Implementation Delay, Report to Congress Announced for FQA

Implementation Delay, Report to Congress Announced for FQA FILE: NIST UPDATE
DATE: Oct. 13, 1998

This is the e-mail edition of NIST UPDATE. NIST UPDATE is a biweekly synopsis for journalists of current activities, research results and program announcements from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
FASTENERS
Implementation Delay, Report to Congress Announced for FQA
NIST announced in the Oct. 7, 1998, Federal Register that the Secretary of Commerce will prepare a report for Congress on the Fastener Quality Act of 1990. The report, which must be submitted by Feb. 1, 1999, will address: (1) changes in fastener manufacturing processes that have occurred since the enactment of the FQA; (2) a comparison of the FQA to other regulatory programs that regulate the various categories of fasteners, and an analysis of any duplication that exists among programs; and (3) any changes in the FQA that may be warranted.
The agency previously announced in the Sept. 28, 1998, Federal Register that the implementation date of regulations requiring fastener manufacturers to submit their fasteners for testing by laboratories accredited by various accreditation organizations will be extended until June 1, 1999. This follows passage of Public Law 105-234 (signed by President Clinton on Aug. 14, 1998) amending the Fastener Quality Act of 1990.
NIST continues to offer strictly voluntary accreditation to qualified fastener testing laboratories as well as allow voluntary compliance with other provisions of the regulations.
NIST will post updates on FQA developments periodically on the World Wide Web at http://www.nist.gov/fqa. Interested persons also may contact Subhas Malghan, (301) 975-5120, subhas.malghan@nist.gov.
Media Contact: Michael E. Newman (301) 975-3025, michael.newman@nist.gov