[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 56 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11543-11544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6734]



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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 303


Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products 
Identification Act

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Rules and Regulations under the 
Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (Textile Rules) by adding the 
International System of Units (SI metric system) equivalents beside the 
inch/pound unit measurements in Textile Rules 10, 21, 32, and 45 (16 
CFR 303.10, 303.21, 303.32, and 303.45). These metrication amendments 
are required by Executive Order 12770 of July 25, 1991 and the Metric 
Conversion Act, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness 
Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of this notice should be sent to Public 
Reference Branch, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 
20508.

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) 235-7890 or Edwin Rodriguez, Attorney, Federal Trade 
Commission, Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20580, (202) 326-3147.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (Textile Act), 15 
U.S.C. 70 et seq., requires marketers of covered textile products to 
mark each product with (1) The generic names and percentages by weight 
of the constituent fibers present in the textile product; (2) the name 
under which the manufacturer or other responsible company does business 
or, in lieu thereof, the registered identification number (RN) of such 
company; and (3) the name of the

[[Page 11544]]
country where the textile product was processed or manufactured. 
Furthermore, the Textile Act contains advertising and recordkeeping 
provisions. As authorized and directed by section 7(c) of the Textile 
Act, 15 U.S.C 70e(c), the Commission has promulgated the Textile Rules, 
which are set forth at 16 CFR Part 303.
    As part of the Commission's systematic review of all current 
Commission rule, regulations, and guides, the Commission published a 
Federal Register notice on May 6, 1994, 59 FR 23646, seeking comments 
about the regulatory and economic costs and benefits of the Textile 
Rules. The notice also stated that the Commission proposed to amend 
Textile Rules 10, 21, 32, and 45 (16 CFR 303.10, 303.21, 303.32, and 
303.45) to include the metric equivalents beside the inch/pound unit 
measurements already included in those Rules.

II. Metrication Amendments

    In a separate notice, the Commission summarizes the results of its 
regulatory review of the Textile Rules, and seeks comment on whether it 
should make additional substantive amendments to the Rules. In this 
notice, the Commission announces adoption of the meterication 
amendments set out in the request for comments.
    Currently, Rules 10, 21, 32, and 45 (16 CFR 303.10, 303.21, 303.32, 
and 303.45) include measurements expressed exclusively in inch/pound 
units. 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 activities (which 
include 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.
    The proposed amendments to Rules 10, 21, 32, and 45 were set out in 
the regulatory review notice. Four of the twenty-eight comments 
submitted in response to the regulatory review expressed general 
support for the proposed metrication amendments.\1\ The remaining 
twenty-four comments did not address these metrication amendments.

    \1\ National Knitwear & Sportswear Association (1) p. 1, 
American Textile Manufacturers Institute (10) p. 6, Fieldcrest 
Cannon, Inc. (13) p. 6, and Milliken & Company (22) p. 6. The number 
in parentheses denotes the number assigned by the Office of the 
Secretary to the comment in the public record of comments received 
in the regulatory review of the Textile Rules.
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List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 303

    Labeling, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Textiles, Trade 
practices.

    The metrication amendments are technical and non-substantive; they 
merely provide metric equivalents to the existing measurements 
expressed in inch/pound units and do not create any new requirements. 
Therefore, Rules 10, 21, 32, and 45 (16 CFR 303.10, 303.21, 303.32, and 
303.45) are amended as set out below.

PART 303--RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE TEXTILE FIBER PRODUCTS 
IDENTIFICATION ACT

    1. The authority citation for part 303 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 70 et seq.
* * * * *
    2. Section 303.10(b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 303.10  Fiber content of special types of products.

 * * * * *
    (b) Where drapery or upholstery fabrics are manufactured on hand-
operated looms for a particular customer after the sale of such fabric 
has been consummated, and the amount of the order does not exceed 100 
yards (91.44 m) of fabric, the required fiber content disclosure may be 
made by listing the fibers present in order of predominance by weight 
with any fiber or fibers required to be designated as ``other fiber'' 
or ``other fibers'' appearing last, as for example:

    Rayon
    Wool
    Acetate
    Metallic
    Other fibers
* * * * *
    3. Section 303.21(a)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 303.21  Marking of samples, swatches, or specimens and products 
sold therefrom.

    (a) * * *
    (1) If the samples, swatches, or specimens are less than two square 
inches (12.9 cm2) in area and the information otherwise required 
to appear on the label is clearly, conspicuously, and non-deceptively 
disclosed on accompanying promotional matter in accordance with the Act 
and regulations.
* * * * *
    4. Section 303.32 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 303.32  Products containing reused stuffing.

    Any upholstered product, mattress, or cushion which contains 
stuffing which has been previously used as stuffing in any other 
upholstered product, mattress, or cushion shall have securely attached 
thereto a substantial tag or label, at least 2 inches (5.08 cm) by 3 
inches (7.62 cm) in size, and statements thereon conspicuously stamped 
or printed in the English language and in plain type not less than \1/
3\ inch (8.38 mm) high, indicating that the stuffing therein is 
composed in whole or in part of ``reused stuffing,'' ``secondhand 
stuffing,'' ``previously used stuffing,'' or ``used stuffing.''
    5. Section 303.45(a)(1)(xv)) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 303.45  Exclusions from the act.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (xv) Flags with heading or more than 216 square inches (13.9 
dm2) in size.
 * * * * *
    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-6734 Filed 3-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M