Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC seeks public comment on remaining Energy Labeling Rule issues, (Jun 11, 2014)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

The FTC has issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking and is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the Energy Labeling Rule, the agency announced today. Final amendments were previously published by the FTC in 2013 and were aimed at improving online disclosures and new labels to assist consumers in comparison shopping for refrigerators and clothes washers.

According to the agency, manufacturers of boilers, central air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, furnaces, heat pumps, refrigerators, room air conditioners, pool heaters, televisions, and water heaters are required to place yellow EnergyGuide labels on their products. The labels must disclose annual operating cost, annual energy consumption rating, and a range for comparing similar models’ energy consumption.

Although the FTC previously issued final amendments regarding the Energy Labeling Rule, the agency is seeking additional public comment on the remaining regulatory review issues. Specifically, the issues include “expanded light bulb label coverage, an online label database, more durable labels for appliances, room and portable air conditioner box labels, ceiling fan labels, consolidated refrigerator ranges, updates to furnace labels, Quick Response Codes, bilingual issues, television label updates, a range revision schedule, retailer responsibility, marketplace websites, set-top box labeling, clothes dryer labels, and plumbing products.” The Commission will publish additional final amendments, as appropriate, after the designated comment period.

Comments may be submitted online here or by mail at: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite CC-5610 (Annex B), Washington, DC 20580. Written comments must be received by August 18, 2014.

News: ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews