---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6302"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6302"
heading: "Prohibited acts"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6302"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part A — Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles"
---

# §6302. Prohibited acts

- (a) **In general—** It shall be unlawful—
  - (1) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12) or [private labeler](/usc/42/6291.md?p=15-A) [to distribute in commerce](/usc/42/6291.md?p=16) any new [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) to which a rule under [section 6294 of this title](/usc/42/6294.md) applies, unless such [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) is labeled in accordance with such rule;
  - (2) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12), [distributor](/usc/42/6291.md?p=14), [retailer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=13), or [private labeler](/usc/42/6291.md?p=15-A) to remove from any new [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) or render illegible any [label](/usc/42/6311.md?p=6) required to be provided with such product under a rule under [section 6294 of this title](/usc/42/6294.md);
  - (3) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12) to fail to permit access to, or copying of, records required to be supplied under this part, or fail to make reports or provide other information required to be supplied under this part;
  - (4) for any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) to fail to comply with an applicable requirement of [section 6296(a)](/usc/42/6296.md?p=a), (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(5) of this title;
  - (5) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12) or [private labeler](/usc/42/6291.md?p=15-A) [to distribute in commerce](/usc/42/6291.md?p=16) any new [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) which is not in conformity with an applicable [energy conservation standard](/usc/42/6291.md?p=6) established in or prescribed under this part, except to the extent that the new [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) is covered by a regional standard that is more stringent than the [base](/usc/42/6291.md?p=30-H) national standard;
  - (6) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12) or [private labeler](/usc/42/6291.md?p=15-A) to knowingly sell a product to a [distributor](/usc/42/6291.md?p=14), contractor, or dealer with knowledge that the entity routinely violates any regional standard applicable to the product;
  - (7) for any [manufacturer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=12), [distributor](/usc/42/6291.md?p=14), [retailer](/usc/42/6291.md?p=13), or [private labeler](/usc/42/6291.md?p=15-A) [to distribute in commerce](/usc/42/6291.md?p=16) an adapter that—
    - (A) is designed to allow an [incandescent lamp](/usc/42/6291.md?p=30-C) that does not have a [medium screw base](/usc/42/6291.md?p=51) to be installed into a fixture or lampholder with a [medium screw base](/usc/42/6291.md?p=51) socket; and
    - (B) is capable of being operated at a voltage range at least partially within 110 and 130 volts; or
  - (8) for any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2)—
    - (A) to activate an activation lock for a grid-enabled [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) with knowledge that such [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) is not used as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program;
    - (B) to distribute an activation key for a grid-enabled [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) with knowledge that such activation key will be used to activate a grid-enabled [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) that is not used as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program;
    - (C) to otherwise enable a grid-enabled [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) to operate at its designed specification and capabilities with knowledge that such [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) is not used as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program; or
    - (D) to knowingly remove or render illegible the [label](/usc/42/6311.md?p=6) of a grid-enabled [water heater](/usc/42/6291.md?p=27) described in [section 6295(e)(6)(A)(ii)(V) of this title](/usc/42/6295.md?p=e-6-A-ii-V).
- (b) **“New covered product” defined—** For purposes of this section, the term “new [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2)” means a [covered product](/usc/42/6291.md?p=2) the title of which has not passed to a purchaser who buys such product for purposes other than (1) reselling such product, or (2) leasing such product for a period in excess of one year.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 332, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(a)(3), (b)(5), Mar. 17, 1987, 101 Stat. 125; Pub. L. 110–140, title III, §§ 306(b), 321(e), Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1559, 1586; Pub. L. 114–11, title II, § 201(2), Apr. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 188.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 114–11 redesignated par. (6) relating to prohibition of distribution in commerce of certain adapters as (7) and added par. (8).

2007—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–140, § 321(e)(1), which directed the striking out of “or” after semicolon at end, could not be executed after amendment by Pub. L. 110–140, § 306(b)(1). See below.

Pub. L. 110–140, § 306(b)(1), struck out “or” after semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 110–140, § 321(e)(2), which directed substitution of “; or” for period at end, could not be executed after amendment by Pub. L. 110–140, § 306(b)(2). See below.

Pub. L. 110–140, § 306(b)(2), substituted “part, except to the extent that the new covered product is covered by a regional standard that is more stringent than the base national standard; or” for “part.”

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 110–140, § 321(e)(3), added par. (6) relating to prohibition of distribution in commerce of certain adapters.

Pub. L. 110–140, § 306(b)(3), added par. (6) relating to sale of a product to a distributor, contractor, or dealer with knowledge that the entity routinely violates a regional standard.

1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(5)(A), inserted heading.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(a)(3), substituted “energy conservation standard established in or prescribed under” for “energy efficiency standard prescribed under”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(5)(B), inserted heading.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–140 effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.