15 U.S.C. § 6004 — Standards

(a) In general. Bicycle helmets manufactured nine months or more after June 16, 1994, must meet: (1) an interim standard listed in subsection (b), until a final standard is established under subsection (c); and (2) the final standard after it is established. (b) Interim standards. The interim standards are: (1) the American National Standards Institute standard designated "Z90.4–1984"; (2) the Snell Memorial Foundation standard designated "B–90"; (3) the American Society for Testing and Materials standard designated "F 1447"; and (4) any other standard the Commission decides is appropriate. This section does not define these quoted standard designations. (c) Final standard. Within 60 days after June 16, 1994, the Commission must begin a proceeding under section 553 of title 5 to: (1) review the interim-standard requirements and establish a final standard based on them; (2) include protection against helmets coming off bicycle riders' heads; (3) include provisions addressing the risk of injury to children; and (4) include other appropriate provisions. Sections 7, 9, and 30(d) of the Consumer Product Safety Act do not apply to this proceeding, and section 11 of that Act does not apply to a standard issued through the proceeding. The final standard takes effect one year after it is issued. (d) Failure to meet standards. (1) Failure to meet interim standard. Until the final standard takes effect, a helmet that fails to meet an interim standard as subsection (a)(1) requires is treated as violating a consumer product safety standard issued under the Consumer Product Safety Act. (2) Status of final standard. The final standard developed under subsection (c) is treated as a consumer product safety standard issued under that Act.