(a) Injury Information Clearinghouse; dutiesThe Commission shall—(1) maintain an Injury Information Clearinghouse to collect, investigate, analyze, and disseminate injury data, and information, relating to the causes and prevention of death, injury, and illness associated with consumer products;
(2) conduct such continuing studies and investigations of deaths, injuries, diseases, other health impairments, and economic losses resulting from accidents involving consumer products as it deems necessary;
(3) following publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking for a product safety rule under any rulemaking authority administered by the Commission, assist public and private organizations or groups of manufacturers, administratively and technically, in the development of safety standards addressing the risk of injury identified in such notice; and
(4) to the extent practicable and appropriate (taking into account the resources and priorities of the Commission), assist public and private organizations or groups of manufacturers, administratively and technically, in the development of product safety standards and test methods.
(b) Research, investigation and testing of consumer productsThe Commission may—(1) conduct research, studies, and investigations on the safety of consumer products and on improving the safety of such products;
(2) test consumer products and develop product safety test methods and testing devices; and
(3) offer training in product safety investigation and test methods.
(c) Grants and contracts for conduct of functionsIn carrying out its functions under this section, the Commission may make grants or enter into contracts for the conduct of such functions with any person (including a governmental entity).
(d) Availability to public of informationWhenever the Federal contribution for any information, research, or development activity authorized by this chapter is more than minimal, the Commission shall include in any contract, grant, or other arrangement for such activity, provisions effective to insure that the rights to all information, uses, processes, patents, and other developments resulting from that activity will be made available to the public without charge on a nonexclusive basis. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to deprive any person of any right which he may have had, prior to entering into any arrangement referred to in this subsection, to any patent, patent application, or invention.
(Pub. L. 92–573, § 5, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1211; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1209(a), (b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 720; Pub. L. 110–314, title II, § 204(a)(2), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3041.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments2008—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–314 struck out “an advance notice of proposed rulemaking or” after “following publication of”.
1981—Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1209(a), added pars. (3) and (4).
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 97–35, § 1209(b), struck out provision that the Commission may assist public and private organizations, administratively and technically, in the development of safety standards and test methods.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–35, effective Aug. 13, 1981, see section 1215 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 2052 of this title.
Effective DateSection effective on the sixtieth day following Oct. 27, 1972, see section 34 of Pub. L. 92–573, set out as a note under section 2051 of this title.
Study of Aversive AgentsPub. L. 101–608, title II, § 204, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3124, provided that: “The Consumer Product Safety Commission shall conduct a study of requiring manufacturers of consumer products to include aversive agents, as appropriate, in products which present a hazard if ingested to determine the potential effectiveness of the aversive agents in deterring ingestion. In conducting the study, the Commission shall consult with appropriate consumer, health, and business organizations and appropriate government agencies. The Commission shall report to Congress the status of the study within one year of the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 16, 1990] and shall complete the study not later than 2 years after such date of enactment.”
Fire Safe Cigarette Act of 1990Pub. L. 101–352, Aug. 10, 1990, 104 Stat. 405, provided that:
Additional Reporting TimePub. L. 99–500, § 110, Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–348, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 110, Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–348, provided that: “The Interagency Committee on Cigarette and Little Cigar Fire Safety, established pursuant to Public Law 98–567 [set out as a note below], shall have an additional six months to complete its final technical report and submit policy recommendations to the Congress.”
Cigarette Safety Act of 1984Pub. L. 98–567, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2925, as amended by Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433, provided: