" wrote:


Even in the jurisdictions where the NEC is codified, it's as a building code,
which wouldn't cover plug-ins either. If anyone has an article that actually
makes any sense out of this, I'd like to see it.

They appear to be using authority granted under the Consumer Products Safety
Act. This is the same agency that banned lawn darts a few years ago. The
relevent text comes from Section 17 - Imported Goods:

http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/cpsa.pdf

(a) Any consumer product offered for importation into the customs territory of
the United States (as defined in general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States) shall be refused admission into such customs
territory if such product—

(1) fails to comply with an applicable consumer product safety rule;

Link to a copy of a letter from the CPSC follows:

http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/Hairdryer.pdf