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NISTIR 8118

A Guide to United States Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Compliance Requirements

October 2016

February 10, 2017

Superseded by NISTIR 8118r1

NISTIR 8118r1

A Guide to United States Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Compliance Requirements

Lisa M. Benson; Karen Reczek

February 10, 2017

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8118r1

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
NISTIR 8118

A Guide to United States

Electrical and 

Electronic Equipment

Compliance 

Requirements

A Guide to United States

Electrical and Electronic Equipment 

Compliance Requirements

Lisa M. Benson

Karen Reczek

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8118

NISTIR 8118

NISTIR 8118

A Guide to United States

Electrical and Electronic Equipment 

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.8118

October 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

This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8118

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, Gordon Gillerman, Erik Puskar, and Ramona Saar. Invaluable support was also 

received from the knowledgeable experts of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 

the Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Occupational Safety 

and Health Administration (OSHA), who provided input into the document and also conducted 

a thorough review. From the CPSC: Andrew Trotta; From DOE: Bryan Berringer and Michael 

Kido; From the EPA: Eamon Monahan; From the FDA: Scott Colburn and Jianchao Zeng; From 

the FCC: George Tannahill; From the OSHA: Kevin Robinson.

This publication is available free of charge from: http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8118

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

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ........................................................................... 2

Consumer Product Safety Act.................................................................................................. 2

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)................................................. 2

Children’s Products Only ......................................................................................................... 2

Certificates and Mandatory Third-Party Testing..................................................................... 3

Specific Products Regulated under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) ....................... 4

Seasonal and Decorative Lighting............................................................................................ 4

Hand Supported Hair Dryers ................................................................................................... 4

Extension Cords....................................................................................................................... 4

Omnidirectional CB Base Station Antennas ............................................................................ 5

Walk Behind Lawn Mowers..................................................................................................... 5

Residential Garage Door Operators ........................................................................................ 5

Infant Swings ........................................................................................................................... 5

Citizens Band (CB) Base Station Antennas, TV Antennas, and Supporting Structures............ 5

Portable Generators................................................................................................................ 6

Pools and Spas......................................................................................................................... 6

Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).............................................................................. 6

Sharp Points and Edges on Children’s Products...................................................................... 6

Household Refrigerators.......................................................................................................... 7

Pending Regulations of Note................................................................................................... 7

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ........................................................................................ 7

Marking of Imported Articles and Containers......................................................................... 7

Department of Energy (DOE) ...................................................................................................... 8

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) ............................................................................ 8

Energy Efficiency Standards, Testing, and Certification for Residential Consumer Products. 8

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)..................................................................................... 9

ENERGY STAR Program............................................................................................................ 9
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Non-Essential Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and 

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)....................................................................................... 10

Toxic Substance Control Act (TCSA) ...................................................................................... 10

Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act....................................... 11

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ............................................................................ 11

Radio Frequency Devices....................................................................................................... 11

Mobile and Portable Devices................................................................................................. 17

External Radio Frequency Power Amplifiers......................................................................... 18

Emergency Alert System Equipment..................................................................................... 18

Public Mobile Services........................................................................................................... 19

Amateur Radio....................................................................................................................... 19

Fixed Microwave Services...................................................................................................... 19

Telephone Terminal Equipment............................................................................................ 20

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)............................................................................................... 21

Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) .............................................................................. 21

EnergyGuide Standards and Labeling for Home Appliances................................................. 21

Environmental Claims............................................................................................................ 21

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)........................................................................................ 22

Food Contact Substances ...................................................................................................... 22

Medical Products................................................................................................................... 24

Mammography Equipment ................................................................................................... 26

Radiation Emitting Products.................................................................................................. 26

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).......................................................... 27

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)........................................................ 27

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) Program............................................... 27

OVERVIEW OF U.S. STATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS ........................................................................... 29

STATE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS (MANDATORY)........................................ 29
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Appliance Energy Efficiency ...................................................................................................... 30

Button Cell Batteries ................................................................................................................. 30

Bisphenol A (BPA) in Food Contact Products............................................................................ 30

Chemicals of Concern................................................................................................................ 30

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) ........................................................................... 30

Electronic Waste........................................................................................................................ 31

Flame Retardants...................................................................................................................... 31

Mercury Containing Electronic Products .................................................................................. 31

National Electrical Code (NEC) .................................................................................................. 32

Packaging and Labeling ............................................................................................................. 32

UPLR....................................................................................................................................... 32

Toxics in Packaging Legislation.............................................................................................. 32

State of California...................................................................................................................... 33

Air Cleaner Regulation........................................................................................................... 33

Appliance Labeling Regulation .............................................................................................. 33

Battery Charging Systems...................................................................................................... 33

Lead and Other Toxic Substances.......................................................................................... 33

Made in the USA.................................................................................................................... 34

Safer Consumer Products Regulations.................................................................................. 34

Smart Televisions................................................................................................................... 34

State of Illinois........................................................................................................................... 35

Lead........................................................................................................................................ 35

State of Minnesota.................................................................................................................... 36

Formaldehyde in Children’s Products ................................................................................... 36

State of Vermont....................................................................................................................... 36

Stewardship Program for Batteries....................................................................................... 36

State of Washington.................................................................................................................. 36

Lead, Cadmium, and Phthalates in Children’s Products........................................................ 36

OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK ................................................................ 37

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONS (SDOS) ................................................................................ 37
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Association for The Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) .................................. 37

ASTM International ................................................................................................................... 37

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) .......... 39

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).......................................................... 40

IEEE Standards Association ....................................................................................................... 41

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) ........................................................... 41

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)............................................................................. 41

UL Standards ............................................................................................................................. 42

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION BODIES .................................................................................................... 42

Testing ....................................................................................................................................... 42

Certification............................................................................................................................... 42

Products Subject to Consumer Product Safety Rules............................................................ 42

Products Subject to Energy Conservation Standards............................................................ 43

Products Subject to FCC Rules that Emit Radio Frequency (RF) Energy................................ 43

Products Used in the Workplace ........................................................................................... 43

RELEVANT U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES .............................................................................................. 44

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)............................................................................... 44

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).................................................................. 44

Department of Energy............................................................................................................... 44

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)................................................................................... 45

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)............................................................................................... 45

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)................................................................................. 45

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).......................................................... 45

U.S. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA ............................................................. 46

Industry Trade Associations...................................................................................................... 46

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)........................................................ 46

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)................................................................... 46

Electrical and Electronic Products Market Data........................................................................ 46
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A Guide to United States

Electrical and Electronic Equipment 

Compliance Requirements

SCOPE

This guide addresses electrical and electronic consumer products including those that will come 

into contact with food. In addition, it includes electrical and electronic products used in the 

workplace as well as electrical and electronic medical devices. The scope does not include

vehicles or components of vehicles, electric or electronic toys, or recycling requirements.

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 Food and Drug Administration, 

et al.) may create 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 World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (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/laws (published in the United States Code (USC)

once passed) and the final regulations (published in the Code of Federal Regulations) 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”, or prescribed as 

performance standards, 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)

Several U.S. federal agencies are responsible for regulations pertaining to electrical and 

electronic products.

Agency Scope

Consumer Product Safety Commission 

(CPSC)

Children’s products, hazardous substances, 

labeling of hazardous products, consumer 

product safety

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

Department of Energy (DOE) Energy efficiency 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic substances, Energy Star

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Radio frequency and digital devices

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food contact substances, medical products and 

devices

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Labeling, EnergyGuide standards, 

environmental claims

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA)

Occupational safety, nationally recognized 

testing program

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Consumer Product Safety Act

Title 15, United States Code, Chapter 47, Sections 2051-2089

The Consumer Product Safety Act, entered into law on October 27, 1972, was enacted to 

establish the Consumer Product Safety Commission and define its authority with the purpose of 

protecting the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products;

assisting consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of consumer products, developing 

uniform safety standards for consumer products; and promoting research and investigation into 

the causes and prevention of product-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)

Public Law 110–314, August 14, 2008

On August 14, 2008, the President signed into law Public Law 110-314 (Consumer Product 

Safety Improvement Act of 2008). On August 12, 2011, amendments to the Act were signed, 

Public Law 112–28, August 12, 2011. This landmark consumer product safety law provided CPSC 

with significant new regulatory and enforcement tools as part of amending and enhancing 

several CPSC statutes, including the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Children’s Products Only

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) enacted in 2008 regulates specific 

substances in children’s products. The CPSIA sets limits for lead content and phthalates in 
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children’s products. A children’s product is defined as a consumer product designed or intended 

primarily for children age 12 years or younger. 

With respect to children’s electrical and electronic products, Section 101(a) on page 3 of the 

CPSIA restricts children’s products and components of children’s products to a lead content 

limit of 100 parts per million (ppm) with limited exceptions. In addition, the use of paint or 

surface coating on children’s electrical and electronic products must not exceed 90 ppm. 

Certain children’s electronic products for which it is not technically feasible to remove lead may 

allow a higher lead limit exemption. These include:

 Lead blended into the glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components, and 

fluorescent tubes.

 Lead used as an alloying element in steel. The maximum amount of lead shall be less 

than 0.35% by weight (3,500 ppm).

 Lead used in the manufacture of aluminum. The maximum amount of lead shall be less 

than 0.4% by weight (4,000 ppm).

 Lead used in copper-based alloys. The maximum amount of lead shall be less than 4% 

by weight (40,000 ppm).

 Lead used in lead-bronze bearing shells and bushings.

 Lead used in compliant pin connector systems.

 Lead used in optical and filter glass.

 Lead oxide in plasma display panels (PDP) and surface conduction electron emitter 

displays (SED) used in structural elements; notably in the front and rear glass dielectric 

layer, the bus electrode, the black stripe, the address electrode, the barrier ribs, the seal 

frit and frit ring, as well as in print pastes.

 Lead oxide in the glass envelope of Black Light Blue (BLB) lamps.

In addition, components of electronic devices that are removable or replaceable, such as 

battery packs and light bulbs, and that are inaccessible when the product is fully assembled, are 

not subject to the total lead limits.

Certificates and Mandatory Third-Party Testing

Section 102 on page 8 of the CPSIA requires every manufacturer or importer of all consumer 

products that are subject to a consumer product safety rule enforced by the CPSC to issue a

general certificate of conformity based on testing of the product and stating that the product 

complies with the applicable standard, regulation, or ban. The certificate must accompany the 

product and be furnished to the retailer or distributor. Section 102 also requires the 

manufacturers or importers of children’s products (products designed and intended primarily 

for children age 12 years or younger) to certify that the products comply with all relevant 

product safety rules by issuing a children’s product certificate supported by tests performed 

by a CPSC-accepted third-party testing laboratory that has been accredited. CPSC also has 

regulations pertaining to certificates; they can be found at 16 CFR 1110.
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For more detailed information, see CPSC’s:

Testing and Certification and

FAQs - Certification and Third-Party Testing 

Specific Products Regulated under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)

Seasonal and Decorative Lighting

16 CFR 1120 lists products that have characteristics whose existence or absence present a 

substantial product hazard. This list includes seasonal and decorative lighting products that lack 

certain readily observable safety characteristics. Seasonal and decorative lighting is defined as 

portable, plug-connected, temporary-use lighting that is factory-assembled with push-in, 

midget- or miniature-screw base lampholders connected in series or with candelabra- or 

intermediate-screw base lampholders connected in parallel, directly across the 120 volt input. 

All seasonal and decorative lighting must meet the following requirements:

 Minimum wire size

 Sufficient strain relief

 Overcurrent protection 

These characteristics are addressed in the voluntary standard UL 588 Standard for Safety for 

Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products.

Hand Supported Hair Dryers

16 CFR 1120 lists products that have characteristics whose existence or absence present a 

substantial product hazard, including hand supported hair dryers. Hand supported hair dryers 

must provide integral immersion protection as specified in this regulation, or will be 

considered a hazardous product. 

Extension Cords

16 CFR 1120 lists products that have characteristics whose existence or absence present a 

substantial product hazard, including extension cords. Extension cords that do not contain one 

or more of five applicable readily observable characteristics set forth in the rule, as addressed 

in a voluntary standard, are deemed a substantial product hazard under the Consumer Product 

Safety Act. All general-use extension cords (indoor and outdoor extension cords, including 

indoor seasonal extension cords) must have the following characteristics as described in the 

regulation:

 Minimum wire size

 Sufficient strain relief

 Proper polarity

 Proper continuity

 Outlet covers for 2-wire indoor extension cords or jacketed cord for outdoor extension 

cords
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Omnidirectional CB Base Station Antennas

Omni Directional CB base station antennas must comply with the specified requirements for 

field joints, feed cables, electrical protection, manufacturer’s instructions and warnings, and 

certificates of compliance as per 16 CFR 1204 Safety Standard for Omnidirectional Base Station 

Antennas. This regulation describes two performance tests to determine if the means chosen 

by the manufacturer to protect against the shock hazard will provide adequate protection. One 

is an insulating material effectiveness test in which a high voltage electrode or test rod is 

brought into contact with the antenna at any point within the protection zone established by 

the regulation to ensure that the insulation can withstand the voltage for 5 minutes without 

transmitting more than 5 milliamperes (mA) root-mean-square (rms) of electric current. The 

other test is the antenna mast system test which is intended to determine whether the means 

provided to protect against electrocution will withstand the stress imposed when an antennamast system falls onto a power line. 

Walk Behind Lawn Mowers

16 CFR 1205 Safety Standard for Walk Behind Power Lawn Mowers outlines mandatory safety, 

labeling, and performance requirements for walk behind lawnmowers. The standard is 

intended to reduce the risk of injury to consumers caused by contact, primarily of the foot and 

hand, with the rotating blade of the mower. Walk behind mowers are subject to certification of 

compliance and labeling requirements.

Residential Garage Door Operators

16 CFR 1211 Safety Standard for Automatic Residential Garage Door Operators includes 

entrapment protection requirements as well as certification and recordkeeping requirements.

All residential garage door openers must comply with the entrapment protection of UL 325 as 

well as additional protections as outlined in this regulation, including having an external 

entrapment protection (e.g., electric eye or door edge sensor) or constant contact control 

button. Additionally, a sticker must be placed on the wall mounted control button warning 

consumers of the potential for entrapment.

Infant Swings

16 CFR 1223 Safety Standard for Infant Swings requires that all infant swings comply with all 

applicable provisions of ASTM F2088-13, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant 

Swings, which has been incorporated by reference into this regulation. From an electrical 

perspective, the standard requires that all AC adapters meet all national safety standards.

Infant swings are also subject to third-party testing and certification.

Citizens Band (CB) Base Station Antennas, TV Antennas, and Supporting Structures

16 CFR 1402 CB Base Station Antennas, TV Antennas, and Supporting Structures requires 

manufacturers and importers of CB base station antennas, outdoor television antennas, and 

their supporting structures, to provide notification of ways to avoid hazard of electrocution

that exists when these products are allowed to come near powerlines during installation and 

removal. In addition, performance and safety data must also be provided.
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Portable Generators

16 CFR 1407 Portable Generators: Requirements to Provide Performance and Technical Data by 

Labeling requires manufactures to provide consumers with a specified notification concerning 

the carbon monoxide poisoning hazard associated with use of portable generators.

Pools and Spas

16 CFR 1450 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act) requires that each 

swimming pool or spa drain cover that is manufactured, distributed, or entered into 

commerce in the United States conform to the entrapment protection requirements of the 

performance standard ANSI/APSP-16 2011, Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, 

Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs.

Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)

Title 15, United States Code, Chapter 30, Sections 1261-1278

16 CFR 1500 Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) Regulations

FHSA regulations set forth requirements for hazardous household products (“hazardous 

substances”.) The FHSA requires household substances that meet the definition of hazardous

(as defined in the Act) to bear cautionary labeling to warn the consumer of the hazard(s) 

associated with the use of the product, that would enable the consumer to safely use and 

store the product, first aid instructions where applicable, and the statement “keep out of the 

reach of children.” Whether a product must be labeled depends on its formulation and the 

likelihood that consumers will be exposed to any hazards it presents in reasonable and 

foreseeable customary use which includes ingestion by children. The FHSA also defines as 

“banned hazardous substances” those products that are intended for use by children that 

present an electrical, mechanical, or thermal hazard, with some exceptions. The Act also allows 

the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban through rulemaking certain products that are 

so dangerous or the nature of the hazard is such that the cautionary labeling requirements are 

not adequate to protect consumers. 

Sharp Points and Edges on Children’s Products

16 CFR 1500.48 “Technical requirements for determining a sharp point in toys and other articles 

intended for use by children under 8 years of age” sets forth the test method for determining if a 

sharp point, exposed in normal use or through reasonably foreseeable damage or abuse, on toys 

and other articles intended for use by children under 8 years of age, presents a potential risk of 

injury by puncture or laceration under section 2(s) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and 

codified in 15 U.S.C. 1261 (s).

Likewise, 16 CFR 1500.49 “Technical requirements for determining a sharp metal or glass edge 

in toys and other articles intended for use by children under 8 years of age” provides the sharp 

edge test method used to make a determination if metal or glass edges, exposed in normal use 

or as a result of reasonably foreseeable damage or abuse, on toys and other articles intended
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for use by children under 8 years of age, present a potential risk of injury by laceration or 

avulsion under section 2(s) of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, codified in 15 U.S.C. 1261 

(s). Children’s electrical and electronic products may not contain sharp points and edges. 

For more detailed information, see CPSC’s:

Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) Requirements

Household Refrigerators

16 CFR 1750 Standard For Devices To Permit The Opening Of Household Refrigerator Doors 

From The Inside requires that household refrigerators be equipped with a device enabling its 

doors to be opened easily from the inside, either by the application of an outwardly directed 

force to the inside of the door or by the rotation of a knob similar to a conventional doorknob. 

The device must not interfere with the refrigerator’s ability to preserve food under normal 

conditions of use.

Pending Regulations of Note

The CPSC has published the following notices in the Federal Register Notices of Proposed 

Rulemaking (NPRM). See:

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Table Saw Blade Contact Injuries (February, 15 2012)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Prohibition of Children's Toys and Child Care Articles 

Containing Specified Phthalates (December 30, 2014)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Certificates of Compliance (May 13, 2013)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Safety Standard for Automatic Residential Garage Door 

Operators (September 2, 2015)

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Safety Standard for Infant Bouncer Seats (October 19, 2015)

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

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 its container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate to an 

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

time of importation.

For more detailed information, see CBP’s:

Terminology and Methods for Marking of Country of Origin on U.S. Imports
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Department of Energy (DOE)

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)

Title 42, United States Code, Chapter 77, Energy Conservation was enacted for the promotion 

of energy conservation. With respect to electrical and electronic products, the Act prescribes 

test procedures to measure energy efficiency, energy use, water use, or estimated annual 

operating cost of a covered product during a representative annual use cycle or period of use as 

well as charging the Federal Trade Commission with the responsibility of establishing labeling 

requirements. 

Under the Act, it is unlawful for a manufacturer or private labeler to:

 Distribute into commerce any new product covered under the Act, unless the product 

is labeled in accordance with the rules and it conforms to a specified applicable energy 

conservation standard, except to the extent that the product is covered by a regional 

standard that is more stringent than the base national standard.

 Remove or make required labeling illegible.

 Knowingly sell a product that violates regional standards.

 Distribute in commerce an adapter that is designed to allow an incandescent lamp 

that does not have a medium screw base to be installed into a fixture or lampholder 

with a medium screw base socket, and is capable of being operated at a voltage range 

at least partially within 110 and 130 volts.

See EnergyGuide Standards and Labeling for Home Appliances in the FTC section for labeling 

requirements.

Energy Efficiency Standards, Testing, and Certification for Residential Consumer Products

10 CFR 430 Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products establishes the testing 

requirements for products specified under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Covered 

products must meet the requirements of the standard specified for that product.

10 CFR 429 Subpart B sets forth the procedures for manufactures to certify that covered 

products and equipment comply with the applicable conservation standards. These 

regulations describe how manufacturers must establish certified ratings based on 

conducting DOE test procedures on a sample of units of a given basic model and 

subsequently apply DOE's statistical sampling plans. The regulations also describe how 

manufacturers must submit certification reports to DOE, and how manufacturers must 

maintain records underlying the certification. Finally, the regulations describe processes for 

DOE-initiated testing and enforcing compliance with the certification provisions and the 

energy and water conservation standards.
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The electrical and electronic consumer products covered under this Act include:

 Battery Chargers

 Boilers

 Ceiling Fans

 Central Air Conditioners and Heat 

Pumps

 Clothes Dryers

 Clothes Washers

 Computer and Battery Backup 

Systems

 External Power Supplies

 Dehumidifiers

 Direct Heating Equipment

 Dishwashers

 Furnace Fans

 Furnaces

 Hearth Products

 Kitchen Ranges and Ovens

 Microwave Ovens

 Miscellaneous Refrigeration

 Pool Heaters

 Portable Air Conditioners

 Refrigerators and Freezers

 Room Air Conditioners

 Set-Top Boxes

 Televisions

 Water Heaters

 Ceiling Fan Light Kits

 Certain Lamps

 Compact Fluorescent Lamps

 Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

 General Service Fluorescent Lamps

 General Service Incandescent Lamps

 General Service Lamps

 High-Intensity Discharge Lamps

 Incandescent Reflector Lamps

 Light Emitting Diode Lamps

 Luminaires

 Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures

 Torchieres

For more detailed information, see DOE’s

Appliance and Equipment Standards Program

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

ENERGY STAR Program

42 U.S.C § 6294a establishes the voluntary ENERGY STAR Program. ENERGY STAR is a joint 

program of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency that sets voluntary 

energy efficiency specifications in over 70 product categories. To earn the ENERGY STAR label, 

products must be certified by an EPA-recognized third party certification body, based on testing 

in an EPA-recognized laboratory. In addition, manufacturers of the products must participate in 

verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies. Covered products include:

 Appliances

 Building Products

 Commercial Food Service Equipment

 Electronics

 Heating & Cooling

 Lighting

 Office Equipment

 Water Heaters

 Other

For more detailed information, see EPA's About Energy Star
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Non-Essential Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

(HCFCs)

In the United States, ozone-depleting substances are regulated as Class I or Class II controlled 

substances. 

 Class I substances, including Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), have a higher ozone-depleting 

potential and have been completely phased out in the U.S., except for exemptions 

allowed under the Montreal Protocol.

 Class II substances are hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which were transitional 

substitutes for many Class I substances and are being phased out now.

As a Party to the Montreal protocol, the U.S. must phase out the use of HCFCs completely by 

2030. The Clean Air Act schedules for the phase out of HCFC production and consumption, and 

for the restriction of HCFC use, appear in section 605.

40 CFR 82 Subpart I Ban on Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Appliances Containing HCFCs

prohibits the sale or distribution in interstate commerce any pre-charged appliance or any 

pre-charged appliance component for air-conditioning or refrigeration appliances containing 

HCFC-22, HCFC-142b or a blend containing one or both of these controlled substances.

40 CFR 82 Subpart E sets forth specific labeling requirements, including a warning statement for 

products that contain Class I or Class II substances. Each product containing a Class I or Class II

substance must bear the following warning statement, meeting the requirements for 

placement and form:

WARNING: Contains [or Manufactured with, if applicable] [insert name of 

substance], a substance which harms public health and environment by 

destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere.

For more detailed information, see EPAs

Phaseout of HCFCs (Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances)

Toxic Substance Control Act (TCSA)

The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (15 USC 2601-2692) provides EPA with authority to 

require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to 

chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded from TSCA, 

including, among others, food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides.
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Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act

Title 42, United States Code, Chapter 137, Sections 14301-14336

The purpose of the Act is to phase out the use of mercury in batteries and facilitate the 

collection and recycling of nickel-cadmium rechargeable, small sealed lead-acid rechargeable, 

and other regulated batteries. Regulated batteries include those containing cadmium and/or 

lead electrodes or other batteries subject to a determination by the Administrator of the EPA. 

The Act requires that regulated batteries are easily removable from rechargeable consumer 

products or sold separately. In addition, the Act establishes labeling requirements for regulated 

batteries and rechargeable products without easily removable batteries, including a three

chasing arrows or comparable recycling symbol, as well as statements dependent on the 

battery and product type.

The Act prohibits the sale of

 Alkaline-manganese batteries to which mercury has been intentionally introduced, 

except for alkaline-manganese button cells, which are limited to 25 milligrams of 

mercury per button cell;

 Zinc-carbon batteries containing intentionally introduced mercury; and

 Button cell mercuric-oxide batteries.

For more detailed information, see EPA's

Implementation of the Mercury Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Radio Frequency Devices

The FCC’s mandate is to regulate private sector telecommunications in the public interest. They 

do this by establishing technical regulations for transmitters and other devices that generate or 

use radio frequency (RF) energy to minimize their potential for causing interference.

47 CFR 2 Subpart J Equipment Authorization Procedures establishes procedures for products 

that use or emit radio frequency energy. The processes are Verification, Declaration of 

Conformity, and Certification. Verification is a self-approval process where any capable testing

facility can test a device to ensure the product complies with appropriate requirements. 

Declaration of Conformity requires a product be tested by an accredited, FCC recognized

laboratory to ensure that the product complies with the requirements. Certification is an 

equipment authorization issued by an independent entity recognized by the FCC to approve 

products within their scope of recognition. These entities, known as Telecommunication 

Certification Bodies (TCBs), approve products to the FCC requirements. Products approved 

under the Certification process are identified by FCC ID number.
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It is unlawful to sell, lease, import for sale or lease, or advertise for sale or lease a 

radiofrequency device unless it complies with all applicable technical, labeling, identification, 

and administrative requirements applicable to that device. 

RF devices include, but are not limited to,

 incidental, unintentional, and intentional radiators defined in 47 CFR 15,

 industrial, scientific, and medical equipment described in 47 CFR 18, and

 transmitters operating under FCC licensed radio services (examples of other licensed 

radio services include the Commercial Radio Services described in 47 CFR 22 and 24).

47 CFR 15, Radio Frequency Devices sets forth the requirements for testing and equipment 

authorization for intentional, unintentional, and incidental radiators. The regulation classifies 

devices as

 unintentional (equipment that is not intended to transmit information over the air, e.g., 

clocks, radios, TVs), 47 CFR 15 Subpart B;

 intentional (equipment that transmits information over the air, e.g., remote controls, 

cordless telephones), 47 CFR 15 Subparts C through H; and 

 incidental (generates RF energy during course of its operation, though not designed to 

intentionally emit it, e.g., dc motors, mechanical light switches), 47 CFR 15.13.

The regulation classifies unintentional radiator radio frequency devices as 

 Class A – used exclusively in industrial, business, and commercial applications, and 

 Class B – used in residential environment (e.g., personal computers, calculators, and 

similar devices). 

47 CFR 15 also establishes specific labeling requirements for intentional, unintentional, or 

incidental radiators depending on the approval process required (i.e. Certification, Verification, 

or Declaration of Conformity). All products must meet the applicable labeling requirements. 

47 CFR 18, Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment sets forth the requirements for testing 

and equipment authorization for industrial, scientific, and medical equipment (ISM) which 

includes equipment used by consumers (e.g., microwave ovens, jewelry cleaners for home use 

and ultrasonic humidifers.) ISM equipment is equipment that uses RF energy to do work as 

opposed to using RF energy to convey information. ISM equipment must be designed and 

constructed in accordance with good engineering practice with sufficient shielding and 

filtering to provide adequate suppression of emissions on frequencies outside the specified 

frequency bands. The Regulation also requires that consumer ISM equipment, unless 

otherwise specified, must be authorized under either the Declaration of Conformity or 

certification procedure prior to use or marketing.

Equipment operated under Emergency Alert System (47 CFR 11), Commercial Mobile (47 CFR 

20), Public Mobile (47 CFR 22), Personal Communications (47 CFR 24), Satellite Communications

(47 CFR 25), Miscellaneous Wireless Communications (47 CFR 27), Telephone Terminal 

Equipment (47 CFR 68), Radio Broadcast Services (47 CFR 73), Auxiliary Broadcast Services (47 
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CFR 74), Cable Television Relay (47 CFR 78), Maritime Services (47 CFR 80), Aviation Services (47 

CFR 87), Private Land Mobile Services (47 CFR 90), Personal Radio Services (47 CFR 95), Amateur 

Radio Service (47 CFR 97), and Fixed Microwave Services (47 CFR 101) are also subject to 

equipment authorization as specified in the rule part they operate under.

The following Equipment Class and Rule Part combinations are to be used to complete the 

Equipment Authorization Form.

Equip.

Class

Equipment Class Description CFR Title 47 Part

Number

8CC Part 18 Consumer Device 18

AIS Automatic Identification Systems 80

AMP Amplifier 101, 22, 22H, 24, 

24D, 24E, 25, 27, 73, 

74, 80, 87, 90, 95, 97

B2I Part 20 Industrial Booster (CMRS) 22H, 24D, 24E, 27, 

90S

B2P Part 20 Provider-Specific Consumer Booster 

(CMRS)

22H, 24E, 27, 90S

B2W Part 20 Wideband Consumer Booster (CMRS) 22H, 24E, 27, 90S

1.1.1.1 2

4

E

1.1.1.2 24E 1.1.1.3 24E

1.1.1.4 2

7

1.1.1.5 27 1.1.1.6 27

1.1.1.7 9

0

S

1.1.1.8 90S 1.1.1.9 90S

B9A Part 90 Class A Industrial Booster (non-SMR) 90

B9B Part 90 Class B Industrial Booster (non-SMR) 90

BOS All other signal boosters other than 

20.21/90.219

101, 22, 25, 90, 97

BPL Access Broadband Over Powerline System 15G

CRD Part 15 Radar Detector 15B

CRR Superregenerative Receiver 15B

CSR Scanning Receiver 15B

CXX Communications Rcvr for use w/ licensed Tx and 

CBs

15B

CYY Communications Receiver used w/Pt 15 15B
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Equip.

Class

Equipment Class Description CFR Title 47 Part

Number

Transmitter

DCD Part 15 Low Power Transmitter Below 1705 kHz 15C

DSC Part 15 Security/Remote Control Transmitter 15.231, 15.231(e)

DSR Part 15 Remote Control/Security Device 

Transceiver

15.231

DSR Part 15 Remote Control/Security Device 

Transceiver

15.231(e)

DSS Part 15 Spread Spectrum Transmitter 15C

DTS Digital Transmission System 15C

DXT Part 15 Low Power Transceiver, Rx Verified 15C

DXX Part 15 Low Power Communication Device 

Transmitter

15C

EAD Part 11 Emergency Alert Devices 11

EAV Part 15 Automatic Vehicle Identification System 15.251

ETB Part 15 Cordless Telephone Base Transceiver 15C

ETR Part 15 Cordless Telephone Remote Transceiver 15C

ETS Part 15 Cordless Telephone System 15C

FAP Part 15 Anti-Pilferage Device 15C

FDS Part 15 Field Disturbance Sensor 15.245, 15.253

FRB Part 95 Family Radio Base Transmitter 95A

FRB Part 95 Family Radio Base Transmitter 95B

FRE Part 95 Family Radio Ear Held Transmitter 95A, 95B

FRF Part 95 Family Radio Face Held Transmitter 80, 95A, 95B

FRT Part 95 Family Radio Body Worn Transmitter 95A, 95B

GAT Part 15 Auditory Assistance Device (Transmitter) 15.237

GEP 406 MHz EPIRB 80.1101(c)(5)

GHF Part 80 HF Transmitter (GMDSS) 80.1101(c)(4)

GHH Part 80 VHF Hand Held Transmitter (GMDSS) 80.1101(c)(7)

GMF Part 80 MF Transmitter (GMDSS) 80.1101(c)(3)

GVH Part 80 VHF Transmitter (GMDSS) 80.1101(c)(4)

HID Part 15 TV Interface Device 15B

JBC Part 15 Class B Computing Device/Personal 

Computer

15B

JBP Part 15 Class B Computing Device Peripheral 15B

LMS Part 90 Location & Monitoring Transmitter 90.353, 90.355

LPR Level Probing Radar 15.209, 15.256

MRD Marine Radar 80, 90

MWR Part 80 Marine Watch Receiver 80.269

NII Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure 

TX

15E
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Equip.

Class

Equipment Class Description CFR Title 47 Part

Number

PCB PCS Licensed Transmitter 101C, 22, 22H, 

24.232(b), 24D, 24E, 

27, 90, 95G

PCE PCS Licensed Transmitter held to ear 22, 22H, 24D, 24E, 

27, 90

PCF PCS Licensed Transmitter held to face 22H, 24, 24D, 24E, 

90

PCT PCS Licensed Transmitter worn on body 22, 22H, 24D, 24E, 

27, 90, 95I

PLB Personal Locator Beacons 95K

PUB Part 15 Unlicensed PCS Base Station 15D

PUE Part 15 Unlicensed PCS portable Tx held to ear 15D

PUF Part 15 Unlicensed PCS portable Tx held to face 15D

PUT Part 15 Unlicensed PCS portable Tx worn on 

body

15D

RNV Part 80 NAVTEX Receiver 80.1101(c)(1)

SRT Radar Transponder 80.1101(c)(6)

SSA Ship Security Alert Systems (SSAS) 80

TBC Licensed Broadcast Station Transmitter 27, 73, 74

TBF Licensed Broadcast Transmitter Held to Face 74.861

TBT Licensed Broadcast Transmitter Worn on Body 74.861

TDC Part 80 DSC Controller 80.1101(c)(2)

TDC Part 80 DSC Controller 80.1101(c)(3)

TDC Part 80 DSC Controller 80.1101(c)(4)

TNB Licensed Non-Broadcast Station Transmitter 101, 22, 22G, 22H, 

25, 27, 74, 78, 80, 

87, 90, 90.203(j)(4), 

90.203(j)(5), 

90.203(j)(7), 

90.203(j)(8), 90.210, 

90.210(e)

90.217, 90.217(b), 

90.217(c), 90.221, 

90.259, 90.265, 

90.265(b), 90, 90Y, 

95A, 95C

95D, 95F, 95G, 95H, 

95I, 95J, 95L

TNE Licensed Non-Broadcast Transmitter Held to Ear 101, 22, 22G, 22H, 

25, 27, 74, 80, 87, 
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Equip.

Class

Equipment Class Description CFR Title 47 Part

Number

90, 90.203(j)(4), 

90.203(j)(5), 

90.203(j)(7), 

90.203(j)(8), 90.210, 

90.210(e), 90.217, 

90.217(b), 90.217(c), 

90.259, 90.265, 

90.265(b), 90Y, 95A, 

95C, 95F, 95G, 95H, 

95J, 95L

TNF Licensed Non-Broadcast Transmitter Held to 

Face

101, 22, 22G, 22H, 

25, 27, 74, 80, 87, 

90, 90.203(j)(4), 

90.203(j)(5), 

90.203(j)(7), 

90.203(j)(8), 90.210, 

90.210(e), 90.217, 

90.217(b), 90.217(c), 

90.259, 90.265

90.265(b), 90R, 90S, 

90Y, 95A, 95C, 95D, 

95F, 95G, 95H, 95J, 

95L

TNT Licensed Non-Broadcast Transmitter Worn on 

Body

101, 22, 22G, 22H, 

25, 27, 74, 80, 87, 

90, 90.203(j)(4), 

90.203(j)(5), 

90.203(j)(7), 

90.203(j)(8), 90.217, 

90.217(b), 90.217(c), 

90.259, 90.265, 

90.265(b), 90Y, 95A, 

95C, 95D, 95F, 95G, 

95H, 95I, 95J, 95L

UWB Ultra Wideband Transmitter 15F

WBT Wideband Transmitter 15.250, 15.252

WG1 White Space Device with Geo-location- Mode 1 15H

WG2 White Space Device with Geo-location- Mode 2 15H

WGF White Space Device with Geo-location- Fixed 15H

WS1 White Space Device with Sensing-Mode 1 15H

WS2 White Space Device with Sensing-Mode 2 15H
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Equip.

Class

Equipment Class Description CFR Title 47 Part

Number

WSF White Space Device with Sensing-Fixed 15H

For more detailed information, see FCC’s:

Equipment Authorization Approval Guide

Mobile and Portable Devices

Portable and mobile devices that operate in the Cellular Radiotelephone Service (47 CFR 22 

Subpart H), the Personal Communications Service (PCS) (47 CFR 24), the Satellite 

Communications Service (47 CFR 25), the Wireless Communications Service (47 CFR 27), the 

Maritime Service (ship earth stations only) (47 CFR 80), and Specialized Mobile Radio Service 

(47 CFR 24, 25, 27, 80 (ship earth stations devices only) and 90) at frequencies of 1.5 GHz or 

below and their effective radiated power (ERP) is 1.5 watts or more, or if they operate at 

frequencies above 1.5 GHz and their ERP is 3 watts or more, are subject to RF emissions 

requirements as specified in the rule part that they operate under. All of these portable and 

mobile devices are also subject to the routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure 

requirement of 47 CFR 2.1091 (bottom of page 706) (mobile devices) and/or 47 CFR 2.1093 

(page 708) (portable devices) prior to equipment authorization or use.

Portable devices operating in the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) (47 CFR Part 95 

Subpart H) and the Medical Device Radio communications Service (MEDRADIO) (47 CFR 95 

Subpart I) are subject to RF emissions limits as specified in the rule part they operate under 

and also to routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure prior to equipment 

authorization or use. Unlicensed PCS (47 CFR Part 15 Subpart D), Unlicensed National 

Information Infrastructure (U-NII) (47 CFR Part 15 Subpart E), and millimeter wave devices (47 

CFR Part 15 Subpart C) are subject to RF emission requirements specified in the rule section 

they operate in and are also subject to routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure 

prior to equipment authorization or use if their ERP is 3 watts or more or if they meet the 

definition of a portable device. All other mobile and portable devices are categorically excluded 

from routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure.

The FCC differentiates mobile and portable devices by the proximity to the user during use.

Mobile devices, covered under 47 CFR 2.1091 (page 706), are defined as a transmitting device 

designed to be used in other than fixed locations and generally used in a manner that the 

radiating structure is at least 20 cm from the body of the user or nearby persons. Examples of 

mobile and portable devices include cellular and PCS mobile telephones with vehicle mounted 

antennas and other radio devices that use vehicle mounted antennas. These devices must be 

evaluated for exposure potential with respect to Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits 

for field strength or power density or with respect to specific absorption rate (SAR) limits, 

whichever is most appropriate for the specific use and operating configuration of the device.
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Portable devices, covered under 47 CFR 2.1093 (page 708), are defined as a transmitting device 

designed to be used so the radiating structure is within 20 cm of the body of the user. These 

devices include handheld cellular phones and PCS mobile phones that incorporate the radiating 

antenna into the hand-piece and wireless transmitters carried close to the body. RF evaluation 

must be based on specific absorption rate (SAR) limits.

Compliance limits are set for both occupational/controlled exposure and general 

population/uncontrolled exposure based on a person’s awareness and ability to exercise 

control over his/her exposure. 

Mobile or portable devices may not be imported and/or marketed until they have shown 

compliance with the technical standards that have been specified by the Federal 

Communications Commission.

For more detailed Information, see FCC’s 

Equipment Authorization Approval Guide

Radio Frequency Safety - Office of Engineering and Technology

RF Exposure Procedures and Equipment Authorization Policies for Mobile and Portable 

Devices

RF Exposure Compliance Reporting and Documentation Considerations

Equipment Authorization System Test Firm Search

Radio Frequency Wireless Technology in Medical Devices - Guidance for Industry and 

Food and Drug Administration Staff

External Radio Frequency Power Amplifiers

Per 47 CFR 2.815, it is illegal to manufacture, sell, lease, or import external radio frequency 

power amplifiers capable of operation on any frequency or frequencies below 144 MHz unless 

the amplifier has received a grant of certification. These amplifiers shall comply with the 

following:

 The external radio frequency power amplifier shall not be capable of amplification in the 

frequency band 26-28 MHz.

 The amplifier shall not be capable of easy modification to permit its use as an amplifier 

in the frequency band 26-28 MHz.

 No more than 10 external radio frequency power amplifiers may be constructed for 

evaluation purposes in preparation for the submission of an application for a grant of 

certification.

 If the external radio frequency power amplifier is intended for operation in the Amateur 

Radio Service (47 CFR 97), the requirements of 47 CFR 97.315 and 47 CFR 97.317 must 

be met.

Emergency Alert System Equipment

Requirements for equipment used as part of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) can be found at 

47 CFR 11 subpart B. EAS encoders and decoders must be certified in accordance with 47 CFR 2 
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subpart J and must also meet the requirements of 47 CFR 15. In addition, manufacturers must 

include instructions and information on how to install, operate, and program an EAS Encoder, 

EAS Decoder, or combined unit and a list of all state and county ANSI numbers with each unit 

sold or marketed in the U.S.

Public Mobile Services

Transmitters operating under Public Mobile Services (47 CFR 22) are subject to certification 

requirements of 47 CFR 2. In addition, equipment under this part is subject to RF emission

requirements.

Amateur Radio

Equipment operated under Amateur Radio Services (47 CFR Part 97) are subject to RF 

emissions requirements. In addition, amplifiers are subject to certification.

Fixed Microwave Services

Transmitters used in the private operational fixed and common carrier fixed point-to-point 

microwave and point-to-multipoint services under 47 CFR 101, Fixed Microwave Services, must 

be a type that has been verified for compliance. Manufacturers of transmitters used under this 

section may request certification or obtain verification by following the applicable procedures 

set forth in 47 CFR 2. In addition, certification for an individual transmitter may also be 

requested by an applicant for a station authorization.

A transmitter presently shown on an instrument of authorization, which operates on an 

assigned frequency in the 890-940 MHz band and has not been certificated, may continue to be

used by the licensee without certification provided such transmitter continues otherwise to 

comply with the applicable rules and regulations. Certification or verification is not required for 

portable transmitters operating with peak output power not greater than 250 mW. If operation 

of such equipment causes harmful interference, the FCC may require the licensee to take such 

corrective action as is necessary to eliminate the interference.

The regulations also set forth minimum payload capacity requirements for equipment 

employing digital modulation techniques and requirements for bit rate. 

Equipment for People with Disabilities

The Communications Act of 1934 requires that telecommunication manufacturers make, when 

feasible, devices that are accessible to people with disabilities. If not feasible, the 

manufacturer must make its devices compatible with peripheral devices that are commonly 

used by people with disabilities. Devices include telephones, wireless handsets, fax machines, 

answering machines and pagers.
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Manufacturers of equipment operating under Commercial Mobile Services (16 CFR 20) that 

offer to service providers four or more hearing aid compatible handset models for use in (or 

imported for use in) the United States must ensure that it offers a minimum number of the 

handsets. The number of handsets offered must be the greater of the following:

 at least two handset models in that air interface or 

 at least one-third of its handset models in that air interface.

For More Information, see FCC’s

Telecommunications Access For People with Disabilities

Telephone Terminal Equipment

47 CFR 68, Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network governs the 

connection of Terminal Equipment (TE) to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) as 

well as TE that is connected to wireline facilities owned by wireline telecommunications 

providers and used to provide private line services. The Regulations establish processes to 

identify, publish, and update technical criteria for TE and also to approve TE for attachment to 

the network. The rules also provide for the development and maintenance of a publicly 

accessible database of approved TE and for labeling TE that have been shown to comply with 

the technical criteria. All approved TE are required to be listed in the database and to be 

properly labeled.

47 CFR 68 also contains rules concerning Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control 

(HAC/VC) for telephones, dialing frequency for automated dialing machines, source 

identification for fax transmissions, and technical criteria for inside wiring.

TE suppliers can obtain TE approval in two ways. Suppliers can obtain certification from private 

Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCBs). A list of TCBs that have notified the FCC of 

their capability to test TE is available in FCC KDB publication 784838. Alternatively, suppliers 

may declare their own TE to conform to applicable technical criteria using the Suppliers 

Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). In either case, the TE must first be tested or undergo other 

engineering analysis to ensure compliance with applicable technical criteria, and a report must 

be created documenting the results. Once compliance with technical criteria has been 

demonstrated, the supplier must apply to the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments 

(ACTA) to have its approved TE listed in the ACTA database.

The regulation also specifies mandatory labeling requirements for approved TE. 

For more detailed information, see

Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act)

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, or 

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

The FTC Act allowed the FTC to enact several Acts and Regulations intended to prohibit unfair 

or deceptive acts or practices.

EnergyGuide Standards and Labeling for Home Appliances

16 CFR 305, Energy and Water Use Labeling for Consumer Products Under the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act (“Energy” Labeling Rule) establishes requirements for specific labeling and/or 

marking of certain consumer appliances with information indicating the product’s operating 

cost (or different useful measure of energy consumption) and related information, disclosing its 

water use rate and related information, or stating its compliance with applicable standards. 

Appliances covered under this act include: 

 Refrigerators

 Dishwashers 

 Water heaters 

 Room air conditioners 

 Clothes washers 

 Clothes dryers 

 Central air conditioners and central 

air conditioning heat pumps 

 Furnaces 

 Direct heating equipment 

 Pool heaters 

 Kitchen ranges and ovens 

 Television sets 

 Fluorescent lamp ballasts 

 General service fluorescent lamps 

 Medium base compact fluorescent 

lamps 

 General service incandescent lamps, 

including incandescent reflector 

lamps 

 Metal halide lamp fixtures 

 Ceiling fans

 Freezers

 Boilers (electrical)

Environmental Claims

16 CFR 260, Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims

These guides apply to environmental claims included in labeling, advertising, promotional 

materials and all other forms of marketing, whether asserted directly or by implication, 

through words, symbols, emblems, logos, depictions, product brand names, or through any 

other means, including marketing through digital or electronic means such as the Internet or 

electronic mail. The guides apply to any claim about the environmental attributes of a 
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product, package, or service in connection with the sale, offering for sale, or marketing of 

such product, package or service for personal, family or household use, or for commercial, 

institutional, or industrial use.

In 2012, an update by the FTC modified the existing guide sections on general environmental 

benefit, compostable, degradable, ozone, recyclable, and recycled content claims. It also added 

new sections on carbon offsets, certifications and seals of approval, free-of claims, non-toxic 

claims, made with renewable energy claims, and made with renewable materials claims.

For more detailed information, see FTC’s:

Environmental Claims: Summary of the Green Guides

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Food Contact Substances

Some electrical products and/or appliances are used in food preparation. In 1997, Congress passed 

the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act, which amended the Food Drug and Cosmetic 

Act. The major purpose behind this legislation was to streamline FDA’s regulatory practices, and one 

of the procedures it introduced was a notification process for food contact substances. 

Once known as indirect food additives, a food contact substance (FCS) is defined as "any 

substance intended for use as a component of materials used in manufacturing, packing, 

packaging, transporting, or holding food if such use is not intended to have a technical effect in 

such food.” Common types of food contact substances include coatings, plastics, paper, 

adhesives, as well as colorants, antimicrobials, and antioxidants found in packaging.

The term “safe,” as it refers to food additives and ingredients (including food contact 

substances), is defined in 21 CFR 170.3(i) as a “reasonable certainty in the minds of competent 

scientists that a substance is not harmful under the intended conditions of use.”

The overall regulatory status of a food contact material is dictated by the regulatory status of 

each individual substance that comprises the article. The individual substance that is 

reasonably expected to migrate to food because of its intended use in the food contact 

material must be covered by one of the following:

 A regulation listed in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations. Consult 21 CFR 174-179 to

see if the use of the component is an appropriately regulated indirect additive.

o Components of a food packaging material used in compliance with a regulation 

in 21 CFR (174-179) need no further FDA review. Most of the regulated indirect 

food additives can be found in CFSAN's "Indirect Additive" Database.

 General Indirect Food Additives (21 CFR 174)

 Adhesives and Components of Coatings (21 CFR 175)
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 Paper and Paperboard Components (21 CFR 176)

 Polymers (21 CFR 177)

 Adjuvants, Production Aids, and Sanitizers (21 CFR 178)

 Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of Food (21 CFR 179)

 Meeting the criteria for GRAS status (including but not limited to a GRAS regulation or 

GRAS notice). Consult 21 CFR 182-186 and the list of GRAS Notices to see if the use of 

the component is listed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).

o Substances GRAS in food (21 CFR 182)

o Substances affirmed as GRAS in food (21 CFR 184)

o Substances affirmed as GRAS for use in food packaging (21 CFR 186)

o Summary of all GRAS Notices

 A prior sanctioned letter. Consult 21 CFR 181 to see if the use of the component is listed as 

Prior Sanctioned. Prior Sanctioned substances are those substances whose use in contact 

with food is the subject of a letter issued by FDA or USDA before 1958 offering no objection 

to a specific use of a specific substance.

 A Threshold of Regulation (TOR) exemption request. Consult the listing of Threshold of 

Regulation Exemptions to check if the component is exempted from a petition or an FCN

(Food Contact Notification) as a food additive because it becomes a component of food at 

levels that are below the threshold of regulation. A substance used in a food contact article 

may be exempted by FDA from the need of an FCN or a petition (regulation) as a food 

additive if the use in question has been shown to result in a very low concentration (0.5 

ppb). For details see, "Submitting Requests Under 21 CFR 170.39 Threshold of Regulation for 

Substances Used in Food Contact Articles."

 An effective Food Contact Substance Notification (FCN). Consult the listing of Effective Food 

Contact Substance Notifications. The listing of effective food contact substance notifications, 

the regulation, guidance documents, and additional information regarding the notification 

program are listed on the Food Contact Substance web page. However, you should be aware 

that FCNs are proprietary and users must be able to trace the substance they use back to the 

manufacturer for which the notification is effective. 

Manufacturers wishing to determine if FDA has a regulation for a specific food additive can view a 

list of food additives online, via the Food Additives Status List (formerly called Appendix A of the 

Investigations Operations Manual (IOM)). This list organizes additives found in many parts of 21 CFR 

into one alphabetized list. Additives included are those specified in the regulations promulgated 

under the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetics Act (FD&C Act), under Sections 401 (Food Standards), and 

409 (Food Additives). The Food Additives Status List includes short notations on use limitations for 

each additive. For complete information on its use limitations, refer to the specific regulation for 

each substance. For example, the EAFUS list (Everything Added to Food in the United States), is a 

helpful reference within the limitations described at the beginning of the database.
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Medical Products

Electrical and electronic medical devices are subject to medical device regulations. Medical devices 

are classified into three categories – Class I, II, III – with regulatory control increasing with each class.

Class I generally does not require Premarket Notification (510(k)), Class II devices generally do 

require Premarket Notification (510(k)), and Class III generally require Premarket Approval. 

Manufacturers of medical devices for sale in the U.S. must comply with basic regulatory 

requirements including:

 Establishment registration (21 CFR 807),

 Medical Device Listing (21 CFR 807),

 Premarket Notification 510(k) (21 CFR 807 Subpart E), unless exempt, or Premarket 

Approval (21 CFR 814),

 Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for clinical studies (21 CFR 812),

 Quality System regulation (21 CFR 820),

 Labeling requirements (21 CFR 801), and

 Medical Device Reporting (21 CFR 803) (For current Rule see Final Rule - Medical Device 

Reporting: Electronic Submission Requirements and Final Rule - Medical Device 

Reporting: Electronic Submission Requirements; Correcting Amendments

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) Section 514 [21 U.S.C. 360d] authorizes FDA to 

establish (and periodically evaluate) performance standards that are necessary to provide 

reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of medical devices. In addition to establishing 

performance standards, Section 514(c) [21 U.S.C. 360d (c)] also authorizes the FDA to recognize 

appropriate (voluntary consensus) standards established by nationally or internationally 

recognized standard development organizations. To streamline the regulatory review process, 

applicants may utilize (or make a declaration of conformity with respect to) applicable FDA 

recognized standards in order to meet a premarket submission requirement or other requirement.

FDA requires that certain medical devices meet mandatory performance standards. FDA has 

recognized over 1190 standards which can be searched on the Recognized Consensus Standards

page.

Classification, as well as, in some cases, other requirements for electric and electronic medical 

devices, can be found within the following Regulations:

 21 CFR 862 Subpart C – Clinical Laboratory Instruments provides identification, 

classification, and other requirements for various clinical laboratory Instruments.

 21 CFR 864 Subpart F – Automated and Semi Automated Hematology Devices provides, 

identification, and classification requirements for various automated and semiautomated devices used in hematology.

 21 CFR 866 Subpart A – General Provisions, Subpart B – Diagnostic Devices, Subpart C 

Microbiology Devices, Subpart E – Immunology Laboratory Equipment and Reagents, 

Subpart F – Immunological Test Systems, and Subpart G – Tumor Associated Antigen 

Immunological Test Systems provide general provisions, identification, and classification

for devices used for immunology and microbiology.
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 21 CFR 868 Subpart A – General Provisions, Subpart B – Diagnostic Devices, Subpart C –

Monitoring Devices, Subpart F – Therapeutic Devices, and Subpart G – Miscellaneous

provide general provisions, identification, and classification for Anesthesiology Devices.

 21 CFR 870 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Cardiovascular Diagnostic 

Devices, Subpart C - Cardiovascular Monitoring Devices, Subpart D - Cardiovascular 

Prosthetic Devices, Subpart E - Cardiovascular Surgical Devices, and Subpart F -

Cardiovascular Therapeutic Devices provide general provisions, identification, 

classification, and other requirements for devices used in cardiovascular procedures. 

 21 CFR 872 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, Subpart E -

Surgical Devices, Subpart F - Therapeutic Devices, and Subpart G - Miscellaneous Devices

provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other requirements for 

dental devices.

 21 CFR 874 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, Subpart D -

Prosthetic Devices, Subpart E - Surgical Devices, and Subpart F - Therapeutic Devices

provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other requirements for ear, 

nose, and throat devices.

 21 CFR 876 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, Subpart C -

Monitoring Devices, Subpart E - Surgical Devices, and Subpart F - Therapeutic Devices

provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other requirements for 

gastroenterology-urology devices.

 21 CFR 878 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, Subpart E -

Surgical Devices, and Subpart F - Therapeutic Devices provide general provisions, 

identification, classification and other requirements for general and plastic surgery 

devices.

 21 CFR 880 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart C - General Hospital and Personal 

Use Monitoring Devices, Subpart F - General Hospital and Personal Use Therapeutic 

Devices, and Subpart G - General Hospital and Personal Use Miscellaneous Devices

provide general provisions, identification, classification and other requirements for

general hospital and personal use devices.

 21 CFR 882 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Neurological Diagnostic Devices, 

Subpart E - Neurological Surgical Devices, and Subpart F - Neurological Therapeutic 

Devices provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other requirements 

for neurological devices.

 21 CFR 884 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Obstetrical and Gynecological 

Diagnostic Devices, Subpart C - Obstetrical and Gynecological Monitoring Devices,

Subpart E - Obstetrical and Gynecological Surgical Devices, Subpart F - Obstetrical and 

Gynecological Therapeutic Devices, and Subpart G - Assisted Reproduction Devices

provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other requirements for 

obstetrical and gynecological devices.

 21 CFR 886 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, Subpart E -

Surgical Devices, and Subpart F - Therapeutic Devices provide general provisions, 

identification, classification, and other requirements for ophthalmic devices.
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 21 CFR 888 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, and Subpart E 

- Surgical Devices provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other 

requirements for orthopedic devices.

 21 CFR 890 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Physical Medicine Diagnostic 

Devices, Subpart D - Physical Medicine Prosthetic Devices, and Subpart F - Physical 

Medicine Therapeutic Devices provide identification, classification, and other 

requirements for physical medicine devices.

 21 CFR 892 Subpart A - General Provisions, Subpart B - Diagnostic Devices, and Subpart F 

- Therapeutic Devices provide general provisions, identification, classification, and other 

requirements for radiology devices.

 21 CFR 898 Performance Standards for Electrode Lead Wires and Patient Cables requires 

that any connector in a cable or electrode lead wire having a conductive connection to a 

patient shall be constructed in such a manner as to comply with certain provisions of 

standard IEC 601–1: Medical Electrical Equipment. 

Mammography Equipment 

In addition to Radiation Emitting Products requirements below, mammography equipment 

must be specifically designed for the purpose of mammography. The prohibition of using nonmammography equipment includes systems that have been modified or equipped with special 

attachments for mammography. Specific requirements for mammography equipment are 

outlined in 21 CFR 900.12(b) Quality Standards, including motion of tube-image receptor 

assembly, image receptor sizes, light fields, magnification, focal spot selection, compression, 

automatic exposure control, x-ray film, intensifying screens, film processing solutions, lighting, 

and film masking devices. Mammography equipment is also subject to FDA Medical Device 

Requirements.

Radiation Emitting Products

The Radiation Control provisions, as required by 21 CFR Subchapter J – Radiological Health, 

apply to all electronic products, which are defined as any manufactured or assembled product 

(or component, part, or accessory of such product) which, when in operation contains or acts as 

part of an electronic circuit and emits (or in the absence of effective shielding or other controls 

would emit) electronic product radiation. Examples include diagnostic x-ray or ultrasound 

devices, sunlamps, microwave ovens, television receivers and monitors (cathode ray tube only), 

CD players, and laser welders.

All radiation emitting products must be designed to comply with applicable performance 

standards and must not permit unnecessary exposure to radiation during use. Before 

introduction into U.S. commerce, each unit must be certified that it complies with 

performance standards. A product report must be submitted to the FDA demonstrating 

compliance to the applicable standard. Additional reporting and record keeping requirements 

are also specified in the Regulation. Specific reporting requirements can be found in 21 CFR 

1002. Medical devices are additionally subject to FDA Medical Device Requirements. 
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Performance Standards

21 CFR 1010, Performance Standards for Electronic Products: General

21 CFR 1020, Performance Standards for Ionizing Radiation Emitting Products

21 CFR 1030, Performance Standards for Microwave and Radio Frequency

Emitting Products

21 CFR 1040, Performance Standards for Light-Emitting Products

21 CFR 1050, Performance Standards for Sonic, Infrasonic, and Ultrasonic Radiation-Emitting 

Products

In addition to specific labeling requirements found in the above standards, general labeling 

requirements of 21 CFR 801 apply. The following information must be provided on a tag or 

permanently affixed label that is visible when the product is fully assembled:

 a statement that the product complies with the applicable performance standard;

 full name and address of the manufacturer of the product; and

 the place and month and year of manufacture.

For more detailed information, see FDA’s 

How to Get Your Electronic Product on the US market (Video)

How to Study and Market Your Medical Device

Radiation-Emitting Products Industry Assistance: Walk-through

Labeling Requirements for Radiation Emitting Devices and Products

FDA Recognized Consensus Standards

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)

United States Code Title 29, Chapter 15

The OSH Act, codified in 29 USC 15, was established to ensure safe and healthful working 

conditions for every working man and woman in the nation and to preserve human resources. 

Among many other provisions, the Act provides for the development and promulgation of 

occupational safety and health standards.

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) Program

The requirements for NRTL approval of equipment used in the workplace are found in the 

Agency’s general industry standards, 29 CFR part 1910. For example, 29 CFR 1910.303(a) and 29 

CFR 1910.307(c) (read together with the definitions of “approved” and “acceptable” in 29 CFR 

1910.399) generally require electrical equipment or products used in the workplace to be 

approved by NRTLs. A comprehensive list of products requiring NRTL approval can be found on 

OSHA’s Type of Products Requiring NRTL Approval website page.
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OSHA recognizes an NRTL for testing and certifying specific products. The scope of recognition 

specifies: 

 the product-testing standards which an NRTL can use to test and certify products,

 the types of test results that an NRTL may accept from other organizations (including 

manufacturers), and 

 which of the NRTL's testing facilities are covered by OSHA's recognition.

OSHA's recognition of an organization as an NRTL assures that it is: 

(1) independent of the product's manufacturer, supplier and vendor, 

(2) capable of testing and certifying the product using specified product-testing standards, 

and 

(3) regularly evaluated by OSHA for compliance with OSHA's requirements and policies 

regarding the NRTL Program. 

OSHA evaluates an NRTL's capability by reviewing its testing and certification procedures as 

well as its quality assurance program.

An NRTL's approval of a product generally consists of testing, inspection, and certification. 

Testing involves determining whether a sample or prototype of the product meets the 

applicable requirements of one or more specific consensus-based, U.S. product safety test 

standards. If the product meets the test standard requirements, the NRTL performs an 

inspection of the manufacturing facility to verify that the product resulting from a production 

run is or will be in conformance with the test standard's requirements. Following a satisfactory 

initial inspection, the NRTL issues its certification which provides assurance that the product 

conforms to the specific test standard(s). The NRTL also authorizes the manufacturer to apply 

the NRTL's certification mark to each unit of the manufactured product. After issuing its 

certification, the NRTL conducts periodic follow-up (i.e., quality-assurance and compliance) 

inspections of each manufacturing facility to provide assurance that the product currently 

manufactured at the facility and bearing the NRTL's mark is identical to the product that the 

NRTL tested and certified.

For more detailed information, see OSHA’s:

OSHA Law & Regulations (refer to Subpart S for electrical equipment)

Current list of NRTLs

OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing laboratory (NRTL) Program

Frequently Asked Questions
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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 the 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.

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 product labeling, packaging, chemical 

restrictions, etc. California is heavily regulated for many consumer products.

Agency/Organizations Scope

State Authorities Responsible for 

Weights and Measures

Labeling

Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse 

(TPCH)

Packaging

California Air Resource Board Air cleaners

California Energy Commission Appliance labeling, battery charging systems

California Office of Environmental 

Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)

Toxic chemicals and substances

California Business & Professions 

Code

Made in the USA claims and smart televisions

California Department of Toxic 

Substances Control

Chemicals of concern in consumer products

Illinois Department of Public Health Lead labeling

Minnesota Department of Commerce Formaldehyde in children’s products

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Batteries

Washington Department of Ecology Lead, cadmium, and phthalates in children’s 

products

Several States Appliance energy efficiency, button cell 

batteries, BPA in food contact substances, 

chemicals of concern, ROHS, electronic waste, 

flame retardants, mercury, and National Electric 

Code. 
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Appliance Energy Efficiency

Several States, including, but not limited to, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington,

Vermont, and Rhode Island have established energy efficiency standards for appliances not 

covered under federal law. Covered products must meet minimum energy efficiency 

requirements to be sold in that state. Under certain conditions, states may petition to have a 

stricter standard than the federal standards for a federally covered product. 

For information on state energy efficiency policies, see: National Conference of State 

Legislatures State Efficiency Policies.

Button Cell Batteries

Several states including Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, and Rhode Island prohibit the sale of 

mercury-containing button cell batteries and products that contain mercury-containing 

button cell batteries.

Bisphenol A (BPA) in Food Contact Products

Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Vermont and Washington ban the use of food contact products

containing BPA. Connecticut and Vermont ban BPA in reusable food and beverage containers. 

Illinois and Washington ban BPA in children’s food or beverage containers. New York bans 

BPA from children’s products, but allows for BPA-free products to be labeled as such. 

Chemicals of Concern

Several states, including Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Maine, require manufacturers 

selling children’s products that contain a chemical that is included on the state’s chemicals of 

concern list to provide notice to the state prior to sale in that state. In some cases, the 

manufacturer must remove or make a substitution for the chemical.

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS)

Several US States, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, 

Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, 

Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, have regulations modeled after the European Union’s RoHS 

directive.

For many of the states listed above, an electronic device that is prohibited for sale in the 

European Union under the RoHS directive, due to the concentration of one or more heavy 

metals exceeding a specific concentration value, is prohibited from being sold in that state.
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The heavy metal limits are

 Cadmium: 0.01%

 Hexavalent Chromium: 0.1%

 Lead: 0.1%

 Mercury: 0.1%

 Polybrominateddiphenyls 

(PBBs): 0.1%

 Polybrominateddiphenyl ethers 

(PBDEs): 0.1%

Electronic Waste

Several states, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, 

Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, have implemented laws that

establish a mechanism for disposing of electronic waste through a registration and recycling 

waste fee. In general, devices cannot be sold unless they are visibly labeled with the 

manufacturers name or brand. Manufacturers must also register with each respective state.

Additionally, some of the states listed require a statement as to whether or not the electronic 

device complies with the heavy metal concentrations of the European Union’s RoHS Directive.

There may also be reporting requirements for each state. 

For additional information, see Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse’s

Map of States with Legislation

Flame Retardants

Twelve states regulate the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), pentabromodiphenyl 

ether (pentaBDE) and/or octabromodiphenyl ether (octaBDE). Eight of these states also have 

regulations restricting decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE). Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New 

York, and Rhode Island require manufacturers of certain electronic products to notify the state 

if their products exceed the European Union’s maximum concentration values for PBDEs.

Mercury Containing Electronic Products

Several states have enacted mercury reduction or elimination laws. Connecticut, Louisiana, 

Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have 

labeling requirements. Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 

York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont have product notification requirements.

Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New 

York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have instituted product bans or 

phase outs for products such as mercury-added fever thermometers and other types of 

thermometers, thermostats, automotive switches, manometers, switches and relays, various 

instruments and measuring devices, and mercury-added novelties. 

For more information, see:
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Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC) Compliance 

Guidance

National Electrical Code (NEC)

The NEC is a consensus code published by the National Fire Protection Association. The NEC is 

published every three years. It covers the installation of electrical products for public or private 

use and requires that certain electrical products meet the requirements of specific standards. 

This is not a national standard but has been adopted as law by state governments and local 

authorities. Check with the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to see if there are 

amendments that modify parts of the codes or standards. It is important to remember that 

AHJs enforce the codes adopted in their jurisdiction, which can be different codes or different 

editions of the NEC.

The code requires that all electrical components be listed or labeled (typically by a Nationally 

Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)) or be approved for installation by the AHJ on an 

installation by installation basis. See OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Program for more 

information.

Packaging and Labeling

UPLR

The Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations (UPLR) contained in NIST Handbook 130, 

Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality, have 

been adopted into law in 45 of the 50 U.S. states (Louisiana, Minnesota, Rhode Island, 

Wyoming and North Dakota have not adopted it). 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 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 principal display panel.

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

Air Cleaner Regulation

This Regulation limits the amount of ozone produced from indoor air cleaning devices. All air 

cleaner models marketed or sold in California must first be tested by the California Air 

Resource Board (ARB) and certified that the product does not produce an ozone emission 

concentration exceeding 0.050 ppm as required by the regulation. This includes air cleaners 

sold via the Internet. In addition, all packaging must show the required label printed on the 

package.

For more information, see California Air Resource Board’s webpage:

AB 2276 Air Cleaner Regulation

Appliance Labeling Regulation

No manufacturer or distributor may sell an appliance in California unless it is permanently 

marked with a serial number unique to that appliance. In addition, the manufacturer must 

provide, on the first page of the warranty or instruction manual, or on a separate card, a 

description of the appliance along with a space for recording the model number and serial 

number, the description of the location of such numbers on the appliance, and instructions to 

the final purchaser to record and retain the numbers.

Battery Charging Systems

California regulates the energy efficiency of battery charging systems beyond that of the federal 

government. The standard limits the energy consumption in active charge, maintenance mode,

and standby. Battery charging systems must be tested for energy efficiency at a California 

Energy Commission (CEC) approved laboratory. The product is then submitted to the CEC and 

upon approval the model is listed in the appliance database. When approved, each product 

must be labeled with a "BC" inside a circle. This regulation applies to all products containing 

battery charging systems. Examples of products with battery charging systems include 

notebook computers, tablets, power tools, electric toothbrushes, shavers, phones, mobile 

workstations, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).

Note: Federal battery charger standards [10 CFR 429] will go into effect in 2018 preempting 

California’s requirements.

For more information, see California Energy Commission’s:

Frequently Asked Questions: Battery Charging Systems

Lead and Other Toxic Substances

California regulates lead and numerous other substances and chemicals, in both adult and 

children's products, 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 
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25249.5, 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

Prop65 News

Made in the USA

A recent law relaxed California’s strict “Made in USA” law. Under the revised law “Made in the 

USA”, “Made in America”, “U.S.A.”, or similar labels are allowed even if a product has some 

foreign components. The labeling is permitted if any foreign component or part does not 

constitute more than 5% of the final wholesale value of the product or any foreign component 

or part does not constitute more than 10% of the final wholesale value of the product AND the 

manufacturer can show that those components cannot be obtained or produced domestically.

Safer Consumer Products Regulations

The Safer Consumer Products Regulations applies to all consumer products placed in the stream 

of commerce in California. It requires manufacturers or other responsible entities to seek safer 

alternatives to harmful chemical ingredients in widely used products. The regulation requires 

the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt regulations that will establish a process 

for identifying and prioritizing chemicals in consumer products and to establish a process for 

evaluating chemicals of concern in consumer products and their potential alternatives. 

For more detailed information, see

What are the Safer Consumer Products Regulations?

Smart Televisions

California law AB 1116, Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Connected

Televisions (Chapter 524) requires that manufacturers of smart televisions with voice 

recognition features inform the user of the features during setup or installation. The law also 

prohibits conversations that are recorded from being used for advertising purposes. In 

addition, the law states that manufacturers are only liable for functionality provided at the time 

of the original sale of a connected television and are not liable for functionality provided by 

applications that the user chooses to use in the cloud or are downloaded and installed by a user.
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State of Illinois

Lead

Public Act 097-0612, The Lead Poisoning Prevention Act

The Act makes it illegal to sell, have, offer for sale, or transfer children’s products that contain a 

total lead content in any component part of the item that is more than 0.004% (40 parts per 

million) but less than 0.06% (600 parts per million) by total weight (or a lower federal or State 

standard for lead content if applicable) unless that item bears a warning statement that 

indicates that at least one component part of the item contains lead. The warning statement 

must contain at least the following: 

"WARNING: CONTAINS LEAD. MAY BE HARMFUL IF EATEN OR CHEWED. COMPLIES WITH 

FEDERAL STANDARDS."

The Act also makes it illegal to sell, or give away any lead-bearing substance that may be used 

by the general public, unless it bears a warning statement as prescribed below, or as 

prescribed by any other federal regulation. The statement shall be located in a prominent 

place on the item or package (16 CFR 1500.121). 

If no regulation is prescribed, the warning statement shall be as follows when the lead-bearing 

substance is a lead-based paint or surface coating:

“WARNING-CONTAINS LEAD. MAY BE HARMFUL IF EATEN OR CHEWED. See Other Cautions on 

(Side or Back) Panel. Do not apply on toys, or other children’s articles, furniture, or interior or 

exterior exposed surfaces of any residential building or facility that may be occupied or used by 

children. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.” 

If no federal regulation is prescribed, the warning statement shall be as follows when the leadbearing substance contains lead-based paint or a form of lead other than lead-based paint:

“WARNING: CONTAINS LEAD. MAY BE HARMFUL IF EATEN OR CHEWED. MAY GENERATE DUST 

CONTAINING LEAD. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.” 

The warning statements do not apply to any product for which federal law governs warning in a 

manner that preempts state authority.
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State of Minnesota

Formaldehyde in Children’s Products

Minnesota bans the sale of certain products intended for children aged 8 and under that 

contain intentionally added formaldehyde or ingredients that degrade into formaldehyde.

Children’s product is defined as a product primarily designed or intended by a manufacturer to 

be physically applied to or introduced into a child's body, including any article used as a 

component of such a product, excluding a food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical 

product or biologic, child's toy (covered under ASTM F963), or a medical device.

State of Vermont

Stewardship Program for Batteries

Product Stewardship for Primary Batteries and Rechargeable Batteries requires manufacturers 

that sell primary batteries in Vermont to implement an approved collection plan or be a 

member of an approved stewardship organization.

State of Washington 

Lead, Cadmium, and Phthalates in Children’s Products

Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act restricts the sale of children’s products containing 

more than 0.009 percent by weight of lead; more than 0.004 percent by weight of cadmium; or 

0.10 percent by weight of phthalates, individually or in combination. 

The limits and scope of this law are more stringent than the current federal requirements. 

Products included under this Act include children’s cosmetics, jewelry, toys, car seats, and 

childcare articles, including clothing and footwear.

See Washington Department of Ecology’s:

Children’s Safe Products Act Webpage
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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 much of 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 settings.

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONS (SDOS)

Association for The Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)

4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 301

Arlington, VA 22203-1633 USA

Telephone: +1.703.525.4890

Contact

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is a nonprofit 

organization founded in 1967 providing global leadership to support the healthcare community 

in the development, management, and use of safe and effective healthcare technology

AAMI is the primary source of consensus standards, both national and international, for the 

medical device industry, as well as practical information, support, and guidance for healthcare 

technology and sterilization professionals.

AAMI, under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute, ISO, and IEC, administers 

several international committees that develop global standards for electromedical equipment.

ASTM International

100 Barr Harbor Drive

P.O. Box C700

West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA

Telephone: + 1.610.832.9500

Staff Directory
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ASTM International develops and maintains consensus standards and test methods pertaining 

to protective electrical and electronic equipment. A number of the ASTM standards are 

Incorporated By Reference in the CFR (as cited above under OSHA) and are mandatory.

There are several ASTM Committees responsible for electrical and electronic products because 

the category is so broad. Electrical and/or product standards are under the jurisdiction of the 

following subcommittees:

 D09 Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials

 F01 Electronics

 F05 Business Imaging Products

 F11 Vacuum Cleaners

 F15 Consumer Products

 F26 Cooking and Warming Equipment

A small sampling of ASTM voluntary electrical and electronic product standards includes, but is

not limited to:

D149 Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid 

Electrical Insulating Materials at Commercial Power Frequencies

D150 Standard Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) 

of Solid Electrical Insulation

D257 Standard Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials

D1932 Standard Test Method for Thermal Endurance of Flexible Electrical Insulating Varnishes

D5425 Standard Guide for Development of Fire Hazard Assessment Standards of 

Electrotechnical Products

F1944 Standard Practice for Determining the Quality of the Text, Line- and Solid-Fill Output 

Produced by Ink Jet Printers

F360 Standard Practice for Image Evaluation of Electrostatic Business Copies

F2729 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Constant Air Inflatable Play Devices for 

Home Use

F2208 Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms

F420 Standard Test Method for Access Depth Under Furniture of Vacuum Cleaners

F1409 Standard Test Method for Straight Line Movement of Vacuum Cleaners While Cleaning 

Carpets

F2771 Standard Test Method for Determining the Luminance Curve of an Electroluminescent 

Lamp at Ambient Conditions

F1596 Standard Test Method for Exposure of a Membrane Switch or Printed Electronic Device 

to Temperature and Relative Humidity

F1047 Standard Specification for Frying and Braising Pans, Tilting Type

F1217 Standard Specification for Cooker, Steam

F2202 Standard Specification for Slow Cook/Hold Ovens and Hot Food Holding Cabinets

F2521 Standard Specification for Heavy-Duty Ranges, Gas and Electric
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F2796 Standard Specification for Hot Food Holding Tables

F2834 Standard Specification for Induction Cooktops, Counter Top, Drop-in Mounted, or Floor 

Standing

F2835 Standard Specification for Underfired Broilers

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

1791 Tullie Circle, N.E. 

Atlanta, GA 30329 USA

Telephone +1.404.636.8400

Email

ASHRAE is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the 

built environment. With a focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, 

refrigeration, and sustainability, ASHRAE develops standards and conducts research for both its 

members and others professionally concerned with HVAC, refrigeration processes, and the 

design and maintenance of indoor environments. ASHRAE standards are voluntary unless 

referenced in a federal or state code. Some of ASHRAE’s standards Include:

Guideline 11 Field Testing of HVAC Controls Components

Guideline 13 Specifying Building Automation Systems

Standard 15 Safety Code for Mechanical Refrigeration

Standard 16 Method of Testing for Rating Room Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal 

Air Conditioners

Standard 29 Methods of Testing Automatic Ice Makers

Standard 32.1 Methods of Testing for Rating Vending Machines for Bottled, Canned and 

Other Sealed Beverages

Standard 37 Methods of Testing for Rating Electrically Driven Unitary Air Conditioning and 

Heat Pump Equipment

Standard 51 Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Aerodynamic Performance Rating

Standard 94.2 Method of Testing Thermal Storage Devices with Electrical Input and Thermal 

Output based on Thermal Performance

Standard 116 Methods of Testing for Rating Seasonal Efficiency of Unitary Air-Conditioners 

and Heat Pumps

Standard 118.1 Method of Testing for Rating Commercial Gas, Electric, and Oil Service Water 

Heating Equipment

Standard 128 Method of Rating Portable Air Conditioners

Standard 135 BACnet – A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and 

Control networks

Standard 135.1 Method of Test for conformance to BACnet

Standard 146 Method of Testing and Rating Pool Heaters
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Standard 164.2 Method of Test for Self-Contained Residential Humidifiers

Standard 185.1 Method of Testing UVC Lights for Use in HVAC&R Units or Air Ducts to 

Inactivate Microorganisms on Irradiated Surfaces

Standard 185.2 Method of Testing Ultraviolet Lamps for Use in HVAC&R Units or Air Ducts to 

Inactivate Airborne Microorganisms

Standard 190 Method of Testing for Rating Indoor Pool Dehumidifiers

Standard 195 Method of Test for Rating Air Terminal Unit Controls

Standard 206 Method of Testing for Rating of Multi-Purpose Heat Pumps for Residential 

Space Conditioning and Water Heating

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)

1111 19th Street NW, Suite 402

Washington DC 20036 USA

Telephone +1.202.872.5955 

Email

AHAM is the trade association of the home appliance manufacturing industry. Its members 

include the manufacturers of major, portable, and floor care home appliances and the 

companies who supply and service these manufacturers. AHAM develops voluntary technical 

standards that relate primarily to the measurement of specific product performance 

characteristics for major and portable appliances. An AHAM standard is mandatory if 

incorporated by reference in a federal code. AHAM standards include:

AHAM HLD-1 Clothes Dryers

AHAM HLW-1 Clothes Washers

ANSI/AHAM DH-1 Dehumidifiers

ANSI/AHAM DW-1 Dishwashers

ANSI/AHAM ER-1 Electric Ranges

AHAM FWD-1 Food Waste Disposers

AHAM OV-1 Oven Volume

AHAM HRF-1 Refrigerators/Freezers

ANSI/AHAM RAC-1 Room Air Conditioners

AHAM TC-1 Trash Compactors

AHAM CM-1 Coffee Makers

ANSI/AHAM HU-1 Humidifiers

ANSI/AHAM I-1 Irons

ANSI/AHAM AC-1 Room Air Cleaners – CADR

ANSI/AHAM AC-2 Room Air Cleaners – Sound

AHAM AC-3 Room Air Cleaners – Accelerated Loading

AHAM SC-1 Slow Cookers
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IEEE Standards Association

IEEE Operations Center

445 Hoes Lane

Piscataway, NJ 08854-4141 USA

Phone: +1.732.981.0060

The IEEE-SA is a leading consensus building organization that nurtures, develops and advances 

global technologies. Applicable standards include:

IEEE 1625-2008 IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Multi-Cell Mobile 

Computing Devices

IEEE 1725-2011 IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Cellular Telephones

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

1300 North 17th Street

Suite 900

Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA

Telephone +1.703.841.3200

Contact

NEMA is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers. Its 

members manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution 

equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic 

imaging systems. NEMA publishes over 600 standards. NEMA standards are voluntary unless 

incorporated by reference into a federal or state regulation or code.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

1 Batterymarch Park

Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471 USA

Telephone +1.617.770.3000

NFPA is a global non-profit organization dedicated to fire and electrical safety. NFPA delivers 

information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, 

training, education, outreach, and advocacy.

National Fire protection codes and standards include, but are not limited to:

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code®

NFPA 70A National Electrical Code® Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings

NFPA 70B Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance
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NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

NFPA 73 Standard for Electrical Inspections for Existing Dwellings

NFPA 75 Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment

NFPA 76 Standard for the Fire Protection of Telecommunications Facilities

NFPA 77 Recommended Practice on Static Electricity

NFPA 79 Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery

UL Standards

UL Standards are used to assess products; test components, materials, systems, and 

performance; and evaluate environmentally sustainable products, renewable energies, food 

and water products, recycling systems, and other innovative technologies. UL standards, which 

are primarily safety standards, are voluntary unless incorporated by reference into a federal or 

state regulation or code. 

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION BODIES

Testing 

A listing of accredited testing laboratories for electrical and electronic equipment can be found 

at the A2LA Directory of Accredited Organizations.

A listing of more testing laboratories for electrical and electronic equipment can be found at 

the ASTM International Directory of Testing Laboratories. (To locate a laboratory, you can 

search by keyword or enter a specific ASTM, CPSC standard, etc.). Testing of electrical and 

electronic equipment to the appropriate U.S. standard can be conducted by any accredited 

testing laboratory, including laboratories outside the United States.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accepted third-party testing facilities for 

children’s products can be found at the CPSC Third-Party Testing Laboratory Accreditation page.

Test facilities that are recognized by the FCC to perform radio frequency equipment 

authorization testing can be found at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 

Equipment Authorization Test Firm Search page. 

Certification

Products Subject to Consumer Product Safety Rules

Section 102 of the CPSIA (page 8) requires every manufacturer or importer of all consumer 

products that are subject to a consumer product safety rule enforced by the CPSC to issue a 

certificate stating that the product complies with the applicable standard, regulation, or ban. 
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The certificate must accompany the product and be furnished to the retailer or distributor. 

Section 102 also requires the manufacturers or importers of children’s products for age 12 

years or younger to certify that the products comply with all relevant product safety 

standards by issuing a children’s product certificate supported by tests performed by a CPSCaccepted third-party testing laboratory. 

Products Subject to Energy Conservation Standards

10 CFR 429 requires every manufacturer of certain consumer, commercial and industrial 

appliances subject to energy conservation standards to submit a certification report to the 

DOE certifying that each basic model meets the applicable energy conservation standard(s).

This must be done before distributing the product in commerce and annually thereafter.

Products Subject to FCC Rules that Emit Radio Frequency (RF) Energy

47 CFR 15, Radio Frequency Devices and 47 CFR 18, Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

require that certain products be authorized under a certification procedure prior to use or 

marketing along with proper labeling. Examples of devices subject to certification which must 

be submitted to a Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) are mobile phones, RF lights, 

microwave ovens, RC transmitters, family radio transmitters, telemetry transmitters, cordless 

phones, walkie-talkies, ultra-wideband transmitters, and software defined radio transmitters.

Computers and computer peripherals may be authorized under the certification procedures or 

the Declaration of Conformity procedures. Most transmitters operating under other FCC radio 

service rule parts are also required to be authorized under the certification procedure.

To view a listing of TCBs, click TCB Search under Reports at OET Telecommunications 

Certification Bodies (TCB) System. As of July 12, 2015, all new grants of certification are issued 

by TCBs and the FCC is no longer accepting applications for the FCC to issue the grant of 

certification.

Questions related to the FCC’s equipment authorization program should be directed to the FCC 

Office of Engineering and Technology’s (OET) Knowledge Database (KDB) inquiry system using 

the link for Submit an Inquiry.

NOTE: After July 12, 2016, all products that are to be certified by a TCB must be tested in a 

testing lab that the FCC has recognized as accredited. A search for recognized testing labs is

located on the FCC’s Equipment Authorization System Test Firm Search page. 

Products Used in the Workplace

A number of OSHA standards require product testing and certification by a Nationally 

Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). An NRTL is a third-party organization recognized by 

OSHA as having the technical capability to perform safety testing and certification of particular 
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types of products. After certifying that a product meets specific safety standards, the NRTL 

authorizes the manufacturer to place the NRTL’s registered certification mark on the product.

Organizations can be found at OSHA’s Current List of NRTLs.

RELEVANT U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20229 USA

Telephone: +1.703.526.4200 and (toll-free) +1.877.227.5511

Email via online form

For more detailed information, see the U.S. International Trade Commission's:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States – Chapter 84 and Chapter 85 on 

Electrical and Electronic Equipment

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 USA

Telephone: +1.301.504.7923

Email via online form

CPSC Office Telephone

Office of International Programs and 

Intergovernmental Affairs

+1.301.504.7071

Office of Compliance and Field Operations

Deputy Director 

+1.301.504.7915

+1.301.504.7520

Office of Import Surveillance +1.301.504.7677

Department of Energy

Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement

1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC, 20585

Telephone: +1.202.586.5281

List of Contacts
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Imports Program

2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 USA

Telephone: +1.734.214.4100

Fax: +1.734.214.4676

List of Contacts

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 USA

Telephone: +1.202.326.2222

List of Contacts

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20993

Telephone: +1.888.463.6332

Contact FDA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Directorate of Standards and Guidance

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210 USA

Office of Physical Hazards 

Telephone: +1.202.693.2092
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U.S.ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICINDUSTRY AND MARKETDATA

Industry Trade Associations

Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)

701 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004-2654 USA

Telephone +1.202.783.8700

info@advamed.org

Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)

2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201

Telephone +1.703.524.8800 USA

General questions: mcardenas@ahrinet.org

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900, Arlington, Virginia 22209 USA

Telephone +1.701.841.3200

Contact Form

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)

1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036 USA

Telephone: +1.202.872.5955

info@aham.org

Consumer Technology Association

1919 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202 USA

Telephone +1.866.858.1555 or +1.703.907.7600

Email: cea@CE.org

Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA)

1333 H Street NW, Suite 400 West, Washington, DC 20005 USA

Telephone +1.202.354.7171

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)

1320 North Courthouse Road, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22201 USA

Telephone +1.703.907.7700

Electrical and Electronic Products Market Data E-Stats 2014: Measuring the Electronic Economy

Economy-Wide Statistics Briefs, U.S. Census Bureau. Released June 6, 2016.
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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 improve this Guide and correct 

errors. The Standards Information Center provides this information “AS-IS.” NIST and the 

Standards Information Center make NO WARRANTY OF ANY TYPE, including NO WARRANTIES 

OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NIST makes no warranties or 

representations as to the correctness, accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information. 

As a condition of using the Guides, you explicitly release NIST/Standards Information 

Center from any and all liabilities for any damage of any type that may result from errors or 

omissions in the Guide or other data. Some of the documents referenced point to information 

created and maintained by other organizations. The Standards Information Center does not 

control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these materials.

October 2016

Prepared by the Standards Information Center

Standards Coordination Office (SCO)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

standardsinfo@nist.gov

http://www.standards.gov