42 U.S.C. § 7671j — Labeling
submitted 71 years ago by Pub. L. 101-549 to r/title-42-THE-PUBLIC-HEALTH-AND-WELFARE · 795 words · no verdicts yet
This section makes companies put warning labels on containers and products with ozone-damaging chemicals. The EPA writes the labeling rules and can extend them to more products over time. People can also petition the EPA to require labels on a specific product.
(a) Regulations: The EPA had to write rules for these labels within 18 months after November 15, 1990, after letting the public comment.
(b) Containers and products with class I substances: Starting 30 months after November 15, 1990, no container holding a class I or class II substance*, and no product containing a class I substance*, could be shipped in interstate commerce unless it had a clear, easy-to-read warning label. The label had to say: "Warning: Contains [name of substance], a substance which harms public health and environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere."
(c) Products containing class II substances: (1) Between 30 months after November 15, 1990 and January 1, 2015, a product containing a class II substance needed that same label only if the EPA found, after public comment, that safer substitute products or manufacturing processes existed that didn't need the class II substance, lowered overall risk to health and the environment, and were available now or soon. (2) Starting January 1, 2015, every product containing a class II substance needs the label, with no exceptions.
(d) Products manufactured with class I and class II substances: (1) For a class II substance, between 30 months after November 15, 1990 and January 1, 2015, if the EPA made that same substitute-availability finding for a manufacturing process using the class II substance, products made that way needed a label reading: "Warning: Manufactured with [name of substance], a substance which harms public health and environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere." (2) For a class I substance, starting 30 months after November 15, 1990, this same labeling rule applies to all products made with a process using that substance — unless the EPA determines there's no available, safer substitute process.
(e) Petitions: (1) Starting 18 months after November 15, 1990, anyone can petition the EPA to require this labeling on a product not already covered. Within 180 days, the EPA must either propose covering the product or publish its reasons for denying the petition. If it proposes covering the product, the EPA must issue a final decision within 1 year of getting the petition. (2) The petition must include enough data to support it. (3) If the EPA decides the data isn't good enough, it can use any of its other legal powers to gather more information. (4) When the EPA decides (on a petition or on its own) that a product must carry the label, it sets an effective date — one year after the decision, or 30 months after November 15, 1990, whichever is later. (5) Starting January 1, 2015, this labeling requirement applies to all products made using a process that involves a class I or class II substance.
(f) Relationship to other law: (1) Following (or not following) this section's labeling rules can't be used as a defense, or to reduce damages, in any other civil or criminal lawsuit — except a suit specifically about failing to follow this section's own labeling requirements. (2) No other EPA approval of the label is needed under any other law the EPA administers.
The Administrator* shall promulgate regulations to implement the labeling requirements of this section within 18 months after November 15, 1990, after notice and opportunity for public comment.
Effective 30 months after November 15, 1990, no container in which a class I or class II substance* is stored or transported, and no product containing a class I substance*, shall be introduced into interstate commerce unless it bears a clearly legible and conspicuous label stating:
“Warning: Contains [insert name of substance], a substance which harms public health and environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere”.
After 30 months after November 15, 1990, and before January 1, 2015, no product containing a class II substance shall be introduced into interstate commerce unless it bears the label referred to in subsection (b) if the Administrator determines, after notice and opportunity for public comment, that there are substitute products or manufacturing processes (A) that do not rely on the use of such class II substance, (B) that reduce the overall risk to human health and the environment, and (C) that are currently or potentially available.
Effective January 1, 2015, the requirements of subsection (b) shall apply to all products containing a class II substance.
In the case of a class II substance, after 30 months after November 15, 1990, and before January 1, 2015, if the Administrator, after notice and opportunity for public comment, makes the determination referred to in subsection (c) with respect to a product manufactured with a process that uses such class II substance, no such product shall be introduced into interstate commerce unless it bears a clearly legible and conspicuous label stating:
“Warning: Manufactured with [insert name of substance], a substance which harms public health and environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere” 1
In the case of a class I substance, effective 30 months after November 15, 1990, and before January 1, 2015, the labeling requirements of this subsection shall apply to all products manufactured with a process that uses such class I substance unless the Administrator determines that there are no substitute products or manufacturing processes that (A) do not rely on the use of such class I substance, (B) reduce the overall risk to human health and the environment, and (C) are currently or potentially available.
Any person* may, at any time after 18 months after November 15, 1990, petition the Administrator to apply the requirements of this section to a product containing a class II substance or a product manufactured with a class I or II substance which is not otherwise subject to such requirements. Within 180 days after receiving such petition, the Administrator shall, pursuant to the criteria set forth in subsection (c), either propose to apply the requirements of this section to such product or publish an explanation of the petition denial. If the Administrator proposes to apply such requirements to such product, the Administrator shall, by rule, render a final determination pursuant to such criteria within 1 year after receiving such petition.
Any petition under this paragaph 2 shall include a showing by the petitioner that there are data on the product adequate to support the petition.
If the Administrator determines that information on the product is not sufficient to make the required determination the Administrator shall use any authority available to the Administrator under any law administered by the Administrator to acquire such information.
In the case of a product determined by the Administrator, upon petition or on the Administrator’s own motion, to be subject to the requirements of this section, the Administrator shall establish an effective date for such requirements. The effective date shall be 1 year after such determination or 30 months after November 15, 1990, whichever is later.
Effective January 1, 2015, the labeling requirements of this subsection 3 shall apply to all products manufactured with a process that uses a class I or class II substance.
The labeling requirements of this section shall not constitute, in whole or part, a defense to liability or a cause for reduction in damages in any suit, whether civil or criminal, brought under any law, whether Federal or State*, other than a suit for failure to comply with the labeling requirements of this section.
No other approval of such label by the Administrator under any other law administered by the Administrator shall be required with respect to the labeling requirements of this section.
Source credit: (July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title VI, § 611, as added Pub. L. 101–549, title VI, § 602(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2665.)
- 1955Enacted · Pub. L. 101-549 · 104 Stat. 2665
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 101-549 on 1955-07-14.
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