Philippine exporters of consumer goods to the United States may face shipment delays and added compliance costs as a new US safety regulation requires importers to electronically submit product certification details before goods enter the country.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) e-filing requirement, which took effect on 8 July, requires importers of regulated consumer products to submit Certificates of Compliance through the US Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment system for every covered shipment.

New system

The new system replaces the previous practice where importers only needed to keep certificates on file and present them when requested. Under the updated rule, compliance information must now be submitted at the time of entry.

While the responsibility falls on US importers, Philippine exporters will need to provide accurate and complete product compliance data to their buyers to avoid shipment disruptions, higher storage costs, additional inspections, or possible refusal of goods at the border.

The requirement applies to regulated consumer products that need either a Children’s Product Certificate or a General Certificate of Conformity, including products covered by mandatory CPSC safety standards.

However, many companies across Asia-Pacific are still unprepared for the new requirement. A survey by international express transportation firm FedEx showed that 64 percent of businesses exporting consumer goods to the U.S. are not yet operationally ready for the CPSC mandate.

Twenty-eight percent understand the requirements

Of those surveyed, 28 percent said they understand the requirements but have yet to act, while 18 percent expect significant disruptions to their US-bound shipments. Only 15 percent reported being fully prepared.