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CPSC children'sUnited StatesKids bike helmets

Do kids bike helmets need a CPC?

Updated

Short answer

Yes.

Every bicycle helmet sold in the U.S. must meet the CPSC safety standard in 16 CFR part 1203. A helmet sized and marketed for children 12 and under is also a children's product, so the 1203 tests and the lead limits must be done at a CPSC-accepted third-party lab, and the importer issues a Children's Product Certificate (CPC). The helmet also carries the permanent certification label described in 16 CFR 1203.34.

What changes the answer

  • Ages 1 to 5. A helmet intended for children under 5 is tested over the larger coverage area set for persons age 1 and older. Its certification label reads "Complies with U.S. CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets for Persons Age 1 and Older (Extended Head Coverage)". Helmets for 5 and up use the "Age 5 and Older" statement.
  • Multi-sport helmets. Under 16 CFR 1203.4(b), a multi-purpose helmet is a bicycle helmet if a reasonable consumer could conclude cycling is among its uses, and one marketed without naming activities is presumed to be a bicycle helmet. Helmets marketed only for skateboarding or similar single activities are outside the definition.
  • Lead and coatings. Accessible parts, including buckles, adjusters and decorative stickers or paint, must meet the 100 ppm lead content and 90 ppm paint limits.
  • Toy helmets. A costume or play helmet that is not intended for cycling is not a bicycle helmet, but it must be clearly marketed that way and is still a children's product under the toy rules.

What to do

  1. Have a CPSC-accepted lab run the part 1203 tests: impact attenuation, positional stability, retention system strength and peripheral vision, on the sizes and conditions the standard sets.
  2. Test lead content and surface coatings on accessible components.
  3. Label the helmet with the warnings in 16 CFR 1203.6 and the certification label in 1203.34: the compliance statement, U.S. importer name, address and phone, foreign manufacturer, production lot and month and year of manufacture.
  4. Issue a CPC listing part 1203 and the lead rules, and eFile it with the entry as required since July 8, 2026.
  5. Keep the test and production records required by 1203 subpart C, and follow the periodic testing rules in 16 CFR part 1107.
HTS lines for bicycle helmets
  • 6506.10.60.45

    6506: Other headgear, whether or not lined or trimmed

    Safety headgear / Athletic, recreational and sporting headgear

    Athletic, recreational and sporting safety headgear, other than of reinforced or laminated plastics. Typical for EPS foam bike helmets.

    General rate
    Free
  • 6506.10.30.45

    6506: Other headgear, whether or not lined or trimmed

    Safety headgear / Of reinforced or laminated plastics / Athletic, recreational and sporting headgear

    The same headgear of reinforced or laminated plastics.

    General rate
    Free

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1203 certification label the same as the CPC?
The label is the helmet's certificate of compliance for part 1203 under 1203.34. For a children's helmet you still issue a CPC covering all applicable rules, including lead, and eFile its data.
Can I use a CE EN 1078 test report for a kids helmet?
No. EN 1078 is a European standard. The U.S. requires part 1203 testing at a CPSC-accepted lab for children's helmets.
Is a youth helmet for ages 8 to 14 a children's product?
Usually yes, since its size and marketing aim mostly at children 12 and under. Document the age determination either way.

Sources

  1. 16 CFR part 1203, Safety standard for bicycle helmets, eCFR, National Archives
  2. 16 CFR 1203.34, Product certification and labeling, eCFR, National Archives
  3. 16 CFR 1203.6, Labeling and instructions, eCFR, National Archives
  4. Children's Products business guidance, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  5. Certificates of Compliance final rule (eFiling), published January 8, 2025, Federal Register

This is general information drawn from the official sources linked above. It is not legal advice. Rules change and often turn on the facts of your product, so confirm your test plan with an accredited lab and your obligations with qualified counsel before you import or sell.