPC should include:
- Product identification
- Citation to each CPSC regulation it complies with
- Manufacturer/importer name and address
- Contact information
- Manufacturing date and place
- Testing lab details and report number
Templates are available on CPSC’s website.
We generate CPCs in PDF format and send them with the lab report and invoice. U.S. customs may request them anytime, especially for flagged HS codes.
Who is responsible for issuing the CPC?
Legally, the U.S. importer is responsible. However, most Chinese suppliers like us help fill out the certificate based on lab test data. We include all info in one digital file to make things smooth for customs brokers and Amazon FBA warehouses.
How can I ensure CPSIA compliance from China before shipping?
It’s best to handle all CPSIA requirements before the shipment leaves China. Once it’s on the water or air, you can’t fix failed tests or missing documents.
Ensure all compliance steps—testing, CPCs, labeling, and batch records—are completed at origin before delivery to the U.S.
What’s our CPSIA compliance workflow at AceAccessory?
- Confirm product age group and material components
- Submit test samples to an approved lab
- Receive PASS test report (PDF format)
- Generate and validate CPC
- Apply tracking labels and age grading on each product
- Pack shipment with full documentation
We store all compliance files in digital folders for fast retrieval. Clients can view reports via shared drive links or email.
What happens if compliance is skipped?
Skipping CPSIA steps can result in:
- Customs detention or inspection
- Refusal of entry into the U.S.
- Fines or recalls for non-compliance
- Amazon delisting or retailer rejection
We’ve seen many clients suffer delays or chargebacks due to missing CPCs. That’s why we include this as part of every children’s accessory order. We want your brand to thrive—not get stuck in paperwork.
Conclusion
Navigating CPSIA for children's accessories isn't just about avoiding trouble—it's about building trust. U.S. retailers, Amazon, and parents expect safety and transparency. By partnering with a factory like AceAccessory that handles compliance from end to end—including testing, certification, and packaging—you can protect your brand and serve your customers confidently. Compliance isn’t a barrier. It’s your advantage.
