Compliance · FCC + CPSC + state tax
United States
No single federal mark; FCC, CPSC, FDA and state rules apply, with sales-tax nexus and Prop 65 warnings.
Key facts
| Currency | USD |
|---|---|
| Product regulation | Sector-specific: FCC, CPSC/CPSIA, FDA, EPA |
| Sales tax | State and local; marketplace facilitator laws cover most marketplace sales |
| Chemical warnings | California Proposition 65 where a listed chemical is present |
| Importer of record | Required for formal entries; a customs bond is usual |
| De minimis | $800 exemption suspended; duty applies from the first dollar |
| Last verified | 2026-10-17 |
There is no US equivalent of CE
The United States regulates products by sector rather than through one conformity mark. A Bluetooth speaker needs FCC equipment authorisation; a children's toy needs CPSC compliance and a tracking label; a cosmetic needs FDA-compliant labelling; a pesticide needs EPA registration. A product outside those categories may need no federal approval at all.
That makes the product category the first question, not the destination. Two items in the same shipment can face completely different federal regimes, and a certificate for one does not cover the other.
State law is where the surprises are
Sales tax is administered by states, and economic nexus thresholds decide when a remote seller must register. Marketplace facilitator laws shift collection to the platform for sales it processes, but a direct store still has to analyse its own footprint.
California Proposition 65 adds a warning requirement for products containing listed chemicals, and it is enforced by private plaintiffs as well as the state. Warning language and placement are specific; a generic warning can be worse than none. Other states add battery, packaging and recycling rules that are expanding year by year.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a US company to sell on Amazon US?
Not necessarily. A foreign seller can sell through a marketplace, but it still needs an importer of record for formal entries, a tax analysis and the product-specific federal compliance.
Is Prop 65 required for every product?
No. It applies when the product exposes users to a chemical on the state's list above the applicable threshold. The analysis is product- and material-specific.
Does a marketplace handle my sales tax?
For sales the marketplace facilitates, usually yes. For a direct store, the seller has to register and remit in the states where it has nexus.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.