A recent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) webinar on upcoming e-filing requirements drew unprecedented attendance on November 17, underscoring the urgency and complexity surrounding the agency’s new mandate. The session, moderated by Michele Pearce of A.N. Deringer, Inc., brought together experienced participants from the voluntary CPSC e-filing pilot to share practical insights for both customs brokers and importers.
Panelists Monica DeMars of C.H. Robinson and Eric Sherman, Director of Customs Compliance for Dollar Tree Stores, emphasized that importers have very limited time to understand their obligations, choose an e-filing strategy, and coordinate data submission workflows.
Sherman stressed that early action is critical, noting that his own organization required extensive internal coordination. “There are a lot of players involved—compliance and quality teams, customs brokers, labs, suppliers,” he said. “You do not want to wait to get started.”
From the customs broker perspective, DeMars recommended beginning with a data review. She urged brokers to pull the CPSC list of 2,500 covered HTSUS codes and compare it with the prior year’s import history to identify which clients are affected. Once the impacted product lines are identified, brokers can begin outreach and discussions on how importers plan to comply.
Both speakers reinforced that successful implementation will require proactive planning, clear communication, and collaboration across the supply chain.
The full webinar recording is now available for both members and non-members, and industry professionals are encouraged to share it with importers who may be impacted. A downloadable slide deck is also available.
