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Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009

Introduced: August 6, 2009 Introduced by: Whitehouse, Sheldon Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 6, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug 6, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9007-9008)
Aug 6, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009 - Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to jurisdiction of courts in the United States over foreign manufacturers that import products into the United States.

Directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (with respect to drugs, devices, cosmetics, and biological products), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (with respect to consumer products), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (with respect to chemical substances, new chemical substances, and pesticides) to require foreign manufacturers and producers of such products (or components used to manufacture them), in excess of a minimum value or quantity, to establish a registered agent in the United States who is authorized to accept service of process on their behalf for the purpose of all civil and regulatory actions in state and federal courts. Requires the registered agent to be located in a state with a substantial connection to the importation, distribution, or sale of the products. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish, maintain, and make available to the public a registry of such agents.

Deems a foreign manufacturer or producer of products covered under this Act that registers an agent to consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state or federal courts of the state in which the agent is located for the purpose of any civil or regulatory proceeding.

Prohibits importation into the United States of a covered product (or component part that will be used in the United States to manufacture a covered product) if the product (or component part) or any part of the product (or component part) was manufactured or produced outside the United States by a manufacturer or producer who does not have a registered agent whose authority is in effect on the date of the importation.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to jointly study the feasibility and advisability of requiring foreign producers of food distributed in commerce to establish a registered agent in the United States who is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of such producers for the purpose of all civil and regulatory actions in state and federal courts.



What's happening now August 6, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1606: Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1606/
MLA
"S. 1606: Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1606/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1606, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1606/.
Markdown link
[S. 1606: Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1606/)
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