CPSC Certificate for Board Games (CPC)

A board game for children sold in the US needs a CPSC certificate, officially called a Children's Product Certificate (CPC). It is issued after your game passes tests at a lab accepted by the CPSC. Since 8 July 2026, the certificate data must also be filed with US customs for every shipment, samples included. This guide explains the tests, the certificate, the customs rule, the label, and the cost and timing.

What Is a CPSC Certificate?

A CPSC certificate is a written statement that a children's product meets every US safety rule that applies to it. The CPSC is the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government agency that sets and enforces these rules. The certificate's official name is Children's Product Certificate, or CPC, so people search for both CPSC certificate and CPC certificate. Getting CPSC certification starts with testing, and the certificate must be based on test results from a CPSC-accepted lab, such as Bureau Veritas. The rules come from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).

Which Games Need One

US law treats a product made for children aged 12 and under as a children's product. We recommend a CPSC certificate for any game aimed at players under 14, to be safe. Amazon and many shops ask for it too. A game made only for adults and teens of 14 and over does not need a CPC.

The US Tests: ASTM F963 and CPSIA

The tests follow ASTM F963, the US toy safety standard, and the CPSIA rules:

• ASTM F963, physical and mechanical: sharp edges, sharp points and small parts.
• ASTM F963, flammability: the parts must not catch fire easily.
• ASTM F963, soluble heavy metals: in every coating, ink and material.
• CPSIA lead: lead in the material itself and in its coating, including the California lead test.
• CPSIA phthalates: eight restricted phthalates, in plastic parts.
• CPSIA tracking label: the label that traces the game to its batch.

Every material and every colour is tested on its own, so a game with many coloured pieces needs more tests. Heavy games with many coloured miniatures are often sold for ages 14 and up instead.

CPSC eFiling: Customs Since 8 July 2026

Since 8 July 2026, importers must file their certificate data electronically with US customs when the goods enter the country. This is the CPSC eFiling rule. It applies to every shipment, whatever its size. For board games for children, that means the CPSC certificate must be ready before your games ship to the US. It applies to samples too. So we now ship pre-production samples without any age on the artwork, with an easy-peel sticker saying they are for adult review only. The age goes back on for mass production.

The Tracking Label

A game for children sold in the US must carry a tracking label. It lists the manufacturer, the date of production, the batch number, the city and country where the game was made, and the seller's name, address and contact details. A tuck box counts as packaging, so a card game in a tuck box also needs these details on one card. Our guide to board game box labels and warning signs shows a fully labelled example.

The Certificate Must Be Yours

A factory's old CPC from another game is not enough. The CPSC certificate must be for your game, with your company as the seller and the factory as the manufacturer. If you import and sell the game, you are responsible for it.

Cost and Timing

A test costs a base fee of USD 100, plus USD 170 for every three materials or colours in your game. Testing takes about 9 working days after production, or roughly 5 days for an express test at double the cost. If you sell on Amazon, the lab must also send your report through the Amazon Direct Validation Program. Our guide to how board game safety testing works gives a worked example of the price.

To plan the CPSC testing for your game, contact us.