15 U.S.C. § 6004: Standards

Summary

Bicycle helmets made 9 months or more after June 16, 1994 must meet certain safety rules. Until a final rule is made, helmets must follow one of these interim standards: ANSI Z90.4–1984, Snell B–90, ASTM F1447, or any other standard the Consumer Product Safety Commission approves. The Commission must start a rulemaking within 60 days after June 16, 1994 to make a final standard based on those interim rules. The final standard must guard against helmets coming off, deal with children’s injury risks, and include other needed provisions. Sections 7, 9, and 30(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056, 2058, 2079(d)) do not apply to that rulemaking, and section 11 (15 U.S.C. 2060) does not apply to standards from it. The final standard becomes effective one year after it is issued. Until the final standard takes effect, any helmet that does not meet an interim standard is treated as violating a consumer product safety standard under the Consumer Product Safety Act. When issued, the final standard will be treated as a consumer product safety standard under that Act.

Title 15, §6004

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Bicycle helmets manufactured 9 months or more after June 16, 1994, shall conform to—

(1)any interim standard described under subsection (b), pending the establishment of a final standard pursuant to subsection (c); and

(2)the final standard, once it has been established under subsection (c).

(b)Interim standards

The interim standards are as follows:

(1)The American National Standards Institute standard designated as “Z90.4–1984”.

(2)The Snell Memorial Foundation standard designated as “B–90”.

(3)The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard designated as “F 1447”.

(4)Any other standard that the Commission determines is appropriate.

(c)Final standard

Not later than 60 days after June 16, 1994, the Commission shall begin a proceeding under section 553 of title 5 to—

(1)review the requirements of the interim standards set forth in subsection (a) and establish a final standard based on such requirements;

(2)include in the final standard a provision to protect against the risk of helmets coming off the heads of bicycle riders;

(3)include in the final standard provisions that address the risk of injury to children; and

(4)include additional provisions as appropriate.

section 7, 9, and 30(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2056, 2058, 2079(d)) shall not apply to the proceeding under this subsection and section 11 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 2060) shall not apply with respect to any standard issued under such proceeding. The final standard shall take effect 1 year from the date it is issued.

(d)Failure to meet standards

(1)Failure to meet interim standard

Until the final standard takes effect, a bicycle helmet that does not conform to an interim standard as required under subsection (a)(1) shall be considered in violation of a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act [15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.].

(2)Status of final standard

The final standard developed under subsection (c) shall be considered a consumer product safety standard promulgated under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 30(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, referred to in subsec. (c), was classified to section 2079(d) of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–314, title II, § 237, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3076. The Consumer Product Safety Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 92–573, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1207, which is classified generally to chapter 47 (§ 2051 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2051 of this title and Tables.

§6004 Standards