Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§6296 Requirements of manufacturers

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 77— - ENERGY CONSERVATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY › Part Part A— - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles › § 6296

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Manufacturers must put the required energy or water-use label on covered products and follow the label rules. If a product is sold from a catalog, the catalog must show the same label information unless the agency’s rule says otherwise. Catalogs that were already being sent out before a new label rule took effect do not have to add the new label information. Manufacturers must tell the Secretary or the Commission which models are in production within 60 days after a label rule starts, and must tell them before starting any new models. If asked, they must give the data used to make the label within 30 days and keep that data for the time the rule requires. The Secretary or the Commission can ask for information to check whether products meet standards or labels are accurate. Each year, at a time set by the Commission, manufacturers must send energy or water use data based on the official test methods. Officials may be allowed to watch required tests and see the test results. The Secretary can also require reports about energy or water use and the economic effects of proposed standards, must try to avoid unnecessary burdens, and must handle the information under the same confidentiality rules that apply to similar energy data.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §6296

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each manufacturer of a covered product to which a rule under section 6294 of this title applies shall provide a label which meets, and is displayed in accordance with, the requirements of such rule. If such manufacturer or any distributor, retailer, or private labeler of such product advertises such product in a catalog from which it may be purchased, such catalog shall contain all information required to be displayed on the label, except as otherwise provided by rule of the Commission. The preceding sentence shall not require that a catalog contain information respecting a covered product if the distribution of such catalog commenced before the effective date of the labeling rule under section 6294 of this title applicable to such product.
(b)(1)Each manufacturer of a covered product to which a rule under section 6294 of this title applies shall notify the Secretary or the Commission—
(A)not later than 60 days after the date such rule takes effect, of the models in current production (and starting serial numbers of those models) to which such rule applies; and
(B)prior to commencement of production, of all models subsequently produced (and starting serial numbers of those models) to which such rule applies.
(2)If requested by the Secretary or Commission, the manufacturer of a covered product to which a rule under section 6294 of this title applies shall provide, within 30 days of the date of the request, the data from which the information included on the label and required by the rule was derived. Data shall be kept on file by the manufacturer for a period specified in the rule.
(3)When requested—
(A)by the Secretary for purposes of ascertaining whether a product subject to a standard established in or prescribed under section 6295 of this title is in compliance with that standard, or
(B)by the Commission for purposes of ascertaining whether the information set out on a label of a product, as required under section 6294 of this title, is accurate,
(4)Each manufacturer of a covered product to which a rule under section 6294 of this title applies shall annually, at a time specified by the Commission, supply to the Commission relevant data respecting energy consumption or water use developed in accordance with the test procedures applicable to such product under section 6293 of this title.
(5)A rule under section 6293, 6294, or 6295 of this title may require the manufacturer or his agent to permit a representative designated by the Commission or the Secretary to observe any testing required by this part and inspect the results of such testing.
(c)Each manufacturer shall use labels reflecting the range data required to be disclosed under section 6294(c)(1)(B) of this title after the expiration of 60 days following the date of publication of any revised table of ranges unless the rule under section 6294 of this title provides for a later date. The Commission may not require labels be changed to reflect revised tables of ranges more often than annually.
(d)(1)For purposes of carrying out this part, the Secretary may require, under this part or other provision of law administered by the Secretary, each manufacturer of a covered product to submit information or reports to the Secretary with respect to energy efficiency, energy use, or, in the case of showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals, water use of such covered product and the economic impact of any proposed energy conservation standard, as the Secretary determines may be necessary to establish and revise test procedures, labeling rules, and energy conservation standards for such product and to insure compliance with the requirements of this part. In making any determination under this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider existing public sources of information, including nationally recognized certification programs of trade associations.
(2)The Secretary shall exercise authority under this section in a manner designed to minimize unnecessary burdens on manufacturers of covered products.
(3)The provisions of section 796(d) of title 15 shall apply with respect to information obtained under this subsection to the same extent and in the same manner as they apply with respect to energy information obtained under section 796 of title 15.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–486, § 123(g)(1), inserted “or water use” after “consumption”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–486, § 123(g)(2), substituted “, energy use, or, in the case of showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals, water use” for “or energy use”. 1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(3)(A), inserted heading. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(3)(B), inserted heading. Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(a)(2), inserted “established in or” before “prescribed under”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(3)(C), inserted heading. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–12, § 6, inserted “Information requirements” as heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For purposes of carrying out this part, the Secretary may require, under authority otherwise available to him under this part or other provisions of law administered by him, each manufacturer of covered products to submit such information or reports of any kind or nature directly to the Secretary with respect to energy efficiency of such covered products, and with respect to the economic impact of any proposed energy efficiency standard, as the Secretary determines may be necessary to establish and revise test procedures, labeling rules, and energy efficiency standards for such products and to insure compliance with the requirements of this part. The provisions of section 796(d) of title 15 shall apply with respect to information obtained under this subsection to the same extent and in the same manner as it applies with respect to energy information obtained under section 796 of title 15.” 1978—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 95–619, § 425(d)(2), inserted requirement that manufacturers of covered products give notice to the Secretary of models affected by rules promulgated under section 6294 of this title and expanded the notice requirement itself to include models manufactured more than sixty days after the date a particular rule takes effect. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–619, § 691(b)(2), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”, meaning Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 95–619, § 425(d)(3), authorized Secretary to request submission of covered products for purposes of ascertaining whether a particular product complies with standards under section 6295 of this title and also authorized Secretary to designate testing laboratories for the submitted products. Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 95–619, § 691(b)(2), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–619, § 425(d)(1), added subsec. (d).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 6296

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73