Skip to main content
HR 1910 113th Congress House Law Administrative law and regulatory procedures Agricultural trade Civil actions and liability Consumer Product Safety Commission Department of Commerce Department of Homeland Security Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food supply, safety, and labeling Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Jurisdiction and venue Manufacturing Product safety and quality Trade restrictions

Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2013

Introduced: May 9, 2013 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 3, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
May 23, 2013
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2916-2917)
May 22, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture.
May 10, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
May 9, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 9, 2013
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2013 - 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 authorized to accept service of process on their behalf for the purpose of any state or federal regulatory proceeding or civil action in state or federal court.

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.

Requires any person who imports into the United States a covered product manufactured or produced outside the United States to provide to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a declaration that to the best of the person's knowledge, with respect to the importation of each covered product, the foreign manufacturer or producer of the product has registered an agent in the United States. Directs the CBP Commissioner to prescribe related regulations.

Subjects an importer who fails to provide or files a false declaration to certain penalties.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs jointly to 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.

Requires the head of each agency cited in this Act similarly to study feasible and advisable methods of requiring foreign manufacturers or producers of component parts of covered products distributed in U.S. commerce to establish registered agents in the United States for purposes of such service of process.

What's happening now June 3, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6