---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 5409"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "5409"
heading: "Recordkeeping requirements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/5409"
units:
  - "Chapter 80 — Fasteners"
---

# §5409. Recordkeeping requirements


[Manufacturers](/usc/15/5402.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/15/5402.md?p=9) shall retain the [record of conformance](/usc/15/5402.md?p=13) for [fasteners](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) for 5 years, on paper or in photographic or electronic format in a manner that allows for verification of authenticity. Upon request of a [distributor](/usc/15/5402.md?p=5) who has purchased a [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6), or a [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) who has purchased a [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) for use in the production of a commercial product, the [manufacturer](/usc/15/5402.md?p=11) or [importer](/usc/15/5402.md?p=9) of the [fastener](/usc/15/5402.md?p=6) shall make available information in the [record of conformance](/usc/15/5402.md?p=13) to the requester.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–592, § 7, formerly § 10, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2951; Pub. L. 104–113, § 11(h), Mar. 7, 1996, 110 Stat. 782; renumbered § 7 and amended Pub. L. 106–34, § 7, June 8, 1999, 113 Stat. 123.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7 of Pub. L. 101–592 was classified to section 5406 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–34.

### Amendments

1999—Pub. L. 106–34 substituted present provisions for former provisions which consisted of subsecs. (a) and (b) relating to retention and availability of records concerning inspections, testing, and certifications of fasteners under section 5404 of this title by laboratories, manufacturers, importers, private label distributors and persons who make significant alterations.

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–113, § 11(h)(1), substituted “5 years” for “10 years”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–113, § 11(h), substituted “5 years” for “10 years” and “the subsequent purchaser” for “any subsequent purchaser”.