Every item in your catalog is screened for U.S. Partner Government Agency requirements—before it ships.
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) are U.S. federal agencies—such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—that regulate specific categories of imported products. If a regulated item arrives at the U.S. border without the required filings or certificates, customs can hold, delay, or return the shipment. On a Verified Account, Zonos automatically screens every item in your catalog—whether it was synced from a channel or imported via CSV—so you know which items carry PGA requirements before they ship.
U.S. inbound postal shipments only: PGA checks apply to all postal shipments destined for the United States. Postal shipments to other countries are not screened for U.S. PGA requirements.
Zonos screening is powered by Zonos Agency Check—see it for the full list of U.S. Partner Government Agencies Zonos covers—and evaluates each item individually:
HS-based applicability — Zonos checks whether the item's HS code falls under a PGA compliance program, such as CPSC or FDA oversight. This runs automatically in the background when items are added to your catalog and again when their details change—it can take a few moments for newly imported items to be evaluated.
AI pre-fill — For items that need information, Zonos uses AI to pre-fill as many of the required compliance answers as it can from the item's name, description, and materials. Pre-filled values are labeled Pre-filled by Zonos so you can review them—nothing is finalized without your confirmation.
Items without an HS code can't be matched to U.S. government agency requirements, so they won't be flagged. If you don't have HS codes for your products, Zonos can auto-classify them on import from the item's name or description. Keep in mind that auto-classification is only as good as your inputs—the more complete your product data, the more accurately Zonos can classify each item and match it to the right PGA requirements.
Two things make the biggest difference:
Detailed, factual descriptions. Describe what the item is, its material, and its purpose—for example, sterling silver ring with gemstone instead of jewelry. Clear descriptions drive both auto-classification and screening; see our quality descriptions guide for tips.
Accurate HS codes and countries of origin. When you already have them, the HS code determines which U.S. government agency requirements apply—and the more complete your data, the more answers Zonos can pre-fill for you.
If an item requires PGA information you haven't provided yet, a Needs attention indicator appears wherever you work with that item:
Catalog list — a badge next to the item's name, a banner with the total count, and a Needs attention tab so you can work through flagged items in one pass.
Item details — an indicator on the item's Requirements tab.
Postal shipment details — an indicator next to any shipment line whose catalog item still needs answers.
Flagged items aren't blocked from shipping, but resolving the requirement before you ship is what keeps the shipment from being held at the border.
Each flagged item has a compliance questionnaire on its Requirements tab—a short set of questions from every U.S. government agency program that applies to it (for example, a CPSC or FDA program). Answering and confirming those questions is how you clear the requirement. Zonos pre-fills as many answers as it can, so most of the time you're reviewing and confirming rather than filling everything in from scratch.
Resolve a flagged item
Click the Needs attention badge (or open the item and select the Requirements tab). The first time you open it, Zonos takes a moment to pre-fill answers for you.
Review the answers labeled Pre-filled by Zonos. Each agency program appears as its own card. Question groups open as a summary first—select Edit on a group to change a value, then Done to stage your correction.
Answer any remaining required questions, then select Confirm. Zonos advances to the next open requirement on the same item before moving on to another flagged item.
Once every required question is confirmed, the Requirements tab shows that all requirements are met and the Needs attention flag clears.
Update a confirmed questionnaire
After you confirm a questionnaire, a Confirmed on [date] banner appears on the Requirements tab. Completed programs stay visible as read-only summaries—one card per agency program—so you can audit what was filed.
If an answer needs to change later, select Edit questionnaire on the banner. Zonos reopens the questionnaire with your current answers pre-filled. Your confirmed answers stay in effect until you submit the updated form.
If the item's details change—for example, its HS code is updated—Zonos re-evaluates it, and the item may need new answers even after a prior confirmation.
No. If Zonos flags an item as needing PGA information, that requirement is enforced by U.S. customs—leave it unresolved and the shipment can be held, delayed, or returned. Supporting documents are different: you attach those only when they apply to your goods.
Depending on your goods, U.S.-bound shipments can be subject to other trade programs—separate from the PGA requirements Zonos screens for. These guides explain programs that may affect your duties or required paperwork:
PGA checks
PGA checks
Every item in your catalog is screened for U.S. Partner Government Agency requirements—before it ships.
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) are U.S. federal agencies—such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—that regulate specific categories of imported products. If a regulated item arrives at the U.S. border without the required filings or certificates, customs can hold, delay, or return the shipment. On a Verified Account, Zonos automatically screens every item in your catalog—whether it was synced from a channel or imported via CSV—so you know which items carry PGA requirements before they ship.
How items are screened
Zonos screening is powered by Zonos Agency Check—see it for the full list of U.S. Partner Government Agencies Zonos covers—and evaluates each item individually:
HS-based applicability — Zonos checks whether the item's HS code falls under a PGA compliance program, such as CPSC or FDA oversight. This runs automatically in the background when items are added to your catalog and again when their details change—it can take a few moments for newly imported items to be evaluated.
AI pre-fill — For items that need information, Zonos uses AI to pre-fill as many of the required compliance answers as it can from the item's name, description, and materials. Pre-filled values are labeled Pre-filled by Zonos so you can review them—nothing is finalized without your confirmation.
Items without an HS code can't be matched to U.S. government agency requirements, so they won't be flagged. If you don't have HS codes for your products, Zonos can auto-classify them on import from the item's name or description. Keep in mind that auto-classification is only as good as your inputs—the more complete your product data, the more accurately Zonos can classify each item and match it to the right PGA requirements.
Two things make the biggest difference:
Detailed, factual descriptions. Describe what the item is, its material, and its purpose—for example, sterling silver ring with gemstone instead of jewelry. Clear descriptions drive both auto-classification and screening; see our quality descriptions guide for tips.
Accurate HS codes and countries of origin. When you already have them, the HS code determines which U.S. government agency requirements apply—and the more complete your data, the more answers Zonos can pre-fill for you.
When an item needs attention
If an item requires PGA information you haven't provided yet, a Needs attention indicator appears wherever you work with that item:
Flagged items aren't blocked from shipping, but resolving the requirement before you ship is what keeps the shipment from being held at the border.
Each flagged item has a compliance questionnaire on its Requirements tab—a short set of questions from every U.S. government agency program that applies to it (for example, a CPSC or FDA program). Answering and confirming those questions is how you clear the requirement. Zonos pre-fills as many answers as it can, so most of the time you're reviewing and confirming rather than filling everything in from scratch.
Resolve a flagged item
Click the Needs attention badge (or open the item and select the Requirements tab). The first time you open it, Zonos takes a moment to pre-fill answers for you.
Review the answers labeled Pre-filled by Zonos. Each agency program appears as its own card. Question groups open as a summary first—select Edit on a group to change a value, then Done to stage your correction.
Answer any remaining required questions, then select Confirm. Zonos advances to the next open requirement on the same item before moving on to another flagged item.
Once every required question is confirmed, the Requirements tab shows that all requirements are met and the Needs attention flag clears.
Update a confirmed questionnaire
After you confirm a questionnaire, a Confirmed on [date] banner appears on the Requirements tab. Completed programs stay visible as read-only summaries—one card per agency program—so you can audit what was filed.
If an answer needs to change later, select Edit questionnaire on the banner. Zonos reopens the questionnaire with your current answers pre-filled. Your confirmed answers stay in effect until you submit the updated form.
If the item's details change—for example, its HS code is updated—Zonos re-evaluates it, and the item may need new answers even after a prior confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Are PGA requirements optional?
No. If Zonos flags an item as needing PGA information, that requirement is enforced by U.S. customs—leave it unresolved and the shipment can be held, delayed, or returned. Supporting documents are different: you attach those only when they apply to your goods.
Other U.S. trade programs
Depending on your goods, U.S.-bound shipments can be subject to other trade programs—separate from the PGA requirements Zonos screens for. These guides explain programs that may affect your duties or required paperwork:
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