When your shipment arrives at a US port, it doesn't get randomly selected for inspection. The CPSC uses a sophisticated algorithm called the Risk Assessment Methodology (RAM 2.0) to decide which containers get pulled.

How RAM 2.0 Works

RAM scores every shipment on a 0–100 scale based on four factors:

1. Product Risk (highest weight): HTS code + product category
2. Company Risk: Your import history, past violations, recall involvement
3. Country Risk: Manufacturing country's historical compliance rate
4. Compliance History: Whether your previous filings were clean

The higher your score, the more likely your container gets opened.

The 600+ Flagged HTS Codes

CPSC maintains an internal list of HTS codes that automatically elevate your risk score. These fall into four categories:

Children's Apparel (20 codes)

Anything classified under children's clothing HTS codes (6111–6209 range) gets the highest base risk score. This includes: - Babies' garments and accessories (6111.20, 6111.30) - Children's outerwear (6201–6202 range) - Children's underwear and sleepwear (6207–6208 range)

Electronics (5 codes)

Consumer electronics with lithium batteries, charging circuits, or small parts: - Portable electronics (8471, 8517 ranges) - Battery-powered toys and gadgets

Adult Apparel (6 codes)

Specific adult clothing categories with flammability concerns: - Sleepwear and loungewear - Garments with drawstrings (strangulation hazard)

Home Products (4 codes)

Furniture, textiles, and household items: - Upholstered furniture (flammability) - Candles and room sprays (lead wicks, VOCs) - Bedding and mattresses

What a High RAM Score Means for You

If your HTS code is on the flagged list:

• 5-10x more likely to be selected for exam
• 14-day average delay for examined shipments
• $2,000–$5,000 in warehouse and demurrage fees per hold
• Cascading effect: one bad exam raises your Company Risk for 12 months

How to Lower Your Risk Score

1. Pre-file electronically: After July 8, 2026, filing your PGA Message Set proactively signals compliance
2. Use accredited labs: Test reports from CPSC-recognized labs carry more weight
3. Clean import history: Every clean entry lowers your rolling Company Risk score
4. Correct HTS classification: Many importers use overly broad codes that accidentally trigger higher risk

Check Your Products Now

ClearPort AI's HTS Risk Checker cross-references your product's HTS code against the full CPSC RAM 2.0 flagged list — instantly showing your base risk level and what testing is required.

Don't wait until your container is sitting at the port to find out your risk score.

Run a free compliance audit to see how your products score across both US and EU regulations.