2016 US Code
Title 19 - Customs Duties
Chapter 13 - Trade Agreements Act of 1979
Subchapter II - Technical Barriers to Trade (Standards)
Part A - Obligations of the United States
Sec. 2531 - Certain standards-related activities

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Citation 19 U.S.C. § 2531 (2016)
Section Name §2531. Certain standards-related activities
Section Text (a) No bar to engaging in standards activity

Nothing in this subchapter may be construed—

(1) to prohibit a Federal agency from engaging in activity related to standards-related measures, including any such measure relating to safety, the protection of human, animal, or plant life or health, the environment, or consumers; or

(2) to limit the authority of a Federal agency to determine the level it considers appropriate of safety or of protection of human, animal, or plant life or health, the environment, or consumers.

(b) Unnecessary obstacles

Nothing in this subchapter may be construed as prohibiting any private person, Federal agency, or State agency from engaging in standards-related activities that do not create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. No standards-related activity of any private person, Federal agency, or State agency shall be deemed to constitute an unnecessary obstacle to the foreign commerce of the United States if the demonstrable purpose of the standards-related activity is to achieve a legitimate domestic objective including, but not limited to, the protection of legitimate health or safety, essential security, environmental, or consumer interests and if such activity does not operate to exclude imported products which fully meet the objectives of such activity.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 96–39, title IV, §401, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 242; Pub. L. 103–465, title III, §351(b), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4955.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

1994—Pub. L. 103–465 added subsec. (a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (b), and inserted subsec. (b) heading.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 103–465, title III, §352, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4957, provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle F (§§351, 352) of title III of Pub. L. 103–465, amending this section and sections 2532, 2544, 2571, and 2573 of this title and repealing provisions set out below] and the amendments made by this subtitle take effect on the date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States [Jan. 1, 1995]."

EFFECTIVE DATE

Pub. L. 96–39, title IV, §454, July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 250, which provided that this subchapter was to take effect on Jan. 1, 1980, if the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade entered into force with respect to the United States by that date, was repealed by Pub. L. 103–465, title III, §351(g), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4957.

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 4, Title 19 - CUSTOMS DUTIES
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 19 - CUSTOMS DUTIES
CHAPTER 13 - TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979
SUBCHAPTER II - TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS)
Part A - Obligations of the United States
Sec. 2531 - Certain standards-related activities
Contains section 2531
Date 2016
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 6, 2017
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 93 Stat. 242, 250
108 Stat. 4955, 4957
Public Law References Public Law 96-39, Public Law 103-465
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