---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 5403"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "5403"
heading: "Sale of fasteners"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/5403"
units:
  - "Chapter 80 — Fasteners"
---

# §5403. Sale of fasteners

- (a) **General rule—** It shall be unlawful for a [manufacturer](/usc/15/5402.md?p=11) or [distributor](/usc/15/5402.md?p=5), in conjunction with the sale or offer for sale of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) from a single [lot](/usc/15/5402.md?p=10), to knowingly misrepresent or falsify—
  - (1) the [record of conformance](/usc/15/5402.md?p=13) for the [lot](/usc/15/5402.md?p=10) of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6);
  - (2) the identification, characteristics, properties, mechanical or performance marks, chemistry, or strength of the [lot](/usc/15/5402.md?p=10) of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6); or
  - (3) the [manufacturer](/usc/15/5402.md?p=11)’s insignia.
- (b) **Representations—** A direct or indirect reference to a [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) to [represent](/usc/15/5402.md?p=14) that a [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) conforms to particular requirements of the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) shall not be construed as a representation that the [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) meets all the requirements of the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2).
- (c) **Specifications—** A direct or indirect contractual reference to a [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) for the purpose of identifying particular requirements of the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) that serve as [specifications](/usc/15/5402.md?p=16) shall not be construed to require that the [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) meet all the requirements of the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2).
- (d) **Use of accredited laboratories—** In the case of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) manufactured solely to a [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) or standards, end-of-line testing required by the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) or standards, if any, for the purpose of verifying that a [lot](/usc/15/5402.md?p=10) of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) conforms with the [grade identification marking](/usc/15/5402.md?p=8) called for in the [consensus standard](/usc/15/5402.md?p=2) or standards to which the [lot](/usc/15/5402.md?p=10) of [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) has been manufactured shall be conducted by an [accredited laboratory](/usc/15/5402.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–592, § 4, as added Pub. L. 106–34, § 4(a), June 8, 1999, 113 Stat. 121.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 5403, Pub. L. 101–592, § 4, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2945, set out special rule under which Secretary could waive requirements of this chapter on determination that category of fasteners was not used in critical applications, but that Secretary could also determine in given case that fastener was used in critical applications and was governed accordingly, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–113, § 11(c), Mar. 7, 1996, 110 Stat. 780.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 106–34, § 4(b), June 8, 1999, 113 Stat. 122, provided that: “Subsection (d) of section 4 of the Fastener Quality Act [15 U.S.C. § 5403(d)], as added by subsection (a) of this section, shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 8, 1999].”