NISTIR 8117

A Guide to United States

Flat-Rolled Steel 

Compliance Requirements
A Guide to United States

Flat-Rolled Steel 

Compliance Requirements

Lisa M. Benson

Karen Reczek

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8117

NISTIR 8117 
NISTIR 8117 

A Guide to United States

Flat-Rolled Steel

Compliance Requirements

Lisa M. Benson*

Karen Reczek

Standards Coordination Office

* Dakota Consulting

This publication is available free of charge from: 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8117

December 2013 

Revised June 2016

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Willie May, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director 
Acknowledgements

The lead author for this document is Lisa M. Benson, Dakota Consulting, under contract to the 

Standards Coordination Office of NIST. Additional guidance, initial research, and review of the 

document were provided by the staff of the Standards Coordination Office of NIST including 

Mary Donaldson and Karen Reczek and the Engineering Laboratory of NIST, including Timothy 

Foecke.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE............................................................................................................. 1

SCOPE ..................................................................................................................................... 1

OVERVIEW OF U.S. FEDERAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK...................................................................... 1

FEDERAL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS (MANDATORY).................................... 2

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)....................................................................................... 2

Country of Origin: Marking of Imported Articles and Containers...................................... 2

Composition Percentages ............................................................................................... 2

Department of Commerce (DOC)................................................................................................ 3

Licensing Requirements.................................................................................................. 3

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ................................................................................................ 3

The FTC Act..................................................................................................................... 3

OVERVIEW OF U.S. STATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS........................................................................ 3

STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS (MANDATORY)....................................... 4

Packaging and Labeling ............................................................................................................... 4

UPLR .............................................................................................................................. 4

Toxics in Packaging Legislation........................................................................................ 4

State of California........................................................................................................................ 5

Lead and Other Toxic Substances.................................................................................... 5

OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK ............................................................. 5

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONS (SDOS) ............................................................................ 6

ASTM International ..................................................................................................................... 6

SAE International......................................................................................................................... 7

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION BODIES ............................................................................................... 8

Testing ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Certification................................................................................................................................. 8

RELEVANT U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ......................................................................................... 9

Federal Trade Commission.......................................................................................................... 9

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)................................................................................. 9

STEEL INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA............................................................................................. 10

Industry Trade Associations...................................................................................................... 10

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)......................................................................... 10

Steel Manufacturers Association................................................................................... 10

Rolled-Steel Market Data .......................................................................................................... 10

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A Guide to United States

Flat-Rolled Steel Compliance Requirements

 

SCOPE

This guide addresses flat-rolled (hot or cold) steel, including stainless, alloy, non-alloy or iron. It 

does not include finished products.

OVERVIEW OF U.S. FEDERAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Once a law has been enacted by Congress, the appropriate federal agency (e.g., the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Highway Traffic and 

Safety Administration, et al.) may create the regulations to implement the law. Before such 

regulations can be adopted, the appropriate federal agency ordinarily will issue a notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to solicit public comments on the proposed rules. To provide 

opportunity for public comment, the appropriate federal agency must issue draft regulations or 

“Proposed Rules” that are published in the Federal Register and as a WTO TBT notification. The 

agency reviews the comments and can then issue a “Final Rule” that also is published in the 

Federal Register, and later, published annually in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Together, the enabling acts and laws [published in the United States Code (USC) once passed] 

and the final regulations (published in the CFR) provide a framework for the implementation 

and enforcement of most federal laws in the United States.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

 Regulations are mandatory

 Standards are voluntary (unless “Incorporated by Reference” in a regulation)

 Guidelines may be voluntary (but are often de facto industry standards)

 “Red” text highlights mandatory requirements 

 “Blue” text indicates a hyperlink to a website, page or document on the web

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FEDERAL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS (MANDATORY)

Agency Scope

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Country of Origin (for most imported 

products, licensing, and composition),

Composition Percentages

Department of Commerce (DOC) Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Unfair Trade Practices

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Country of Origin: Marking of Imported Articles and Containers

Title 19, United States Code, Chapter 4, Section 1304

All products imported into the U.S. must conform to 19 CFR 134, Country of Origin Marking

regulations. These regulations require that every article of foreign origin (or its container) 

imported into the U.S. be marked in a conspicuous place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently 

as the nature of the article (or container) will permit, and in such a manner as to indicate to the 

ultimate purchaser in the U.S., the English name of the country of origin of the article at the 

time of importation.

Composition Percentages

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Regulation 19 CFR 141.89 outlines additional 

information that is required at the time of entry for iron or steel classifiable in Chapter 72 or 

under headings 7301 to 7307 in Chapter 73, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 

States (HTSUS). A statement, in the form of a mill analysis or mill test certificate, is required 

indicating the percentages by weight or carbon and any metallic elements contained in the 

articles. A mill test certificate is required for each entry of a coated non-alloy flat-rolled steel 

product listed in Chapter 72 of the HTSUS.

For more detailed information, see CBP’s:

Terminology and Methods for Marking of Country of Origin on U.S. Imports

What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Coated Non-alloy 

Flat-Rolled Steel

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Department of Commerce (DOC)

Licensing Requirements

All U.S. imports of basic steel mill products are subject to import licensing requirements per 19 

CFR 360 Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis System through the Internet-based Steel Import 

Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system. The purpose of the SIMA system is to provide the 

public statistical data on steel imports entering the United States seven weeks earlier than it 

would otherwise be available to the public. Aggregate data collected from the licenses are 

made available to the public on a weekly basis following review by the Department. Any 

importer, importing company, customs broker or importer's agent with a U.S. street address 

may register and obtain the user identification number necessary to log on to the automatic 

steel import license issuance system. Foreign companies may obtain a user identification 

number if they have a U.S. address through which they may be reached; P.O. boxes will not be 

accepted.

On February 15, 2013, a Final Rule was published in the Federal register extending the licensing 

program through March 21, 2017.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC Act

Title 15, United States Code, Chapter 2, Subchapter I, Sections 41-58

The FTC Act broadly prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. 

The Commission will find deception if, either by the inclusion or exclusion of information, it is 

likely to: 

• Mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances, and 

• Affect the consumer’s choice or conduct, thereby leading to injury.

The FTC Act allowed the FTC to enact regulations intended to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts 

or practices. 

OVERVIEW OF U.S. STATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS

A growing number of areas are covered by both state and federal statutes, including consumer 

protection, employment, and food and drug regulation. (State laws give way to stricter federal 

laws that address the same issue.) When a state’s Governor signs a bill, it becomes a state law. 

Once a law has been enacted by a state, it is the responsibility of the appropriate state agency 

to create the regulations necessary to implement the law.

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STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS (MANDATORY)

In the U.S., some state laws and regulations are enacted which are more stringent than the 

federal laws. These laws include regulations for products, labeling, packaging, chemical 

restrictions, etc. 

Agency/Organization Scope

State Authorities Responsible for Weights and Measures Labeling

Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) Packaging

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard 

Assessment (OEHHA)

Toxic Chemicals

Packaging and Labeling

UPLR

The Uniform Laws and Regulations in the areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality 

(UPLR), NIST Handbook 130, Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (UPLR), have been 

adopted into law in 45 of the 50 U.S. states. The purpose of these regulations is to provide 

accurate and adequate information as to the identity and quantity of contents of packages so 

that purchasers can make price and quantity comparisons. 

UPLR requires that non-consumer packaging bear a label specifying the identity of the 

commodity; the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and 

the net quantity of contents in terms of weight or mass measure, or numerical count in a 

uniform location upon the outside of the package. All information must be clearly stated in the 

English language. 

Toxics in Packaging Legislation

This legislation was originally drafted by the Source Reduction Council of the Coalition of 

Northeastern Governors (CONEG) in 1989. It was developed in an effort to reduce the amount 

of heavy metals in packaging and packaging components that are sold or distributed 

throughout the United States. The law is designed to phase out the use and presence of 

mercury, lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium in packaging. The legislation has been 

successfully adopted by nineteen states.

For more detailed information, see Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse white paper:

Toxics in Packaging Fact Sheet

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State of California

Lead and Other Toxic Substances

California regulates lead and numerous other substances and chemicals through their Safe 

Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, more popularly known as Proposition 65 or 

Prop 65 (California Health and Safety Code. Section 25249.6, et seq.) These settlements provide 

guidelines for suggested limits. Prop 65’s List of Hazardous Substances is maintained and 

updated as new chemicals are identified. 

The following warning language is required on products sold in California if they contain 

chemicals on the Proposition 65 list and the amount of exposure caused by the product is not 

within defined safety limits:

WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer 

and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

For more detailed California official information on Proposition 65, see: 

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Proposition 65 in Plain 

Language, and Prop 65 News 

OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK

The U.S. system of standards development is driven by the private sector. The majority of U.S. 

standards are voluntary and developed through consensus methods that reflect the needs of 

producers and manufacturers, users and consumers, and the government. The American 

National Standards Institute (ANSI) (a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization) 

coordinates the private sector activities of the voluntary standards development community in 

the U.S. There are hundreds of voluntary standards developing organizations in the United 

States responsible for standardization in many different industries and business sectors. The 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a part of the U.S. Department of 

Commerce, is the national metrology laboratory for the United States. NIST provides the 

technical measurement infrastructure to support global trade and the commercial 

measurement system. NIST, through its Standards Coordination Office, advises on and 

coordinates federal participation in standards setting.

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STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONS (SDOS) 

ASTM International

100 Barr Harbor Drive

P.O. Box C700

West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA

Telephone: + 1.610.832.9500

Staff Directory

ASTM International (ASTM) develops and maintains consensus standards and test methods 

pertaining to rolled-steel products. 

The ASTM Committee responsible for rolled-steel is Committee A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and 

Related Alloys

The following ASTM Subcommittees relevant to rolled-steel products include:

A01.06.03 Test Methods and Recommended Practices

A01.17 Flat-Rolled and Wrought Stainless Steel

A01.19 Steel Sheet and Strip

Examples of ASTM standards for rolled-steel products include:

ASTM A6/A6M Specification For General Requirements For Rolled Structural Steel 

Bars, Plates, Shapes, And Sheet Piling

ASTM A109/A109M Specification For Steel, Strip, Carbon (0.25 Maximum Percent), ColdRolled

ASTM A480/A480M Specification For General Requirements For Flat-Rolled Stainless And 

Heat-Resisting Steel Plate, Sheet, And Strip

ASTM A505 Specification For Steel, Sheet And Strip, Alloy, Hot-Rolled And ColdRolled, General Requirements For

ASTM A506 Specification For Alloy And Structural Alloy Steel, Sheet And Strip, HotRolled And Cold-Rolled

ASTM A507 Specification For Drawing Alloy Steel, Sheet And Strip, Hot-Rolled And 

Cold-Rolled

ASTM A522/A522M Specification For Forged Or Rolled 8 And 9% Nickel Alloy Steel Flanges, 

Fittings, Valves, And Parts For Low-Temperature Service

ASTM A564/A564M Specification For Hot-Rolled And Cold-Finished Age-Hardening 

Stainless Steel Bars And Shapes

ASTM A568/A568M Specification For Steel, Sheet, Carbon, Structural, And High-Strength, 

Low-Alloy, Hot-Rolled And Cold-Rolled, General Requirements For

ASTM A578/A578M Specification For Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination Of Rolled Steel 

Plates For Special Applications

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ASTM A606/A606M Specification For Steel, Sheet And Strip, High-Strength, Low-Alloy, HotRolled And Cold-Rolled, With Improved Atmospheric Corrosion 

Resistance

SAE International

400 Commonwealth Drive

Warrendale, PA 15096-0001

Telephone: +1.724.776.4841

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical 

experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. One of SAE 

International's core competencies is voluntary consensus standards development. Some of the 

standards related to rolled-steel include:

SAE AMS 5501 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet, Strip, And Foil, 19cr - 9.5ni (304), Cold 

Rolled, 125 Ksi (862 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5517 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 8ni (SAE 30301) Cold 

Rolled, 125 Ksi (862 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5518 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet And Strip 18cr - 8ni Cold Rolled, 150 Ksi 

(1034 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5519 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 8ni (SAE 30301) Cold 

Rolled, 185 Ksi (1276 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5529 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 17cr - 7.1ni - 1.1al, Solution 

Heat Treated And Cold Rolled, Precipitation Hardenable, 0.0015 To 0.100 

Inch (0.038 To 2.54 Mm) Nominal Thickness

SAE AMS 5546 Steel Sheet And Strip, Corrosion And Moderate Heat Resistant 16.5cr -

4.5ni - 2.9mo - 0.10n Cold Rolled, Tempered

SAE AMS 5810 Steel, Corrosion And Heat Resistant, Flat Wire, 15cr - 25.5ni - 1.2mo - 2.1ti 

- 0.006b - 0.30v, 1800 Degree F (982 Degree C) Solution Treated, Cold 

Drawn Or Cold Rolled And Aged, Consumable Electrode Melted

SAE AMS 5902 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 8ni (SAE 30301), Cold 

Rolled, 3/4 Hard, 175 Ksi (1207 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5903 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet, Strip, And Plate, 18cr - 9.0ni (SAE 30302), 

Cold Rolled, 1/4 Hard, 125 Ksi (862 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5904 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 9.0ni (SAE 30302), Cold 

Rolled, 1/2 Hard, 150 Ksi (1034 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5905 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 9.0ni (SAE 30302), Cold 

Rolled, 3/4 Hard, 175 Ksi (1207 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5906 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 18cr - 9.0ni (SAE 30302), Cold 

Rolled, Full Hard, 185 Ksi (1276 Mpa) Tensile Strength

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SAE AMS 5907 Steel, Corrosion And Heat-Resistant, Sheet, Strip, And Plate, 17cr - 12ni -

2.5mo (SAE 30316), Cold Rolled, 1/4 Hard, 125 Ksi (862 Mpa) Tensile 

Strength

SAE AMS 5910 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet, Strip, And Plate, 19cr - 9.2ni (SAE 30304) 

Cold Rolled, 125 Ksi (862 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5911 Steel, Corrosion Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 19cr - 9.2ni (SAE 30304) Cold 

Rolled, 1/2 Hard, 150 Ksi (1034 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5912 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 19cr - 9.2ni (SAE 30304), Cold 

Rolled, 3/4 Hard, 175 Ksi (1207 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE AMS 5913 Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Sheet And Strip, 19cr - 9.2ni (SAE 30304), Cold 

Rolled, Full Hard, 185 Ksi (1276 Mpa) Tensile Strength

SAE J 126 Selecting And Specifying Hot And Cold Rolled Steel Sheet And Strip

SAE J 402 New Steel Designation System For Wrought Or Rolled Steel

SAE J 911 Surface Roughness And Peak Count Measurement Of Cold-Rolled Steel 

Sheet

SAE J 1392 Steel, High Strength, Hot Rolled Sheet And Strip, Cold Rolled Sheet, And 

Coated Sheet

SAE J 1442 High-Strength, Hot-Rolled Steel Bars

SAE J 2281 Selecting And Specifying Hot-Rolled Steel Bar Products

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION BODIES

Testing

Numerous laboratories test steel and other metals to recognized industry standards; some may 

be accredited. A listing of accredited testing laboratories can be found at A2LA Listing of 

Accredited Labs by Test. Listings of other testing laboratories can be found at ASTM Directory 

of Testing Laboratories. Search on the keyword ‘steel’ or on a specific ASTM standard.

Certification

No certification programs were identified for rolled steel. All U.S. imports of basic steel mill 

products are subject to import licensing requirements per 19 CFR 360 Steel Import Monitoring 

and Analysis System through the internet-based Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) 

system.

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RELEVANT U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

Telephone: +1.202.326.2222

List of Contacts

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20229 USA

Telephone: +1.703.526.4200 

List of Contacts

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Ave., NW

Washington, D.C. 20230

Telephone: +1.202.482.2000

List of Contacts

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STEEL INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

Industry Trade Associations

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 800 

Washington, DC 20001 

Telephone: +1.202.452.7100

AISI is comprised of 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace 

steelmakers, and 124 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the 

steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over three quarters of both U.S. and North 

American steel capacity.

Steel Manufacturers Association

150 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 715

Washington, D.C. 20036

Telephone: +1.202.296.1515

The Steel Manufacturers Association consists of 36 North American steel producers who 

account for over 75 percent of domestic steel production.

Rolled-Steel Market Data

American Iron and Steel Institute

2015 Profile of the American Iron and Steel Institute

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The NIST Standards Information Center makes every effort to provide accurate and 

complete information. Various data such as names, telephone numbers, links to 

websites, etc. may change prior to updating. We welcome suggestions on how to 

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Information Center does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or 

accuracy of these materials.

December 2013/Revised June 2016

Prepared by the Standards Information Center 

Standards Coordination Office (SCO) 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 

standardsinfo@nist.gov

http://www.nist.gov/ncsci

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