Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC Proposes Changes to Textile Labeling Rules, (Apr 30, 2013)
Organizations Mentioned:Federal Trade Commission
By Tobias J. Gillett, J.D., LL.M.
The FTC has issued proposed changes to its Textile Labeling Rules to clarify and update them and make them more flexible for businesses, the agency has announced.
The Textile Labeling Rules, which implement the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, require certain textiles sold in the United States to carry labels disclosing the generic names and percentages by weight of the fibers in the product, the manufacturer or marketer name, and the country where the product was processed or manufactured.
The FTC’s proposed changes would:
Incorporate the updated ISO standard 2076:2010(E)
Allow certain hang-tags that do not disclose the product’s full fiber content information
Better address electronic commerce by amending the definition of the terms “invoice” and “invoice or other paper”
Update the guaranty provisions by, among other things, replacing the requirement that suppliers provide a guaranty signed under penalty of perjury with a certification that must be renewed annually, and revising accordingly the form used to file continuing guaranties with the Commission under the Textile, Fur, and Wool Acts
Clarify several other provisions.
The FTC believes these changes will help clarify the Rules, update them, and make them more flexible by giving businesses more compliance options without increasing their obligations.
The FTC seeks comment on its proposed changes. Comments must be received by July 8, 2013, and can be submitted by writing "Textile Rules, 16 CFR Part 303, Project No. P948404" on each comment and filing them through the web-based form at https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/textilerulesnprm, or by mailing them to Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex G), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews