Children's Product Certificate Template

What is a Children's Product Certificate?

A Children's Product Certificate (CPC) is a document that manufacturers and importers of children's products must issue under CPSIA Section 14(a). It certifies that the product has been tested by a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory and complies with all applicable children's product safety rules.

Every children's product sold in the United States needs a CPC. This applies whether you manufacture domestically or import from overseas. Without one, your product cannot legally enter U.S. commerce, and marketplace platforms like Amazon will block or remove your listing.

The 7 Required CPC Elements

CPSIA Section 14(a)(2) specifies exactly what a CPC must contain. Missing any of these elements makes your certificate non-compliant.

Element 1: Product Identification

A description of the product covered by the certificate, specific enough to identify it. Include the product name, model number, and any distinguishing features. Vague descriptions like "toys" are not sufficient — the certificate should clearly identify which product(s) it covers.

Element 2: Applicable Safety Rules

A list of every children's product safety rule that applies to your product. This includes CPSC-issued rules, bans, standards, and regulations. Common examples include ASTM F963 for toys, 16 CFR 1501 for small parts, CPSIA Section 101 for lead content, and CPSIA Section 108 for phthalates.

Element 3: Identification of the Certifier

The name, address, and contact information of the domestic manufacturer or U.S. importer issuing the certificate. Only these two parties can legally certify — a foreign manufacturer cannot issue a CPC for products sold in the U.S.

Element 4: Contact for Test Records

Name and contact information of the person who maintains the test records supporting the certificate. This can be the same as the certifier, but it must be specified. CPSC needs to know who to contact if they want to review your testing documentation.

Element 5: Date and Place of Manufacture

When and where the product was manufactured. For a production run, include the date range. The location should include city and country at minimum.

Element 6: Date and Place of Testing

When and where the third-party testing was performed. This should reflect the actual testing dates from your test reports, not the date you received results.

Element 7: Third-Party Testing Laboratory

The name, address, phone number, and CPSC-accepted laboratory identification number for each lab that performed testing. The lab must be accepted by CPSC for the specific tests performed. You can verify lab acceptance at cpsc.gov/labsearch.

Annotated Sample CPC

Here is what a properly formatted CPC looks like, with each required element labeled:

Why a Blank Template Is Not Enough

You can find blank CPC templates online — fillable PDFs, Word documents, even Google Docs templates. The problem is that filling in a blank form gives you no feedback about what you might be missing or getting wrong.

Common issues with blank templates:

• No validation. A blank template cannot tell you that you forgot to list a required safety rule or that your lab number format looks incorrect.
• Outdated formatting. Templates circulating online may not reflect current CPSC guidance on element ordering or content requirements.
• Missing elements. Many templates leave out the lab phone number (required under 16 CFR 1110.11) or fail to include space for exemption/determination notations.
• No structure for multiple labs. If different standards were tested at different labs, a simple template does not guide you through documenting that correctly.