1. What is GCC Certification?
GCC stands for General Certificate of Conformity.
It is a written general conformity certificate that manufacturers and importers of general use products (i.e., non-children’s products) must issue based on reasonable testing, as stipulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
Manufacturers and importers of general use products subject to consumer product safety rules must demonstrate compliance with all applicable rules in the General Certificate of Conformity (GCC).
Manufacturers or importers of such products must provide testing records or reasonable testing procedures for their GCC. Products sold in the U.S. without a GCC certificate may face penalties such as removal from shelves, detention, fines, or lawsuits.
2. What Products are Subject to GCC Certification?
Bicycles, electric bicycles, adult helmets, adult clothing, mattresses, power lawn mowers, swimming pool slides, lighters, bunk beds, trash cans, consumer repair compounds for paints and similar surface coatings, swimming pool and spa drain covers, portable gas containers, metal candle wicks, fireworks, vinyl plastic films, carpets, poison prevention packaging, drywall, etc.
3. Differences Between GCC Certification and CPC Certification
CPC and GCC are both certifications that manufacturers or importers must obtain for their products under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The main difference is that CPC is for children’s products (intended for children 12 years and younger), while GCC applies to general or non-children’s products.
U.S. policy requires suppliers and sellers of CPSC-regulated products to certify based on testing reports or reasonable testing plans for each item to ensure compliance with applicable consumer product safety requirements.
Products related to children, including toys and infant products, require a CPC certificate, while general or non-children’s products require a GCC certificate.
Products exported to or sold in the U.S. without the appropriate certificates face risks such as removal from shelves, detention of goods and payments, and lawsuits!
