The official inspection agency of the United States

In the United States, the term "commodity inspection" is rarely used; instead, "product inspection" is common. In addition to product inspection, there is also inspection of "service items." The federal government's product inspection agencies are typically the competent authorities for inspecting imported, exported, and domestic products.

1. Inspection Agency Setup

In the United States, official inspection agencies have specialized分工 in inspecting import and export commodities, with responsibilities distributed across 14 relevant departments, commissions, and bureaus.

(1) Department of Health and Human Services

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for监督 and inspection of food, drugs (including veterinary drugs), medical devices, ceramic tableware, cosmetics, and electronic products; as well as testing, inspection, and certification concerning the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation from products during use or consumption on human health and safety. According to regulations, these products can only be sold on the market after passing FDA inspection and certification. The FDA has the authority to inspect manufacturers and to prosecute violators.

(2) Department of Agriculture

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for the quarantine of animals and plants.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for the processing, sanitary inspection, and certification of slaughtered pork, beef, lamb, rabbit, and poultry products.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS/USDA) is responsible for quality grading inspection and certification of meat, poultry, eggs, milk, cotton, tobacco, fresh vegetables and fruits, processed vegetables and fruits, rosin, and resins.

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) is responsible for quality and weight inspection and certification of wheat, barley, oats, rye, corn, sorghum, flaxseed, soybeans, mixed grains, and other similar products.

(3) Department of Commerce

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for inspection and certification of processed fish and shellfish products.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NBS) is responsible for calibration inspection and certification of weighing and measuring instruments.

(4) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Responsible for determining the presence of toxic, corrosive, flammable, irritant, or pressure-generating hazardous substances in consumer products for home, school, entertainment, and personal use (such as children's toys), as well as testing, inspection, and certification of the flame resistance of clothing fabrics and linings.

(5) Environmental Protection Agency (CRA - correction implied to be EPA)

Responsible for inspection and certification of air and water treatment equipment, drinking water, pesticides, retail automotive parts, engines, gasoline, diesel, and related items.

(6) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Responsible for the审查, testing, identification, and certification of packaging designs for radioactive materials.

(7) Department of Transportation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA/DOT) is responsible for calibration inspection of driver alcohol intake measuring instruments, and safety performance inspection and certification of motor vehicles.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for inspection and certification of civil aircraft, engines, propellers, components, and other civil aviation equipment.

The Office of Hazardous Materials Management within the Research and Special Programs Administration (OHMR/RSPA) is responsible for inspecting and certifying packaging containers, pipelines, cylinders, railway tank cars, and other products used to transport toxic, harmful, radioactive, flammable, corrosive liquid, gaseous, and solid dangerous goods.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is responsible for testing and certifying rear-end collision marking printers for trains.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is responsible for inspection and certification of lifesaving equipment, fire prevention equipment, yacht pollution prevention devices, shipboard navigation rescue equipment, and shipping containers.

(8) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Responsible for inspection and certification of radio equipment.

(9) Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD)

Responsible for inspection and certification of building materials.

(10) Department of Labor

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is responsible for inspection and certification of electronic equipment and diesel-powered machinery used in mines.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for inspection and certification of cargo handling equipment, ventilation, fire protection, labor protection materials and equipment, and welding tools used in maritime transport.

(11) Department of the Interior

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for inspection and certification of safety valve devices at mine working faces and underground working faces.

(12) Department of the Treasury

Responsible for inspection and certification of electronic funds transfer verification instruments.

(13) Department of Defense

Responsible for inspection of military products.

(14) General Services Administration (GSA)

Responsible for inspection and certification of products listed in the Federal Standard Product Catalog (approximately 80 types).

2. Strict Legislation, Rules for All Inspections

The U.S. government records the laws, regulations, and provisions for product and service inspection and certification in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which is revised and supplemented annually and republished for mandatory compliance by the relevant competent agencies. The CFR is uniformly distributed by the Government Printing Office. Each competent agency has a specific volume number for its implementing laws, regulations, and provisions, making consultation very convenient.

3. Classification Management, Combining Mandatory Inspection and Supervisory Inspection

U.S. federal regulations stipulate that the government inspects and certifies over 200 types of products. The inspection and certification programs can be summarized into three categories:

The first category involves fully mandatory inspection (i.e., statutory inspection). This includes food, drugs, medical devices, radiation from televisions and streetlights, limits on lead and cadmium in ceramic tableware and tea sets, safety and reliability of civil aircraft and aviation equipment, ship equipment, and dangerous goods packaging inspection.

The second category involves partially mandatory inspection. To avoid repeated inspection or testing with each purchase, the government allows dealers or manufacturers to sell products on the open market without a government-issued inspection certificate. However, if such products are purchased by a government department or under a procurement guarantee funded by the government, mandatory inspection is still required. Products listed in the Qualified Products Directory managed by the Department of Defense fall into this category.

The third category is essentially non-mandatory inspection. The government's competent authority establishes uniform grading standards for these products. Product testing, inspection, and design audits, approvals, and/or registration of manufacturing facilities are carried out at government laboratories or accredited laboratories by government inspectors or inspectors licensed through government training. Manufacturers or dealers are allowed to participate in some aspects of inspection and certification work but must be under the supervision of government competent authority inspectors.