§ 2063.
(a)
Certification accompanying product; products with more than one manufacturer
(1)
General conformity certification.—
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), every manufacturer of a product which is subject to a consumer product safety rule under this chapter or similar rule, ban, standard, or regulation under any other Act enforced by the Commission and which is imported for consumption or warehousing or distributed in commerce (and the private labeler of such product if such product bears a private label) shall issue a certificate which—
(A)
shall certify, 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 chapter or any other Act enforced by the Commission; and
(B)
shall specify each such rule, ban, standard, or regulation applicable to the product.
(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 August 14, 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 August 14, 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 August 14, 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
August 14, 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 1278a(a)(2) of this title with respect to children’s metal jewelry.
(v)
Baby bouncers, walkers, and jumpers.—
Not later than 210 days after
August 14, 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.
1
So in original. Such title refers to title 16, Code of Federal Regulations.
(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
(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 August 14, 2008, Commission proceedings under this paragraph shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 553 and 601 through 612 of title 5.
(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 under paragraph (1), (2), or (3), 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)
(A)
Effective 1 year after August 14, 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—
(i)
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
(ii)
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)
The Commission may, by regulation, exclude a specific product or class of products from the requirements in subparagraph (A) if the Commission determines that it is not practicable for such product or class of products to bear the marks required by such subparagraph. The Commission may establish alternative requirements for any product or class of products excluded under the preceding sentence consistent with the purposes described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
(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)
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)
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.
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)
Additional regulations for third party testing
(2)
Compliance; continuing testing
Not later than 15 months after August 14, 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 representative 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.
(3)
Reducing third party testing burdens
(A)
Assessment
Not later than 60 days after August 12, 2011, the Commission shall seek public comment on opportunities to reduce the cost of third party testing requirements consistent with assuring compliance with any applicable consumer product safety rule, ban, standard, or regulation. The request for public comment shall include the following:
(i)
The extent to which the use of materials subject to regulations of another government agency that requires third party testing of those materials may provide sufficient assurance of conformity with an applicable consumer product safety rule, ban, standard, or regulation without further third party testing.
(ii)
The extent to which modification of the certification requirements may have the effect of reducing redundant third party testing by or on behalf of 2 or more importers of a product that is substantially similar or identical in all material respects.
(iii)
The extent to which products with a substantial number of different components subject to third party testing may be evaluated to show compliance with an applicable rule, ban, standard, or regulation by third party testing of a subset of such components selected by a third party conformity assessment body.
(iv)
The extent to which manufacturers with a substantial number of substantially similar products subject to third party testing may reasonably make use of sampling procedures that reduce the overall test burden without compromising the benefits of third party testing.
(v)
The extent to which evidence of conformity with other national or international governmental standards may provide assurance of conformity to consumer product safety rules, bans, standards, or regulations applicable under this chapter.
(vi)
The extent to which technology, other than the technology already approved by the Commission, exists for third party conformity assessment bodies to test or to screen for testing consumer products subject to a third party testing requirement.
(vii)
Other techniques for lowering the cost of third party testing consistent with assuring compliance with the applicable consumer product safety rules, bans, standards, and regulations.
(4)
Special rules for small batch manufacturers
(A)
Special consideration; exemption
(i)
Consideration; alternative requirements
(C)
Limitation
The Commission shall not provide or permit to continue in effect any alternative requirements or exemption from third party testing requirements under this paragraph where it determines, based on notice and a hearing, that full compliance with subsection (a) or (b) is reasonably necessary to protect public health or safety. The Commission shall not provide any alternative requirements or exemption for—
(i)
any of the third party testing requirements described in clauses (i) through (v) of subsection (a)(3)(B); or
(D)
Subsequent manufacturer
(E)
Definitions
For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)
the term “covered product” means a consumer product manufactured by a small batch manufacturer where no more than 7,500 units of the same product were manufactured in the previous calendar year; and
(ii)
the term “small batch manufacturer” means a manufacturer that had no more than $1,000,000 in total gross revenue from sales of all consumer products in the previous calendar year. The dollar amount contained in this paragraph shall be adjusted annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.
For purposes of determining the total gross revenue for all sales of all consumer products of a manufacturer under this subparagraph, such total gross revenue shall be considered to include all gross revenue from all sales of all consumer products of each entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such manufacturer. The Commission shall take steps to ensure that all relevant business affiliations are considered in determining whether or not a manufacturer meets this definition.
(5)
Exclusion from third party testing
(A)
Certain printed materials
(ii)
Definitions
(I)
Ordinary book
(II)
Ordinary paper-based printed materials
(III)
Exclusions
(B)
Metal component parts of bicycles
(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.
(g)
Requirements for certificates
(1)
Identification of issuer and conformity assessment body
(3)
Availability of certificates
(4)
Electronic filing of certificates for imported products
([Pub. L. 92–573, § 14], Oct. 27, 1972, [86 Stat. 1220]; [Pub. L. 110–314, title I], §§ 102(a)(1)(A), (2), (3), (b), (d), 103, Aug. 14, 2008, [122 Stat. 3022], 3024, 3027, 3028; [Pub. L. 112–28], §§ 2(a), 6, 10(a), Aug. 12, 2011, [125 Stat. 276], 281, 283; [Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2)], Feb. 24, 2016, [130 Stat. 210].)