US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

15 U.S.C. § 1277

Labeling of art materials

(a)

Regulation status of standard D–4236 of American Society for Testing and Materials

section 1262(b) of this titleOn and after the last day of the 2-year period beginning on , the requirements for the labeling of art materials set forth in the version of the standard of the American Society for Testing and Materials designated D–4236 that is in effect on , and as modified by subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a regulation issued by the Commission under .

(b)

Requirements applicable to standard D–4236

The following shall apply with respect to the standard of the American Society for Testing and Materials referred to in subsection (a):
(1)
7 U.S.C. 13621 U.S.C. 301 The term “art material or art material product” shall mean any substance marketed or represented by the producer or repackager as suitable for use in any phase of the creation of any work of visual or graphic art of any medium. The term does not include economic poisons subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act [ et seq.] or drugs, devices, or cosmetics subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act [ et seq.].
(2)
The standard referred to in subsection (a) as modified by this subsection applies to art materials intended for users of any age.
(3)
Each producer or repackager of art materials shall describe in writing the criteria used to determine whether an art material has the potential for producing chronic adverse health effects. Each producer or repackager shall be responsible for submitting to the Commission these criteria and a list of art materials that require hazard warning labels under this section.
(4)
Upon the request of the Commission, a producer or repackager of art materials shall submit to the Commission product formulations and the criteria used to determine whether the art material or its ingredients have the potential for producing chronic adverse health effects.
(5)
All art materials that require chronic hazard labeling pursuant to this section must include on the label the name and address of the producer or repackager of the art materials and an appropriate telephone number and a statement signifying that such art materials are inappropriate for use by children.
(6)
If an art material producer or repackager becomes newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of an art material or ways to protect against the hazard, this new information must be incorporated into the labels of such art materials that are manufactured after 12 months from the date of discovery. If a producer or repackager reformulates an art material, the new formulation must be evaluated and labeled in accordance with the standard referred to in subsection (a) as modified by this subsection.
(7)
If the Commission determines that an art material in a container equal to or smaller than one fluid ounce (30 ml) (if the product is sold by volume) or one ounce net weight (28 g) (if the product is sold by weight) has the potential for producing chronic adverse health effects with customary or reasonably foreseeable use despite its small size, the Commission may require the art material to carry a label which conveys all the information required under the standard referred to in subsection (a) as modified by this subsection for art materials in a container greater than one fluid ounce or one ounce net weight. If the information cannot fit on the package label, the Commission shall require the art material to have a package insert which conveys all this information. If the art material has a package insert, the label on the product shall include a signal word in conformance with paragraph 5 of the standard referred to in subsection (a), a list of potentially harmful or sensitizing components, and the statement “see package insert before use”. For purposes of this subsection, the term “package insert” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon a leaflet or suitable material accompanying the art material. This requirement is in addition to, and is not meant to supersede, the requirement of paragraph 5.8 of the standard designated D–4236.
(8)
In determining whether an art material has the potential for producing chronic adverse health effects, including carcinogenicity and potential carcinogenicity, a toxicologist shall take into account opinions of various regulatory agencies and scientific bodies.
(c)

Revisions incorporated into standard D–4236; notice and hearing; amendment; opportunity for comment; transcript of proceedings

section 553 of title 5If the Commission determines that a revision proposed by the American Society for Testing and Materials is in the public interest, it shall incorporate the revision into the standard referred to in subsection (a) as modified by subsection (b) after providing notice and an opportunity for comment. If at any time the Commission finds that the standard referred to in subsection (a) as modified by subsection (b) is inadequate for the protection of the public interest, it shall promulgate an amendment to the standard which will adequately protect the public interest. Such final standard shall be promulgated pursuant to , except that the Commission shall give interested persons an opportunity for the oral presentation of data, views, or arguments, in addition to an opportunity to make written submissions. A transcript shall be kept of any oral presentation.

(d)

Guidelines for determining chronically hazardous art materials; issuance; public hearing; scope of criteria; review; amendment

(1)
Within 1 year of , the Commission shall issue guidelines which specify criteria for determining when any customary or reasonably foreseeable use of an art material can result in a chronic hazard. In developing such guidelines the Commission shall conduct a public hearing and provide reasonable opportunity for the submission of comments.
(2)
The guidelines established under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
criteria for determining when art materials may produce chronic adverse health effects in children and criteria for determining when art materials may produce such health effects in adults,
(B)
criteria for determining which substances contained in art materials have the potential for producing chronic adverse health effects and what those effects are,
(C)
criteria for determining the bioavailability of chronically hazardous substances contained in art materials when the products are used in a customary or reasonably foreseeable manner, and
(D)
criteria for determining acceptable daily intake levels for chronically hazardous substances contained in art materials.
Where appropriate, criteria used for assessing risks to children may be the same as those used for adults.
(3)
The Commission shall periodically review the guidelines established under paragraph (1) to determine whether the guidelines reflect relevant changes in scientific knowledge and in the formulations of art materials, and shall amend the guidelines to reflect such changes.
(e)

Informational and educational materials; development and distribution

The Commission shall develop informational and educational materials about art materials and shall distribute the informational and educational materials to interested persons.

(f)

Injunctions

section 1267 of this titleThe Commission may bring an action under to enjoin the purchase of any art material required to be labeled under this chapter which is for use by children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or grades 1 through 6.

Pub. L. 86–613, § 23Pub. L. 100–695102 Stat. 4568(, as added , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act June 25, 1947, ch. 125Pub. L. 92–51686 Stat. 973section 136 of Title 7The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is , as amended generally by , , , which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 136 et seq.) of chapter 6 of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

act June 25, 1938, ch. 67552 Stat. 1040section 301 of Title 21The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is , , which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 100–695section 23 of Pub. L. 86–613section 22 of Pub. L. 86–613 enacted , classified to this section, without a prior enactment of a .