Third Party Testing

Federal law requires that every children's product be tested by a third party, CPSC-accepted laboratory for compliance with the applicable federal children's product safety requirements. View the Third Party Testing FAQ for more information.

Below are the four types of third party testing that you need to understand.

Initial Certification Testing

All children's products must be third party tested by a CPSC-accepted lab. Based on passing results of the third party testing, the manufacturer must then issue a Children's Product Certificate.
View the Initial Certification Testing FAQ
Component Part Testing

Third party tests can be conducted separately on component parts. Manufacturers and importers can either conduct the tests themselves or rely on test reports or component part certificates from another party, such as a supplier, if they use due care and follow all CPSC regulatory requirements.
View the Component Part Testing FAQ
Material Change Testing

If you have made a material change to your children's product, you are required to either retest the product or retest the component part that was changed for compliance with those rules affected by the material change. You must then issue a new Children's Product Certificate based on the new passing test results.
View the Material Change Testing FAQ
Periodic Testing

Periodic testing means third party testing that must be conducted on the continuing production of a children's product over specified time frames. This is in addition to initial certification and material change testing.
View the Periodic Testing FAQ

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Requirements Related to Testing and Certification of Children's Products

Statute

Section 14 of the CPSA

Regulations

Testing and Labeling Pertaining to Product Certification

Testing of Component Parts

Certificates of Compliance

CPSC-Accepted Testing Labs

View Full Directory Apply to Become a Recognized Accredited Lab

Certification Resources for Children's Products

Sample Children's Product Certificate (CPC) Children's Product Certificate FAQ

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

The CPSIA of 2008 authorized a variety of new regulations and testing requirements for children’s products and some non-children’s products. If you are a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of consumer goods, all of your products must comply with the CPSIA and other laws enforced by the CPSC.

View More About CPSIA

Test Manuals & Methods

CPSC product and chemical laboratory reference guides help with consumer product testing procedures.

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