As of mid December 2000 the PTO has finally revised 'Application for Recordal' to delete the references to "private label distributors".

DATES: This final FQA99 rule is effective July 28, 2000.
Click here for the full text (html version) of the final rules
on the FQA99 procedures from NIST that were published in the Federal Register on Jun 28, 2000.

SUMMARY: The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States Department of Commerce, and the Under Secretary of the Bureau of Export Administration, United States Department of Commerce, and the Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Department of Commerce (collectively referred to as the Department) are today issuing a final rule amending regulations found at 15 CFR part 280 implementing the Fastener Quality Act (FQA). A notice of proposed rulemaking on this topic was published in the Federal Register on December 15, 1999. This final rule responds to comments received on the December 15, 1999 notice of proposed rulemaking and incorporates into the regulations amendments to the Fastener Quality Act contained in the Fastener Quality Act Amendments of 1999. The changes include the elimination of testing and paperwork requirements and of NIST's role in evaluating and approving bodies that accredit laboratories and registrars. The final rule amends the regulations to set forth the procedures under which NIST will accept petitions for approval of certain documents and self-declarations for accreditation bodies. The final rule also amends the enforcement provisions of the regulations to set forth violations as they are contained in the amended FQA. The final rule amends the recordal of insignia provisions of the regulations to remove all references to private label distributors and to provide that fasteners whose insignia must be recorded are those fasteners that are required by the applicable consensus standards to bear ``an insignia'' rather than a ``raised or depressed insignia,'' and that these fasteners are not subject to the recordal requirements if the specifications provide otherwise. DATES: This rule is effective July 28, 2000.

rev AUG 26, 2000, OCT 28, 2001, rev MAY 14, 2006:
MINA has revised the page Link to: NIST ACCREDITED LABORATORIES LISTING:   This link is now obsolete. (This link now takes you to the main NIST FQA page) This was the latest NIST published list of FQA accredited labs.  The list had not been updated since October 1999. As of 08/24/00 and Pursuant to the Fastener Quality Act Amendments of 1999, Pub. L. 106-34, NIST is no longer maintaining the Accredited Laboratory List.

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rev JUL 04, 2000: NIST issued the following press release on JUL 03, 2000 about the final FQA rule.

"Standards
FQA Final Rule Published; Hotline and Declaration Forms Available

When the Fastener Quality Act of 1990 was amended in 1999, the revised law established protections against the sale of mismarked, misrepresented and counterfeit fasteners while eliminating unnecessary requirements. Fasteners include screws, nuts, bolts and other devices used in critical products and systems such as automobiles, aircraft and tanks.

Now, NIST's Technology Services has published the final rule setting forth the official procedures for implementation of the FQA. These procedures are available as an Adobe Acrobat file on the FQA World Wide Web site, www.nist.gov/fqa. Also available at the same address are online forms for organizations to declare themselves as an accreditor of fastener testing laboratories or an accreditor of quality system registrars. The publication of the final rule also announces the establishment of a hotline for reporting alleged violations of the law, (800) 424-2980."

NIST Media Contact: Michael E. Newman, (301) 975-3025

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rev JUN 27, 2000, rev JUL 04, 2000, rev JUL 16, 2000, rev JUL 28, 2000, rev MAY 14, 2006, rev MAY 12, 2007: The official FQA99 hotline announcement follows:
"FQA Violation Hotline 1-800-424-2980
This hotline is only for reporting alleged violations, NOT for obtaining general FQA information.
Please call 301-975-4011 for general FQA information."

On June 27, 2000, almost 7 months after FQA99 became law NIST has finally announced the mandated FQA99 hotline number
Note: BXA (The Bureau of Export Administration) is apparently using an existing BXA hotline phone number for the long awaited FQA hotline. It is staffed during normal working hours, but there is no mention of the FQA in their after hours recorded messaqe. It only mentions BXA export enforcement, intelligence and field support.

The authority for BXA to participate in the FQA99 is given in the April 3, 2000 Department of Commerce Organization Order 10-16, Under Secretary for Export Administration -- DOO 10-16. The BXA is limited to implementing and enforcing Section 6 of the FQA99.

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rev JUN 27, 2000, rev MAY 14, 2006:: NIST announces: PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FQA
Follow this link to a page listing the table of contents from the NIST (20 pages in PDF format) report on the public comments to the FQA99 NIST proposed procedures. Click here for the full JUNE 27, 2000 NIST report. (This link now takes you to the main NIST FQA page)
MINA will issue comments on this report in about a week.

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rev JUN 27, 2000, rev JUN 28, 2000, rev JUL 04, 2000, rev MAY 14, 2006, rev MAY 12, 2007: Follow this link to a page listing the NIST forms for:

• Use this link for Self-Declaration Forms for Accreditation Bodies
  and for Quality System Registrar Accreditation Program
  
  
• Approval Request form for publishers of document(s) setting forth guidance or requirements as an alternative to ISO/IEC Guide 25, ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC Guide 58, ISO/IEC Guide 61 or ISO/IEC Guide 62
  and also this form is available on the MINA website.
  
  
• National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

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rev JUN 27, 2000, rev MAY 12, 2007: Follow this link to a page listing the Self-Declared Accreditation Bodies:
*NIST will post the accreditation bodies which have self-declared on this page as they are received.

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rev JAN 04, 2000: Attention: MINA members -- we now have available, a suitable for framing, multicolor certificate, stating that your organization is compliant with FQA99. There is no charge for the (216 mm x 280 mm / 8.5" x 11") certificate. You can view a PDF copy of the certificate here. If your company would like a certificate, then email or fax us a copy of the information for the organization name you would like imprinted, along with your mailing address.

If you are not yet a MINA member its easy to join. Membership is free. Click here if you would like a faxable membership application or an e-mailable membership application.
Anyone may become a member. However, our group is primarily for people or organizations that are concerned with, or affected by the USA Fastener Quality Act law.

Click here if you need PDF software information.

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rev DEC 07, 1999: A MINA suggested disclosure form for FQA99 covered fastener alterations and electroplating.

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rev DEC 07, 1999:
1999: A MINA suggested form for proof that all appropriate company personnel have been familiarized with FQA99.

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rev DEC 07, 1999, rev DEC 15, 1999: MINA suggested label suggestions for showing whether parts in a particular shipment are FQA99 exempt or are FQA99 covered.
Also the following statement may be useful on packing lists and invoices: "All goods on this shipment are exempt from P.L. 106-34 (FQA) except as noted."

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rev NOV 21,1999, rev NOV 25 1999: A MINA suggested form for FQA99 implementation communications between importers, distributors and manufacturers.

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rev NOV 25, 1999:
A MINA suggested form  for use with the Section 3(6)(B)exemption [75 piece rule]. If you are going to use the 75 piece exemption rule then, it is probably a good idea to have a copy of this completed form in your customer records to show that you have complied with that provision of FQA99.

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rev NOV 25, 1999:
MINA is publishing more detailed interpretations of FQA99. You can see the first of these interpretations -- 'FQA99 (P.L. 106-34) Fastener coverage exemptions' here.

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rev OCT 28, 1999:
MINA now expects that the Patent and Trademark Office, (PTO) will issue final regulations on FQA99 (P.L. 106-34) within the next several weeks.

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rev SEP 14, 1999:
Further clarification on several points as to what is considered a through hardened fastener under FQA99.
Externally threaded (bolts, screws) steel fasteners from class 8.8 and up are considered through hardened. Internally threaded (nuts) steel fasteners from class 8 and class 9 are NOT considered through hardened. Internally threaded (nuts) steel fasteners from class 10 and up are considered through hardened. Stainless steels in the the 'A' austenitic (A1, A2, A4) and 'C' martensitic (C1, C3, C4) series are NOT considered through hardened. Stainless steels in the the 'F' ferritic (F1) series are considered through hardened.

Another curious side effect of the FQA99 fastener definition is that while metric sized socket head cap screws are covered because their consensus standards require class marking, USA sized socket head cap screws are exempt because the USA consensus standards do not require grade marking.

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rev JUN 09, 1999, rev JUN 10, 1999, rev JUN 11, 1999, rev JUN 29, 1999, rev SEP 14, 1999, rev NOV 21, 1999, rev NOV 25, 1999:
BULLETIN:
H.R. 1183 ENR became law on June 8, 1999. It will be officially known as
P.L. 106-34, 'Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999'.
Its mandatory requirements will take effect on Dec 06, 1999.

Note: MINA will refer to the 'Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999'
as 'FQA99 ™'.

NIST has issued a press release on FQA99 titled
"SIMPLER, MORE FOCUSED FASTENER QUALITY ACT SIGNED"
and a summary page titled
"THE MAJOR AMENDMENTS TO THE FASTENER QUALITY ACT OF 1990"

rev 6/29/99:
NIST has taken the MINA suggestion on correcting the the above summary page to remove the statement about 'tensile strength' and has quietly replaced the original page with a revised version. "THE MAJOR AMENDMENTS TO THE FASTENER QUALITY ACT OF 1990 -- 6/29/99"

P.L. 106-34, 'Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999' in Adobe PDF format.

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rev JUN. 23, 1999:
See the latest MINA press release on FQA99.
The Fastener Quality Act: Finally a Workable Law -- 6/23/99

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rev MAY 14, 2006:
MINA inactive or older articles from July 1999 up to May 2006 have been moved to a HISTORICAL PAGE
rev JUL 16, 2000:
MINA articles from early 1999 up to early July 1999 have been moved to a HISTORICAL PAGE
They have been removed from this main welcome page to permit faster page loading and remove articles that did not apply to the final version of the law.
MINA articles from 1998 up to early 1999 have been moved to a HISTORICAL PAGE
They have been removed from this main welcome page to permit faster page loading.

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Remember MINA always needs more members in order to help oversee and control any unnecessary NIST regulation of FQA99. The more voices that we represent, the louder we are heard! If you are not yet a MINA member its easy to join. Membership is free.
Click here if you would like a faxable membership application or an e-mailable membership application.

The latest official NIST information on the FQA is published on the
OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT FQA WEB SITE.
(caution: there is sometimes erroneous and outdated FQA information posted on the NIST & USPTO websites - see below)

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rev AUG 11, 2002, rev MAY 14, 2006, rev MAY 12, 2007:

(As of MAY 12, 2007 the USPTO website is still directing visitors to the obsolete BXA website.) The correct link is here.

On April 18, 2002 The Commerce Department Renamed the BXA
(Bureau of Export Administration) to BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security).
"This rule shall constitute notice that all references to the Bureau of Export Administration or BXA in any documents, statements, or other communications, in any form or media, and whether made before, on, or after the effective date of this rule, shall be deemed to be references to the Bureau of Industry and Security. Any actions undertaken in the name of or on behalf of the Bureau of Export Administration, whether taken before, on, or after the effective date of this rule, shall be deemed to have been taken in the name of or on behalf of the Bureau of Industry and Security."
Click here for the official BIS FQA99 page or click here for a PDF version of the Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2002 / Rules and Regulations.
Since this is only a departmental name change, there will be no additional affect on FQA99.

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If you do not have the Proper Acrobat Reader software, then follow the instructions below:

Download the free acrobat reader software from the: [Acrobat download page]

Then use your back button to return to this page.

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CONTACTS AT: METRIC IMPORTERS OF NORTH AMERICA BONNIE CARTER -- Phone:  781-245-3217     800-638-7421 -- fax:  781-246-3335     888-963-8742
c/o Metric Screw & Tool Company --
9 Lake Street -- Wakefield, MA 01880-3196 USA
[ e-mail to BONNIE CARTER ]

LEE SACKS -- Phone:  410-358-3130     800-638-1830 -- fax:  410-358-3142     800-872-9329
c/o Maryland Metrics --
POB 261 -- Owings Mills, MD 21117-0261 USA
[ e-mail to LEE SACKS ]

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Please display this logo on your website: Click on the 'we support mina' logo or click on the link to get to the MINA logo download page.

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Links to other fastener organizations with concerns about the FQA:
National Fastener Distributors Association --- New England Fastener Distributors Association
Industrial Fasteners Institute --- MWFA: Mid-West Fastener Association (Old name: Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association)

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Press notice: You are welcome to freely use any MINA materials.
Just credit MINA as the source.
Be advised that any communications from MINA should not be taken as legal advice.

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copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 METRIC IMPORTERS OF NORTH AMERICA
all rights reserved -- ver date 5/13/07 index.html
Thank you for visiting the MINA site.

Rev DEC 14, 1999: Now that the FQA has been implemented MINA has changed our prior background logo and replaced it with a more appropriate background logo.

Note: FQA 99 = The Fastener Quality Act (FQA), Public Law 101-592, was signed by President George H. W. Bush on November 16, 1990. Since its enactment the FQA has been amended three times (Pub L. 104-113, Pub L. 105-234, and Pub L. 106-34) to further clarify and define the requirements of the original Act.