Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§1202 Exemptions

Title 15 › CHAPTER 25 — FLAMMABLE FABRICS › § 1202

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

People may export fabrics and related materials from the United States without following most rules here if the items and their containers are labeled for export and are actually sent out. The Consumer Product Safety Commission can stop an export if it finds the shipment would create an unreasonable risk to people living in the United States. The rules still apply to goods made for sale or shipment to U.S. installations located outside the United States. If someone plans to export items that do not meet a safety standard, they must notify the Commission at least 30 days before shipping. The notice must give the expected shipping date, the country and port of destination, the quantity, and any other information the Commission asks for. The Commission will tell the foreign government about the shipment and why the items do not meet the standard. The Commission can allow a shorter notice for good cause, but never less than 10 days before shipping. The Commission may also order that nonconforming goods not be exported unless the importing country says it accepts them within 30 days. This section does not apply to exports allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 2066(e).

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1202

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Exports; risk of injury to residents of United States
This chapter shall not apply to any fabric, related material, or product which is to be exported from the United States, if such fabric, related material, or product, and any container in which it is enclosed, bears a stamp or label stating that such fabric, related material, or product is intended for export and such fabric, related material, or product is in fact exported from the United States; unless the Commission determines that exportation of such fabric, related material, or product presents an unreasonable risk of injury to persons residing within the United States; except that this chapter shall apply to any fabric, related material, or product manufactured for sale, offered for sale, or intended for shipment to any installation of the United States located outside of the United States.
(b)Imports intended for export; risk of injury to residents of United States
This chapter shall not apply to any fabric, related material, or product which is imported into the United States for dyeing, finishing, other processing, or storage in bond, and export from the United States, if such fabric, related material, or product, and any container in which it is enclosed, bears a stamp or label stating that such fabric, related material, or product is intended for export, and such fabric, related material, or product is in fact exported from the United States, unless the Commission determines that exportation of such fabric, related material, or product presents an unreasonable risk of injury to persons residing within the United States; except that this chapter shall apply to any such imported fabric, related material, or product manufactured for sale, offered for sale, or intended for shipment to any installation of the United States located outside of the United States.
(c)Statement of exportation: filing period, information; notification of foreign country; petition for minimum filing period; good cause
Not less than thirty days before any person exports to a foreign country any fabric, related material, or product that fails to conform to an applicable flammability standard or regulation in effect under this chapter, such person shall file a statement with the Commission notifying the Commission of such exportation, and the Commission, upon receipt of such statement, shall promptly notify the government of such country of such exportation and of the basis for such flammability standard or regulation. Any statement filed with the Commission under the preceding sentence shall specify the anticipated date of shipment of such fabric, related material, or product, the country and port of destination of such fabric, related material, or product, and the quantity of such fabric, related material, or product that will be exported, and shall contain such other information as the Commission may by regulation require. Upon petition filed with the Commission by any person required to file a statement under this subsection respecting an exportation, the Commission may, for good cause shown, exempt such person from the requirement of this subsection that such a statement be filed no less than thirty days before the date of the exportation, except that in no case shall the Commission permit such a statement to be filed later than the tenth day before such date.
(d)Authority to prohibit exports
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Consumer Product Safety Commission may prohibit, by order, a person from exporting from the United States for purpose of sale any fabric or related material that the Commission determines is not in conformity with an applicable standard or rule under this chapter, unless the importing country has notified the Commission that such country accepts the importation of such fabric or related material, provided that if the importing country has not so notified the Commission within 30 days after the Commission has provided notice to the importing country of the impending shipment, the Commission may take such action as is appropriate with respect to the disposition of the fabric or related material under the circumstances.
(e)Export pursuant to section 2066(e)
Nothing in this section shall apply to any fabric or related material, the export of which is permitted by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 2066(e) of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–314, § 204(c)(2)(F), which directed the substitution of “Commission” for “Consumer Product Safety Commission (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘Commission’) in section 15 (15 U.S.C. 1202)”, was executed by making the substitution for “Consumer Product Safety Commission (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘Commission’)” to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 110–314, § 221(b), added subsecs. (d) and (e). 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–631, § 8(a)(1), made chapter applicable to exports when the Commission determines that exportation presents an unreasonable risk of injury to persons residing within the United States. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–631, § 8(a)(2), made chapter applicable to imports intended for export when the Commission determines that exportation presents an unreasonable risk of injury to persons residing within the United States. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–631, § 8(a)(3), added subsec. (c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1202

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110