GAO Seeking Information from the Public
About Changes in Fastener Industry Practices

As part of its efforts to inform Congress about the impact of the Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999, the General Accounting Office is seeking information from the public about any changes in metallic screws, nut, bolts, studs, and load-indicating washers bought in small lots or in assembly kits. Information about the GAO survey is contained in a notice published in the August 9, 2000 Federal Register.

In response to reports of poor quality or mislabeled fasteners that may have posed a threat to public safety, the Congress enacted the Fastener Quality Act of 1990, which required that fastener quality be assured through laboratory testing. However, concerns over the high cost of testing for small lots led the Congress to amend the law in 1999 to exempt from testing various items, including those fasteners that are ordered for use as spare, substitute, service, or replacement parts in packages containing 75 or fewer items, or parts contained in assembly kits.

Because it was concerned that the small lot exemption would create a loophole for members of the fastener industry (manufacturers, importers, or distributors) to circumvent the law’s requirements, Congress included a requirement for GAO to prepare a report describing any changes in fastener industry practice "resulting from or apparently resulting from" the small lot exemption. GAO plans to incorporate information from the public in its report, which is due by June 2001.

GAO is seeking information on changes in industry practices resulting from the small lot exemption. For example, increased marketing, distribution, and sale of safe, properly labeled fasteners manufactured after December 6, 1999, in packages of 75 or fewer or in an assembly kit to avoid the costs of complying with FQA requirements; or increased marketing, distribution, and sale of poor quality, unsafe, or mislabeled fasteners manufactured after December 6, 1999, in packages of 75 or fewer or in assembly kits to circumvent the act’s testing requirements that would expose the mislabeling.

GAO is seeking to obtain broad input from any interested party, including those in the government procurement community, the fastener industry, companies large and small that purchase fasteners to assemble various products, and private individuals. Additional information about the GAO study can be found at GAO's website (http://www.gao.gov) under the Fastener Quality Act Amendments Act of 1999. Comments can be sent via e-mail to fasteners@gao.gov, or may be sent via the Postal Service to U.S. General Accounting Office, General Government Division, Room 2908, 441 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 200548, ATTN: Ms. Theresa Roberson.

A copy of the GAO Federal Register notice is attached.