Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§1476 Preemption of Federal standards

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 39A— - SPECIAL PACKAGING OF HOUSEHOLD SUBSTANCES FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN › § 1476

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Commission has a federal special-packaging rule for a household substance under section 1472, states and local governments cannot make or keep any different special-packaging rule or exemption for that substance. Any state or local rule must be exactly the same as the federal rule unless one of the exceptions below applies. The federal government, a state, or a local government may use a different packaging rule for a household substance if it is for their own use and it gives a higher level of protection from illness or injury. A state or local government can also ask the Commission to allow its different rule. The Commission can approve that only if following the state rule would not break the federal rule, the state rule gives a significantly higher level of protection, and it does not unfairly interfere with trade between states. The Commission may grant this only after public notice and a chance for people to speak, as required by section 553(b) of title 5.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1476

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), whenever a standard established by the Commission under this Act applicable to a household substance is in effect, no State or political subdivision thereof shall have any authority either to establish or continue in effect, with respect to such household substance, any standard for special packaging (and any exemption therefrom and requirement related thereto) which is not identical to the standard established under section 1472 of this title (and any exemption therefrom and requirement related thereto) of this Act.
(b)The Federal Government and the government of any State or political subdivision of a State may establish and continue in effect, with respect to a household substance for its own use, a standard for special packaging or related requirement which is designed to protect against a risk of illness or injury with respect to which a standard for special packaging or related requirement is in effect under this Act and which is not identical to such standard or requirement if the Federal, State, or political subdivision standard or requirement provides a higher degree of protection from such risk of illness or injury than the standard or requirement in effect under this Act.
(c)(1)Upon application of a State or political subdivision of a State, the Commission may, by regulation promulgated in accordance with paragraph (2), exempt from subsection (a), under such conditions as may be prescribed in such regulation, any standard for special packaging or related requirement of such State or political subdivision applicable to a household substance subject to a standard or requirement in effect under this Act if—
(A)compliance with the State or political subdivision standard or requirement would not cause the household substance to be in violation of the standard or requirement in effect under this Act, and
(B)the State or political subdivision standard or requirement (i) provides a significantly higher degree of protection from the risk of illness or injury with respect to which the Federal standard or requirement is in effect, and (ii) does not unduly burden interstate commerce.
(2)A regulation under paragraph (1) granting an exemption for a standard or requirement of a State or political subdivision of a State may be promulgated by the Commission only after it has provided, in accordance with section 553(b) of title 5 notice with respect to the promulgation of the regulation and has provided opportunity for the oral presentation of views respecting its promulgation.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

For classification to the Code of “this Act”, referred to in text, see

References in Text

note set out under section 1471 of this title.

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–284 substituted “(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), whenever” for “Whenever” in existing provision, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

“Commission” substituted for “Secretary” in subsec. (a) pursuant to section 30(a) of Pub. L. 92–573, which is classified to section 2079(a) of this title and which transferred functions of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under this chapter to Consumer Product Safety Commission. PreemptionThe provisions of this section establishing the extent to which the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 [15 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.] preempts, limits, or otherwise affects any other Federal, State, or local law, any rule, procedure, or regulation, or any cause of action under State or local law not to be expanded or contracted in scope, or limited, modified or extended in application, by any rule or regulation under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, or by reference in any preamble, statement of policy, executive branch statements, or other matter associated with the publication of any such rule or regulation, see section 231 of Pub. L. 110–314, set out as a note under section 2051 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1476

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73