What are the differences between GCC and CPC certifications?

The GCC certification, also known as the General Certificate of Conformity, is required for general-use products that fall under the mandatory consumer product safety regulations imposed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the United States. These products must undergo testing or a reasonable testing program, and a written GCC must be issued to prove their compliance.

Which products require GCC certification?

General-use/non-child products that are governed by the Consumer Product Safety Rule or any similar rules, bans, standards, or regulations under CPSC’s mandatory regulations require testing and certification.

Please note that each product must have its own separate gcc certificate. The GCC is similar to the Children’s Product Certificate (CPC).

The GCC certificate applies to non-child products, meaning products for adults, which must be listed in the GCC product list provided by the CPSC.

On the other hand, the CPC certificate, which stands for Children’s Product Certificate, applies to children’s products, specifically designed or intended for children aged 12 years or younger. For children’s products, a CPC must be issued, not a GCC.

GCC Controlled Product Range:

This includes items such as clothing, paints and similar coatings, magnet products, button batteries or coin cells, diving sticks, all-terrain vehicles, bicycle helmets and bicycles, cigarette lighters, portable gas containers, multi-purpose lighters, swimming pool slides, electric lawnmowers, trash cans, antennas, cellulose insulation, bunk beds, matchboxes, mattresses, pool and spa drain covers, lawn darts, metal candle wicks, fireworks, vinyl plastic films, carpets, drywall, refrigerator doors, special packaging, and more.

Platforms Requiring GCC Certificates:

When selling products on U.S. e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, TEMU, SHEIN, TIKTOK, eBay, or AliExpress, the corresponding GCC certificate for each product is required. Failure to provide the GCC certificate may result in product removal, legal action, and other risks.

Issuance of GCC Certificates:

The issuer of the GCC is the manufacturer or importer, who is legally responsible for the certificate. It can be drafted by a third-party laboratory or another third-party entity.

Differences Between GCC and CPC Certificates:

- Product Scope

- GCC: General-use products (non-child)

- CPC: Children’s products and toys

- Testing Items

- GCC: Specific product regulation items (see the controlled product range)

- CPC: Regulations specific to children’s products and toys

- Issuance / Responsible Entity

- GCC: Issued by manufacturer or importer, and can be drafted by a third party

- CPC: Same as GCC

- Certificate Content

- Product Information: Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Compliance with all relevant safety rules and regulations: Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Contact information of importer or manufacturer, including name, address, and phone number: Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Contact information of the entity holding qualifications and test results, including name, address, email, and phone number: Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Production date and address (accurate to city): Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Testing or report time and address information: Identical for both GCC and CPC

- Third-party testing organization information: If no third-party testing is required for GCC, note "N/A"; for CPC, third-party testing organization information is mandatory.

Common Platform Approval Points:

1. Consistency of Qualification Documents: Testing items/Citation Rule must be consistent, report numbers must match (if available), model/style numbers must be consistent, third-party testing agency must be the same, manufacturer’s name, address, testing time, and address must be consistent.

2. Qualification Document Requirements: The documents must include a Test Report, be the official version, at least include an English version, and include the GCC certificate.

3. Physical Product Image Requirements: The model/style number, manufacturer’s name, and manufacturer’s address must not be in Pinyin. Ensure that the physical packaging includes any required warnings per the regulations/standards.

4. Testing Report Validity: The CPSC recommends that manufacturers and importers of general-use products periodically retest their products, usually on an annual basis.

5. GCC Certificate Content Requirements:

- Certificate holder’s name, address, phone number, email

- Importer/manufacturer’s name, address, phone number

- Third-party testing agency’s name, address, phone number

- Production date and address

- Testing items/Citation Rule

- Title: General Certificate of Conformity

- Product information such as name, model, color, etc.

- If there is a signature and stamp, it must be from the manufacturer

- Sample testing date and address