This month the CPSC launched the “regulatory robot” designed to assist companies by identifying “important product safety requirements that should be reviewed before manufacturing or importing” your consumer product. This new web-based tool allows users to answer a series of questions about the product. The robot then produces a report which identifies the consumer product safety requirements applicable to the product as well as helpful links to the relevant federal regulations and internal CPSC guidelines. The report also provides information about when third party testing is required and information regarding voluntary and mandatory reporting. There is no registration required to use this tool. You can try out the robot at www.cpsc.gov/en/Business–Manufacturing/small-business-resources.
Be warned that the information you receive will only be as good as the information you put into the system. The regulatory robot should not substitute for a thorough review of applicable federal regulations, but certainly serves as a great starting point for companies.