US import compliance — cross-border guide
CPSC eFiling and Section 321 (de minimis): there is no exemption
If you sell cross-border into the US — DTC, dropshipping, low-value parcels — here is the rule that matters since July 8, 2026, straight from CPSC: "Any product requiring certification must have an eFiled certificate, regardless of the value of the imported shipment. There is no Section 321 (also known as de minimis) shipment exemption for eFiling."
What this means for low-value shipments
The old assumption that small-value or "de minimis" (Section 321) packages slip under compliance radars does not hold for CPSC-regulated products. If the product requires a certificate — a children's toy, kids' apparel, a bike helmet, button batteries, and the rest of the CPSC rule lists — the certificate data must be eFiled with the shipment. Whatever the value.
How the data actually gets filed for small parcels
Carriers like DHL and FedEx collect either the three Product Registry IDs or the certificate data / CPC-GCC copy on the shipment (carrier parts databases and CPSC forms), and transmit it with the entry. If you ship through them, they will ask — be ready with the data.
For entries you file directly: Full PGA Message Set with the seven data elements, or Reference PGA Message Set via CPSC Product Registry Certifier/Product/Version IDs.
Where the HTS line is flagged but the product needs no certificate, CPSC does not require a Disclaim PGA Message Set — but encourages one, because it can improve your risk score.
Already shipping sub-$800 parcels and still caught by the rule? Have one product's paperwork reviewed — US$99 →
Quotation from CPSC's eFiling FAQ, captured September 6, 2026. EntryReady is compliance software, not legal advice. Not affiliated with CPSC or CBP.