15 USC § 290a - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s290a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 290a - Definitions"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "290a"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "STANDARD REFERENCE DATA PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 90–396, § 2, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 108, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2987.)"
---


# § 290a. Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter:

**(1)** **Standard reference data** The term “standard reference data” means data that is—

**(A)** either—

**(i)** quantitative information related to a measurable physical, or chemical, or biological property of a substance or system of substances of known composition and structure;

**(ii)** measurable characteristics of a physical artifact or artifacts;

**(iii)** engineering properties or performance characteristics of a system; or

**(iv)** 1 or more digital data objects that serve—

**(I)** to calibrate or characterize the performance of a detection or measurement system; or

**1** to interpolate or extrapolate, or both, data described in subparagraph (A) through (C); [^1] and

So in original.

**(B)** that is critically evaluated as to its reliability under section 290b of this title.

**(2)** **Secretary** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 90–396, § 2, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 108, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2987.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2017— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For the purposes of this chapter—

“(a) The term ‘standard reference data’ means quantitative information, related to a measurable physical or chemical property of a substance or system of substances of known composition and structure, which is critically evaluated as to its reliability under .

“(b) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Commerce.”