US Consumer Product Safety Laws Regarding Product

Certification and Labeling – Revisions Revealed

Compiled by Jennifer P. Toney

What follows is an edited version of Title 15, Chapter 47, Section 2063:
Product Certification and Labeling. It was created by taking the latest version
of the official code as published in January 2007 and showing revisions
imposed by the CPSIAof 2008.

Please note that, because the revised, official code will not be available until
at least January 2009, the CPSC’s unofficial compilation of the code was
used to identify revisions.

Edit Key:
Black type - unchanged
Grey strikethrough – deletion
Navy blue underline – addition
Yellow double-strikethrough – moved from this location
Green double-underline – moved to this location

If you find this document helpful, I encourage you to leave a comment on my

blog post, where I describe the purpose of showing edits to the Consumer
Product Safety Act. Because of the time involved with compilation and
formatting, I will continue to publish redlined sections only if it proves to be a
valuable resource for companies and individuals. Thank you in advance for
your comments.

SEC. 14. [15 U.S.C. § 2063]

(a)
(1) GENERAL CONFORMITY CERTIFICATION.--Except as provided in
paragraphs (2) 2063. Product certification and (3), everylabeling (a)
Certification accompanying product; products with more than one
manufacturer(1) Every manufacturer of a product which is subject to a
consumer product safety rulestandard under this Act or similar rule, ban,
standard, or regulation under any other Act enforced by the
Commissionchapter and which is imported for consumption or warehousing
or distributed in commerce (and the private labeler of such product if such
product it bears a private label) shall issue a certificate which—

(A) shall certify, be product is delivered. Any certificate under this subsection
shall
otherwise be furnished to any distributor or retailer to whom the
applicable. Such certificate shall accompany the product or shall
product safety standards, and shall specify any standard which is
that such product conforms to all applicable consumer
based on a test of each product or upon a reasonable testing
program, that such product complies with all rules, bans, standards,
or regulations applicable to the product under this Act or any other Act
enforced byprogram; shall state the Commission; and name of the
manufacturer or private
 (B) shall specify each such rule, ban, standard, or regulation applicable to
the product.

[Effective Date.—Not part of the Consumer Product Safety Act.—

The preceding amendment made by labeler issuing the
certificate; and shall include the date and place of manufacture.
(2)Sec.102(a)(1)(A) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement
Act of 2008 shall take effect 90 days after enactment of the Act.]
{Date of enactment is August 14, 2008}

(2) THIRD PARTY TESTING REQUIREMENT.--Effective on the dates

provided in paragraph (3), before importing for consumption or warehousing
or distributing in commerce any children's product that is subject to a
children's product safety rule, every manufacturer of such children's product
(and the private labeler of such children's product if such children's product
bears a private label) shall—

(A) submit sufficient samples of the children's product, or samples that

are identical in all material respects to the product, to a third party
conformity assessment body accredited under paragraph (3) to be
tested for compliance with such children's product safety rule; and

(B) based on such testing, issue a certificate that certifies that such
children's product complies with the children's product safety rule
based on the assessment of a third party conformity assessment body
accredited to conduct such tests.
A manufacturer or private labeler shall issue either a separate
certificate for each children's product safety rule applicable to a
product or a combined certificate that certifies compliance with all
applicable children's product safety rules, in which case each such
rule shall be specified.

(3) SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIRD PARTY TESTING.--

(A) GENERAL APPLICATION.--Except as provided under subparagraph
(F), the requirements of paragraph (2) shall apply to any children's
product manufactured more than 90 days after the Commission has
established and published notice of the requirements for accreditation
of third party conformity assessment bodies to assess conformity with
a children's product safety rule to which such children's product is
subject.

(B) TIME LINE FOR ACCREDITATION.--

(i) LEAD PAINT.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
of 2008, the Commission shall publish notice of the
requirements for accreditation of third party conformity
assessment bodies to assess conformity with part 1303 of title
16, Code of Federal Regulations.

(ii) FULL-SIZE CRIBS; NON FULL-SIZE CRIBS; PACIFIERS.--

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the
 Commission shall publish notice of the requirements for
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies to
assess conformity with parts 1508, 1509, and 1511 of such
title.

(iii) SMALL PARTS.--Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
of 2008, the Commission shall publish notice of the
requirements for accreditation of third party conformity
assessment bodies to assess conformity with part 1501 of
such title.

(iv) CHILDREN’S METAL JEWELRY.--Not later than 120 days

after the date of enactment of the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008, the Commission shall publish notice
of the requirements for accreditation of third party conformity
assessment bodies to assess conformity with the requirements
of section 101(a)(2) of such Act with respect to children's metal
jewelry.

(v) BABY BOUNCERS, WALKERS, AND JUMPERS.--Not later

than 210 days after the date of enactment of the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Commission
shall publish notice of the requirements for accreditation of
third party conformity assessment bodies to assess conformity
with parts 1500.18(a)(6) and 1500.86(a) of such title.

(vi) ALL OTHER CHILDREN’S PRODUCT SAFETY RULES.--

The Commission shall publish notice of the requirements for
accreditation of third party conformity assessment bodies to
assess conformity with other children's product safety rules at
the earliest practicable date, but in no case later than 10
months after the date of enactment of the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act of 2008, or, in the case of children's
product safety rules established or revised 1 year or more after
such date of enactment, not later than 90 days before such
rules or revisions take effect.

(C) ACCREDITATION.--Accreditation of third party conformity

assessment bodies pursuant to the requirements established under
subparagraph (B) may be conducted either by the Commission or by
an independent accreditation organization designated by the
Commission.

(D) PERIODIC REVIEW.--The Commission shall periodically review and

revise the accreditation requirements established under subparagraph
(B) to ensure that the requirements assure the highest conformity
assessment body quality that is feasible.

(E) PUBLICATION OF ACCREDITED ENTITIES.--The Commission shall

maintain on its Internet website an up-to-date list of entities that have
been accredited to assess conformity with children's product safety
 rules in accordance with the requirements published by the
Commission under this paragraph.

(F) EXTENSION.--If the Commission determines that an insufficient

number of third party conformity assessment bodies have been
accredited to permit certification for a children's product safety rule
under the accelerated schedule required by this paragraph, the
Commission may extend the deadline for certification to such rule by
not more than 60 days.

(G) RULEMAKING.--Until the date that is 3 years after the Consumer

Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Commission proceedings
under this paragraph shall be exempt from the requirements of
sections 553 and 601 through 612 of title 5, United States Code.

[CPSC Consideration of Existing Requirements.—Sec. 102(c) of the

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Not part of the
Consumer Product Safety Act. In establishing standards for
accreditation of a third party conformity assessment body under
section 14(a)(3) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Commission
may consider standards and protocols for accreditation of such
conformity assessment bodies by independent accreditation
organizations that are in effect on the date of enactment {August 14,
2008} of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, but
shall ensure that the protocols, standards, and requirements prescribed
under section 14(a)(3) incorporate, as the standard for accreditation, the
most current scientific and technological standards and techniques
available.]

(4) In the case of a consumer product for which there is more than one
manufacturer or more than one private labeler, the Commission may by rule
designate one or more of such manufacturers or one or more of such private
labelers (as the case may be) as the persons who shall issue the certificate
required underby paragraph (1), (2), or (3), of this subsection,and may
exempt all other manufacturers of such product or all other private labelers of
the product (as the case may be) from the requirement under paragraph (1),
(2), or (3) to issue a certificate with respect to such product.

(5) Effective 1 year after the date of enactment of the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the manufacturer of a children’s product
shall place permanent, distinguishing marks on the product and its
packaging, to the extent practicable, that will enable—

(A) the manufacturer to ascertain the location and date of production of

the product, cohort information (including the batch, run number, or
other identifying characteristic), and any other information determined
by the manufacturer to facilitate ascertaining the specific source of the
product by reference to those marks; and

(B) the ultimate purchaser to ascertain the manufacturer or private

labeler, location and date of production of the product, and cohort
 information (including the batch, run number, or other identifying
characteristic).

(b) (b) Rules to establish reasonable testing programs The Commission may by
rule prescribe reasonable testing programs for any productconsumer products
which isare subject to a consumer product safety rule standards under this Act,
or a similar rule, regulation, standard, or ban under any other Act enforced by the
Commission,chapter and for which a certificate is required under subsection (a).
of this section. Any test or testing program on the basis of which a certificate is
issued under subsection (a) of this section may, at the option of the person
required to certify the product, be conducted by an independent third party
qualified to perform such tests, unless the Commission, by rule, requires or
testing by an independent third party for a particular rule, regulation, standard, or
ban, or for a particular class of products. programs.

(c) (c) Form and contents of labels The Commission may by rule require the
use and prescribe the form and content of labels which contain the following
information (or that portion of it specified in the rule) —-

(1) The date and place of manufacture of any consumer product.

(2) The cohort information (including the batch, run number, or other
identifying characteristic) of the product.

(3) (2) A suitable identification of the manufacturer of the consumer product,

unless the product bears a private label in which case it shall identify the
private labeler and shall also contain a code mark which will permit the seller
of such product to identify the manufacturer thereof to the purchaser upon his
request.

(4) (3) In the case of a consumer product subject to a consumer product

safety rule, a certification that the product meets all applicable consumer
product safety standards and a specification of the standards which are
applicable. of the standards which are applicable.

Such labels, where practicable, may be required by the Commission to be

permanently marked on or affixed to any such consumer product. The
Commission may, in appropriate cases, permit information required under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection to be coded.

(d) REQUIREMENT FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.—No advertisement for a

consumer product or label or packaging of such product may contain a reference
to a consumer product safety rule or a voluntary consumer product safety
standard unless such product conforms with the applicable safety requirements
of such rule or standard.
[Effective date.—Not part of the Consumer Product Safety Act.—This
section shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the enactment of
the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.]

(d) ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR THIRD PARTY TESTING.--

(1) AUDIT.--Not later than 10 months after the date of enactment of the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Commission shall by
regulation establish requirements for the periodic audit of third party
conformity assessment bodies as a condition for the continuing accreditation
of such conformity assessment bodies under subsection (a)(3)(C).

(2) COMPLIANCE; CONTINUED TESTING.--Not later than 15 months after

the date of enactment of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of
2008, the Commission shall by regulation—

(A) initiate a program by which a manufacturer or private labeler may

label a consumer product as complying with the certification
requirements of subsection (a); and

(B) establish protocols and standards--

(i) for ensuring that a children's product tested for compliance with
an applicable children's product safety rule is subject to testing
periodically and when there has been a material change in the
product's design or manufacturing process, including the
sourcing of component parts;
(ii) for the testing of random samples to ensure continued
compliance;

(iii) for verifying that a children's product tested by a conformity

assessment body complies with applicable children's product
safety rules; and

(iv) for safeguarding against the exercise of undue influence on a

third party conformity assessment body by a manufacturer or
private labeler.

{Note: P.L. 110-314 contained the two foregoing provisions both

denominated as being codified as §14(d) of the CPSA.}

(e) WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION.--

(1) IN GENERAL.--The Commission may withdraw its accreditation or its
acceptance of the accreditation of a third party conformity assessment body
accredited under this section if the Commission finds, after notice and
investigation, that—

(A) a manufacturer, private labeler, or governmental entity has exerted

undue influence on such conformity assessment body or otherwise
interfered with or compromised the integrity of the testing process with
respect to the certification of a children's product under this section; or
 (B) such conformity assessment body failed to comply with an applicable
protocol, standard, or requirement established by the Commission
under subsection (d).

(2) PROCEDURE.--In any proceeding to withdraw the accreditation of a

conformity assessment body, the Commission—

(A) shall consider the gravity of the conformity assessment body's action
or failure to act, including--
(i) whether the action or failure to act resulted in injury, death, or
the risk of injury or death;

(ii) whether the action or failure to act constitutes an isolated

incident or represents a pattern or practice; and

(iii) whether and when the conformity assessment body initiated

remedial action; and

(B) may--
(i) withdraw its acceptance of the accreditation of the conformity
assessment body on a permanent or temporary basis; and

(ii) establish requirements for reaccreditation of the conformity

assessment body.

(3) FAILURE TO COOPERATE.--The Commission may suspend the

accreditation of a conformity assessment body if it fails to cooperate with the
Commission in an investigation under this section.

(f) DEFINITIONS.--In this section:

(1) CHILDREN’S PRODUCT SAFETY RULE.--The term `children's product
safety rule' means a consumer product safety rule under this Act or similar
rule, regulation, standard, or ban under any other Act enforced by the
Commission, including a rule declaring a consumer product to be a banned
hazardous product or substance.

(2) THIRD PARTY CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODY.--_

(A) IN GENERAL.--The term `third party conformity assessment body'
means a conformity assessment body that, except as provided in
subparagraph (D), is not owned, managed, or controlled by the
manufacturer or private labeler of a product assessed by such
conformity assessment body.

(B) GOVERNMENTAL PARTICIPATION.--Such term may include an

entity that is owned or controlled in whole or in part by a government if
—
(i) to the extent practicable, manufacturers or private labelers
located in any nation are permitted to choose conformity
assessment bodies that are not owned or controlled by the
government of that nation;
 (ii) the entity's testing results are not subject to undue influence by
any other person, including another governmental entity;

(iii) the entity is not accorded more favorable treatment than other
third party conformity assessment bodies in the same nation
who have been accredited under this section;

(iv) the entity's testing results are accorded no greater weight by

other governmental authorities than those of other third party
conformity assessment bodies accredited under this section;
and

(v) the entity does not exercise undue influence over other
governmental authorities on matters affecting its operations or
on decisions by other governmental authorities controlling
distribution of products based on outcomes of the entity's
conformity assessments.

(C) TESTING AND CERTIFICATION OF ART MATERIALS AND

PRODUCTS.--A certifying organization (as defined in appendix A to
section 1500.14(b)(8) of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations (or any
successor regulation or ruling)) meets the requirements of
subparagraph (A) with respect to the certification of art material and
art products required under this section or by regulations prescribed
under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261 et
seq.).

(D) FIREWALLED CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT BODIES.--Upon

request, the Commission may accredit a conformity assessment body
that is owned, managed, or controlled by a manufacturer or private
labeler as a third party conformity assessment body if the Commission
by order finds that—
(i) accreditation of the conformity assessment body would provide
equal or greater consumer safety protection than the
manufacturer's or private labeler's use of an independent third
party conformity assessment body; and

(ii) the conformity assessment body has established procedures to

ensure that—

(I) its test results are protected from undue influence by the
manufacturer, private labeler or other interested party;
4 (This section was titled: “Notification and Repair,
Replacement, or Refund”)

(II) the Commission is notified immediately of any attempt by

the manufacturer, private labeler or other interested party to
hide or exert undue influence over test results; and

(III) allegations of undue influence may be reported

confidentially to the Commission.
(g) REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATES.--
(1) IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUER AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
BODY.--Every certificate required under this section shall identify the
manufacturer or private labeler issuing the certificate and any third party
conformity assessment body on whose testing the certificate depends. The
certificate shall include, at a minimum, the date and place of manufacture, the
date and place where the product was tested, each party's name, full mailing
address, telephone number, and contact information for the individual
responsible for maintaining records of test results.

(2) ENGLISH LANGUAGE.--Every certificate required under this section

shall be legible and all content required by this section shall be in the English
language. A certificate may also contain the same content in any other
language.

(3) AVAILABILITY OF CERTIFICATES.--Every certificate required under this

section shall accompany the applicable product or shipment of products
covered by the same certificate and a copy of the certificate shall be
furnished to each distributor or retailer of the product. Upon request, the
manufacturer or private labeler issuing the certificate shall furnish a copy of
the certificate to the Commission.

(4) ELECTRONIC FILING OF CERTIFICATES FOR IMPORTED

PRODUCTS.--In consultation with the Commissioner of Customs, the
Commission may, by rule, provide for the electronic filing of certificates under
this section up to 24 hours before arrival of an imported product. Upon
request, the manufacturer or private labeler issuing the certificate shall
furnish a copy to the Commission and to the Commissioner of Customs.

(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.--Compliance of any children's product with third

party testing and certification or general conformity certification requirements
under this section shall not be construed to exempt such children's product from
any requirement that such product actually be in conformity with all applicable
rules, regulation, standards, or ban under any Act enforced by the Commission.

Sources:

US Code, Title 15, Chapter 47: Commerce and Trade, Consumer Product Safety,
January 2007

Unofficial Compilation of Amended Consumer Product Safety Act developed by

CPSC Staff