# § 1201. Study and investigation; research, development and training
**(a)** The Consumer Product Safety Commission shall conduct a continuing study and investigation of the deaths, injuries, and economic losses resulting from accidental burning of products, fabrics, or related materials.
**(b)** In cooperation with appropriate public and private agencies, the Commission is authorized to—
**(1)** conduct research into the flammability of products, fabrics, and materials;
**(2)** conduct feasibility studies on reduction of flammability of products, fabrics, and materials;
**(3)** develop flammability test methods and testing devices; and
**(4)** offer appropriate training in the use of flammability test methods and testing devices.
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**Source Credit**: (June 30, 1953, ch. 164, § 14, as added Pub. L. 90–189, § 10, Dec. 14, 1967, 81 Stat. 573; amended Pub. L. 92–573, § 30(b), Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1231; Pub. L. 96–470, title I, § 114, Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2240; Pub. L. 97–35, title XII, § 1211(e), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 721; Pub. L. 110–314, title II, § 204(c)(2)(B), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3042.)
## Editorial Notes
### Codification
In subsec. (a), pursuant to and as amended by , the words “in cooperation with the Commission”, meaning the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which followed “Consumer Product Safety Commission”, have been omitted from the Code as redundant in that they would provide for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to cooperate with itself.
### Amendments
2008— substituted “Commission” for “Secretary of Commerce” in subsecs. (a) and (b).
1981—Subsec. (a). struck out provisions relating to the submission of an annual report by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and to the Congress containing the results of a study and investigation.
1980—Subsec. (b). struck out provision requiring the Secretary to report the results of activities under this subsection to Congress.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .
### Transfer of Functions
“Consumer Product Safety Commission” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsec. (a) pursuant to , which is classified to and which transferred functions of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Secretary of Commerce, and Federal Trade Commission under this chapter to Consumer Product Safety Commission.
### Toxicologic Risks of Flame-Retardant Chemicals in Residential Upholstered Furniture
, , , provided that within 90 days of , the Consumer Product Safety Commission was to make all necessary arrangements for the Committee on Toxicology of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct an independent 12-month study of the potential toxicologic risks of all flame-retardant chemicals identified by the NAS and the Commission as likely candidates for use in residential upholstered furniture for the purpose of meeting regulations proposed by the Commission for flame resistance of residential upholstered furniture, and that the Academy would send the report, when complete, to the Commission, which would provide the report to Congress.