15 U.S.C. § 2054 : US Code - Section 2054: Product safety information and research

Search 15 U.S.C. § 2054 : US Code - Section 2054: Product safety information and research

(a) Injury Information Clearinghouse; duties
The Commission shall -
(1) maintain an Injury Information Clearinghouse to collect,
investigate, analyze, and disseminate injury data, and
information, relating to the causes and prevention of death,
injury, and illness associated with consumer products;
(2) conduct such continuing studies and investigations of
deaths, injuries, diseases, other health impairments, and
economic losses resulting from accidents involving consumer
products as it deems necessary;
(3) following publication of an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking or a notice of proposed rulemaking for a product
safety rule under any rulemaking authority administered by the
Commission, assist public and private organizations or groups of
manufacturers, administratively and technically, in the
development of safety standards addressing the risk of injury
identified in such notice; and
(4) to the extent practicable and appropriate (taking into
account the resources and priorities of the Commission), assist
public and private organizations or groups of manufacturers,
administratively and technically, in the development of product
safety standards and test methods.
(b) Research, investigation and testing of consumer products
The Commission may -
(1) conduct research, studies, and investigations on the safety
of consumer products and on improving the safety of such
products;
(2) test consumer products and develop product safety test
methods and testing devices; and
(3) offer training in product safety investigation and test
methods.
(c) Grants and contracts for conduct of functions
In carrying out its functions under this section, the Commission
may make grants or enter into contracts for the conduct of such
functions with any person (including a governmental entity).
(d) Availability to public of information
Whenever the Federal contribution for any information, research,
or development activity authorized by this chapter is more than
minimal, the Commission shall include in any contract, grant, or
other arrangement for such activity, provisions effective to insure
that the rights to all information, uses, processes, patents, and
other developments resulting from that activity will be made
available to the public without charge on a nonexclusive basis.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to deprive any person
of any right which he may have had, prior to entering into any
arrangement referred to in this subsection, to any patent, patent
application, or invention.