FTC Extends Due Date for Comments on Textile Labeling Rules
The Federal Trade Commission has extended until February 2, 2012 (from January 3, 2012) its due date for comments on its Textile Rules, which require that textiles sold in the U.S. 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.
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(The American Apparel and Footwear Association, the American Fiber Manufacturers Association, Inc., the Canadian Apparel Federation, the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel1 requested that the FTC extend the comment period on this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) until February 2, 2012.)
FTC is seeking comments as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. (See ITT's Online Archives 11110325 for initial ITT summary of this ANPR.)
Last Reviewed Textile Rules in 1998, Updates May Be Needed
The FTC last formally reviewed the Textile Rules, which implement the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, in 1998. (Since 1992, the FTC has reviewed all its rules and guides on a rotating basis to ensure they are up-to-date, effective, and not overly burdensome.) The agency relies on input from the public, including consumers, businesses, advocates, industry experts and others, to help it decide whether rules and guides should be updated, left as is, or even rescinded.
Seeks Comments on Generic Name & Elastic/Trimming Provisions, Disclosures
In reviewing the Textile Rules, the FTC is seeking comments on the benefits and costs of the rules, as well as whether the Commission should:
- modify the provision regarding generic names of man-made fibers to incorporate the 2010 version of ISO 2076 (Textiles-Man-made Fibres -- Generic Names);
- clarify provisions for products containing elastic material and trimmings;
- address the use of multiple languages in required label disclosures;
- clarify disclosure requirements for print and online advertising;
- clarify or modify the Rules to indicate with greater specificity the products either covered by or excluded from the requirements of the Textile Act and Rules;
- add or clarify undefined textile-related terms in the Rules; and
- modify consumer and business education materials and continue to print paper copies of such materials.
Wants Input on RN Nos, Whether to Modify Guarantees
The FTC also seeks comment on the benefits and costs of the Textile Act's requirement that businesses use identification issued by the FTC (i.e., RN numbers) under certain circumstances, and the extent to which retailers obtain guarantees for textile products and whether the extent or manner of textile importation indicates that the guarantee provisions of the Textile Rules and Act should be modified.
1AAFA, AFMA, CAF, NFR, RILA, USA-ITA, respectively.
(FR Pub 01/04/12)