U.S. Code > Title 19 Customs Duties > CHAPTER 13—TRADE AGREEMENTS ACT OF 1979 (§§ 2501—2582) > SUBCHAPTER II—TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE (STANDARDS) (§§ 2531—2578b) > Part A—Obligations of the United States (§§ 2531—2533) > § 2531. Certain standards-related activities

§ 2531. Certain standards-related activities

(a) No bar to engaging in standards activity
Nothing in this subchapter may be construed—
(1) to prohibit a Federal agency from engaging in activity related to standards-related measures, including any such measure relating to safety, the protection of human, animal, or plant life or health, the environment, or consumers; or
(2) to limit the authority of a Federal agency to determine the level it considers appropriate of safety or of protection of human, animal, or plant life or health, the environment, or consumers.
(b) Unnecessary obstacles
Nothing in this subchapter may be construed as prohibiting any private person, Federal agency, or State agency from engaging in standards-related activities that do not create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. No standards-related activity of any private person, Federal agency, or State agency shall be deemed to constitute an unnecessary obstacle to the foreign commerce of the United States if the demonstrable purpose of the standards-related activity is to achieve a legitimate domestic objective including, but not limited to, the protection of legitimate health or safety, essential security, environmental, or consumer interests and if such activity does not operate to exclude imported products which fully meet the objectives of such activity.