[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10939]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 6, 1994]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 301

 

Rules and Regulations Under the Fur Products Labeling Act

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') is 
requesting public comments on its Rules and Regulations under the Fur 
Products Labeling Act (the ``Fur Act''). The Commission is also 
requesting comments about the overall costs and benefits of the Rules 
and their overall regulatory and economic impact as a part of its 
systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until June 6, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, room 
H-159, Sixth & Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580. 
Submissions should be marked ``Rules and Regulations under the Fur Act, 
16 CFR part 301--Comment.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bret S. Smart, Program Advisor, Los Angeles Regional Office, Federal 
Trade Commission, 11000 Wilshire Blvd., suite 13209, Los Angeles, CA 
90024, (310) 575-7890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has determined, as part of 
its oversight responsibilities, to review rules and guides 
periodically. These reviews will seek information about the costs and 
benefits of the Commission's rules and guides and their regulatory and 
economic impact. The information obtained will assist the Commission in 
identifying rules and guides that warrant modification or recision.
    At this time, the Commission solicits written public comments 
concerning the Commission's Rules and Regulations under the Fur 
Products Labeling Act.
    The Fur Act (15 U.S.C. 69) requires covered furs and fur products 
to be labeled, invoiced, and advertised to show (1) the name(s) of the 
animal that produced the fur(s); (2) that the fur is used fur or that 
the fur product contains used fur, when such is the fact; (3) that the 
fur product or fur is bleached, dyed, or otherwise artificially 
colored, when such is the fact; and (4) the name of the country of 
origin of any imported furs used in the fur product. Furthermore, the 
Fur Act contains invoicing, advertisting, and recordkeeping provisions. 
Pursuant to Section 8(b) of the Fur Act, ``[t]he Commmision is 
authorized and directed to prescribe rules and regulations * * * as may 
be necessary and proper for purposes of administration and enforcement 
of this Act.'' (15 U.S.C. 69f(b).) These implementing rules and 
regulations are set forth at 16 CFR part 301.
    Currently, Rules 19 and 27 (16 CFR 301.19 and 301.27) include 
provisions where measurements are expressed exclusively in inches or 
fractions of inches. Under Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991 (56 
FR 35801, July 29, 1991), and the Metric Conversion Act, as amended by 
the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (15 U.S.C. 205b), all federal 
agencies are required to use the SI metric system of measurement in all 
procurements, grants, and other business-related actvities (which 
includes rulemakings), except to the extent that such use is 
impractical or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of 
markets to United States firms. To comply with these requirements, 
should the Commission elect to retain Rules 19 and 27 after conducting 
this review, the wording of these provisions will be altered to include 
the metric equivalents in parentheses beside the measurements in 
inches.
    Rule 19(i)(1) (16 CFR 301.19(i)(1)) would be revised to read: ``Any 
person dressing, processing, or treating a fur pelt in such a manner 
that it is required under paragraph (e) or (h) of this section to be 
dsecribed as `color altered' or `color added' shall place a black 
stripe at least one half inch (1.27 cm) in width across the leather 
side of the skin immediately above the rump or place a stamp with a 
solid black center in the form of either a two inch (5.08 cm) square or 
a circle at least two inches (5.08 cm) in diameter on the leather side 
of the pelt and shall use black ink for all other stamps or markings on 
the leather side of the pelt.''
    Rule 19(i)(2) (16 CFR 301.19(i)(2)) would be revised to read: ``Any 
person dressing, processing or treating a fur pelt which after 
processing is considered natural under paragraph (g) of this section 
shall place a white stripe at least one-half inch (1.27 cm) in width 
across the leather side of the skin immediately above the rump or place 
a stamp with a solid white center in the form of either a 2-inch (5.08 
cm) square or a circle at least 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter on the 
leather side of the pelt and shall use white ink for all other stamps 
or markings on the leather side of the pelt.''
    Rule 19(i)(3) (16 CFR 301.19(i)(3)) would be revised to read: ``Any 
person dressing, processing or treating a fur pelt in such a manner 
that it is considered dyed under paragraph (d) of this section shall 
place a yellow stripe at least one-half inch (1.27 cm) in width across 
the leather side immediately above the rump or place a stamp with a 
solid yellow center in the form of either a 2-inch (5.08 cm) square or 
a circle at least 2 inches (5.08 cm) in diameter on the leather side of 
the pelt and shall use yellow ink for all other stamps or markings on 
the leather side of the pelt.''
    Rule 19(1)(2) (16 CFR 301.19(1)(2)) would be revised to read: ``A 
recommended method for preparation of samples would be: Carefully pluck 
hair samples from 10 to 15 different representative sites on the pelt 
or garment. This can best be accomplished by using a long nose 
stainless steel pliers with a tip diameter of \1/16\ inch (1.59 mm). 
The pliers should be inserted at the same angle as the guard hairs with 
the tip opened to \1/4\ inch (6.35 mm). After contact with the hide, 
the tip should be raised about \1/4\ inch (6.35 mm), closed tightly and 
pulled quickly and firmly to remove the hair.''
    The first sentence of Rule 27 (16 CFR 301.27) would be revised to 
read: ``At all times during the marketing of a fur product the required 
label shall have a minimum dimension of one and three-fourths (1\3/4\) 
inches by two and three-fourths (2\3/4\) inches (4.5 cm  x  7 cm).''
    These are technical, non-substantive amendments to Rules 19 and 27 
which merely provide metric equivalents to the measurements expressed 
in inches; they do not create any new requirements. Thus, under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553 et seq.), no formal 
rulemaking proceeding is necessary to implement these revisions.
    If the Commission elects to retain Rule 43 (16 CFR 301.43), ``Use 
of deceptive trade or corporate names, trademarks or graphic 
representations prohibited,'' after conducting this review, it intends 
to update certain terms to reflect statutory and policy changes that 
have occurred since Rule 43 was originally promulgated. The phrase 
``capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive'' would be changed to 
conform with the language regarding deception that is set forth in 
Cliffdale Associates, Inc., 103 F.T.C. 110, 164-65 (1984) and 
subsequent cases.
    Accordingly, the Commission solicits public comments on the 
following questions:
    1. Is there a continuing need for the Rules and Regulations issued 
under the Fur Act?
    a. What benefits have the Rules provided to purchasers of the 
products or services affected by the Rules?
    b. Have the Rules imposed costs on purchasers?
    2. What changes, if any, should be made to the Rules to increase 
the benefits of the Rules to purchasers?
    a. How would these changes affect the costs the Rules impose on 
firms subject to their requirements?
    3. What significant burdens or costs, including costs of 
compliance, have the Rules imposed on firms subject to their 
requirements?
    a. Have the rules provided benefits to such firms?
    4. What changes, if any, should be made to the Rules to reduce the 
burdens or costs imposed on firms subject to their requirements?
    a. How would these changes affect the benefits provided by the 
Rules?
    5. Do the Rules overlap or conflict with other federal, state, or 
local laws or regulations?
    6. Since the Rules were issued, what effects, if any, have changes 
in relevant technology or economic conditions had on the Rules?

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 69 et seq.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 301

    Advertising, Invoicing, Labeling, Recordkeeping, Fur products.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-10939 Filed 5-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M