Regulatory Compliance in the United States: The Regulators and the Regulated

摘要

Manufacturing in the United States is regulated by numerous federal and state agencies. The goods produced are regulated as a consumer product, component, PPE, or waste product. The business itself can be regulated as a corporate citizen, employer, or consumer. This paper will discuss the various regulatory agencies and initiatives that apply to American business, and use the natural rubber industry as an example of the regulations at work. Further, the paper will discuss how regulations are made, interpreted by the courts, the regulators, and applied to business and products. The effect of regulatory action will be discussed from both the regulator and the regulated point of view. The paper will further discuss how manufacturers can proactively protect themselves by using the regulatory compliance systems. This paper will further discuss the consumer's use of regulatory requirements in litigation and product liability actions. The U.S. system of regulatory compliance will also be contrasted to the European system of regulations. As regulation becomes more a part of the business atmosphere, business needs to develop specific strategies that incorporate regulatory awareness into their business paradigms.