[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43764-43769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21799]
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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirements described
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The FTC is
soliciting public comments on proposed extensions of Paperwork
Reduction Act clearance for information collection requirements
contained in twelve rules issued or enforced by the Commission. These
OMB clearances expire on December 31, 1996. The FTC proposes that OMB
extend its approvals through December 31, 1999.
DATES: Comments due: October 25, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office
Building, Room 3228, Washington, D.C. 20503, ATTN: Desk Officer for the
Federal Trade Commission, and to Elaine W. Crockett, Office of the
General Counsel, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580,
(202) 326-2453.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of the proposed
information requirements should be addressed to Elaine W. Crockett at
the address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTC will submit the proposed information
collections to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). The purpose of this
Notice is to solicit comments from members of the public and affected
agencies concerning the proposed collections of information to: (1)
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility, (2) Evaluate the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used, (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected, and (4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
The FTC attempts to minimize the burden of collections of
information on the public whenever possible. In this regard it should
be noted that the great majority of the disclosure requirements
discussed below entail burdens associated with statutorily required
disclosure provisions. For example, the Truth-in-Lending, Textile Act,
and Fair Packaging Regulations all involve large burden estimates,
totaling approximately 69 million burden hours. Much of this burden
reflects statutory provisions that require the disclosure of such basic
consumer information as the annual percentage interest rate charged on
loans, the composition of clothing and other textile items, and the
size and content of packaged products. While the burden imposed on any
individual party is often quite small (sometimes measured in seconds),
the number of affected parties is often very high (sometimes measured
in millions), and the total burden is therefore large. See e.g., the
Regulations implementing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the
Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and the Consumer Leasing Act.
The great majority of the recordkeeping and reporting provisions
discussed below entail burdens that are necessary for the enforcement
of the regulation and/or statute. In some instances, these
recordkeeping requirements are statutorily mandated. See, e.g. the
regulations implementing the Fur Products Labeling Act. In most
instances, the regulated entities keep these records in the normal
course of business, and thus these recordkeeping requirements do not
impose an additional ``burden'' on members of the public. See 5 C.F.R.
Sec. 1320.3(b)(2) (burden hours exclude effort that would be expended
regardless of any regulatory requirement).
1. Collection Title: The Games of Chance Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 419
OMB Control Number: 3084-0067.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
Rule establishes both recordkeeping and disclosure requirements for
food and gasoline retailers in conducting and advertising games of
chance. The Rule requires that games promoters retain records showing
compliance with certain provisions, and identify winners, prizes, and
number of game pieces. The recordkeeping requirements assist in the
enforcement of the Rule.
[[Page 43765]]
The Rule also requires that games promoters disclose the odds-of-
winning and other prize information in broadcast and print
advertisements. Promoters must also post a winners' list, containing
the names and addresses of winners, the prizes won, and the number of
game pieces. The disclosure requirements assist customers in
determining both the likelihood of winning prizes and the legitimacy of
the game.
Estimate of information collection burden: 8,250 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: Approximately 30 independent firms contract to
conduct an average of 50 promotions per year at an average burden per
respondent of 150 hours for a total recordkeeping burden of 4,500
hours.
Disclosures: Approximately 30 game promoters conduct an average of
50 games per year at an average burden per promotion of 2.5 hours for a
total disclosure burden of 3,750 hours.
2. Title: Regulations Promulgated Under the Equal Credit Opportunity
Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1691 et seq. (``ECOA''), (``Regulation B'')
Control Number: 3084-0087.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
ECOA prohibits discrimination in the extension of credit on the basis
of sex, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, age,
derivation of income from a public assistance program, or good faith
exercise of any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.
Regulation B, 12 C.F.R. Part 202, promulgated by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System, implements the ECOA. Among other things,
section 202.12 of Regulation B requires creditors to retain records
relating to consumer credit applications for 25 months, and records of
business credit applications for 12 months. Section 202.13 of
Regulation B requires creditors that receive mortgage credit
applications to record the applicant's race or national origin, sex,
marital status, and age. These requirements assist in enforcement of
the Act and implementing Regulation.
Regulation B also has two primary disclosure provisions, both of
which are statutorily required. First, creditors are required to
provide applicants with information about adverse credit actions. 15
U.S.C. Sec. 1691(d). Second, creditors are required to provide
notification to mortgage credit applicants concerning appraisal
reports. 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1691(e). These disclosure requirements assist
consumers in understanding their rights under the ECOA. They also
assist the Commission in detecting unlawful discrimination.
Estimate of information collection burden: 14,400,000 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that Regulation B's recordkeeping
requirements affect 1 million credit firms at an average burden of 1
hour per firm per year, for a total estimated burden of 1,000,000
hours. The FTC estimates that approximately 4,000 creditors are subject
to the requirement to collect information about race/national origin,
sex, age, and marital status and that approximately 4 million credit
applications are affected. Because Regulation B contains a model form
that creditors may use to collect the information, staff estimates that
the burden associated with this recordkeeping requirement is no more
than one minute for each application for a burden total of 66,700
hours.
Disclosures: The disclosures are all specifically mandated by the
ECOA. Approximately 1 million creditors are subject to the requirement
to provide notice of adverse credit action and 200 million accounts are
covered by this requirement. Because the Regulation provides model
forms for these notices, the burden of providing notice of adverse
action is estimated to be 4 minutes for each application, for a burden
total of 13.3 million hours.
The other disclosure requirement under Regulation B involves
providing appraisal reports to consumers. The FTC estimates that 4,000
creditors and 4 million mortgage credit applications are subject to
this requirement. Because creditors have the option to include the
required notice on other forms that would be provided to the consumer
during the ordinary course of business, the additional burden of making
this disclosure is estimated to be 15 seconds for each application, for
a total burden estimate of 16,666 hours.
3. Title: Regulations Promulgated Under the Electronic Fund Transfer
Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1693 et seq. (``EFTA''), (``Regulation E'')
Control Number: 3084-0085.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
EFTA requires accurate disclosure of the costs, terms and rights
relating to electronic fund transfer (EFT) services to consumers.
Regulation E, promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, implements the EFTA. Among other things, section 205.13
of Regulation E requires entities subject to the EFTA to retain
evidence of compliance with the regulation for two years. These
requirements assist in the enforcement of the Act and implementing
regulations. The FTC is the enforcing agency for the EFTA and
Regulation E as to all entities providing EFT services except those
(such as federally chartered or insured depository institutions) that
are subject to the regulatory authority of another federal agency.
Regulation E contains several disclosure requirements relating to
the terms and conditions of electronic fund transfer services. For
example, among other disclosures, Regulation E requires financial
institutions to (1) make initial disclosures to a customer about the
terms and conditions of electronic fund transfer accounts; (2) deliver
written notices concerning changes in certain terms or conditions in
the customer's account; and (3) send periodic statements to customers
concerning any account to or from which electronic fund transfers can
be made. The disclosure requirements of Regulation E assist consumers
in assessing the costs and terms of EFT services. The vast majority of
Regulation E's disclosure requirements are expressly mandated by the
EFTA. See, e.g., consumer liability for unauthorized use, 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 1693g; initial disclosures, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1693c(a); and
documentation of transfers and receipts.
Estimate of information collection burden: 20,500,000 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that Regulation E's recordkeeping
requirements affect 500,000 firms that offer EFT services to consumers
at an average annual burden of 1 hour per firm, for a total
recordkeeping estimate of 500,000 hours.
Disclosures: Regulation E also contains a wide variety of
disclosure requirements, which are more difficult to quantify. The
number of regulated entities and the estimated amount of time necessary
to comply with each requirement varies widely according to the specific
provisions of each requirement, and the number of entities and the
number of transactions affected by these requirements cannot readily be
ascertained. Also, in recent years a large number of additional
entities subject to Regulation E have entered the market.
As stated above, the FTC estimates that approximately 500,000 firms
offer EFT services to consumers. However, the average burden hours
relating to disclosures vary significantly according to the type of
transaction involved and related disclosures. For example, EFT initial
account disclosures are sent to approximately 1 million new accounts
per year at an average burden of 1 second per account, whereas
investigations and resolutions of account errors average 10 minutes per
[[Page 43766]]
complaint per year. Although this figure is difficult to quantify, the
FTC estimates that the total burden estimate relating to disclosures is
approximately 20,000,000 hours.
4. Title: Regulations Promulgated Under the Consumer Leasing Act, 15
U.S.C. Sec. 1667 et seq., (``CLA''), (``Regulation M'')
Control Number: 3084-0086.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
CLA requires accurate disclosure of the costs and terms of leases to
consumers. Regulation M, promulgated by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, implements the CLA. Section 213.6 of Regulation
M requires lessors to retain evidence of compliance with the regulation
(other than advertising requirements) for two years after the date
disclosures are required to be made. These requirements assist in
enforcement of the Act and implementing regulations. The FTC is the
enforcing agency for the Consumer Leasing Act as to all lessors except
those (such as federally chartered or insured depository institutions)
that are subject to the regulatory authority of another federal agency.
Regulation M imposes disclosure requirements on all types of
lessors, including leasing companies, finance companies, auto dealers,
and some furniture, appliance, radio and television dealers. The
written disclosures required by Regulation M are specifically required
by the CLA. See 15 U.S.C. 1667a. Similarly, the advertising disclosures
required by Regulation M are also specifically required by the CLA. See
15 U.S.C. 1667c. These disclosures assist consumers in understanding
the terms of leases prior to entering into a lease agreement.
Estimate of information collection burden: 533,400 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that 100,000 firms leasing
products to consumers are affected by Regulation M's recordkeeping
requirements at an average burden of 1 hour per year, for a total
recordkeeping burden of 100,000 hours.
Disclosures: The burden relating to disclosure requirements has
increased significantly in recent years because the number of consumer
automobile leases (the largest category of consumer leases) has grown
dramatically and the current burden estimate reflects this growth. The
FTC estimates that approximately 2,500,000 lease transactions are
subject to the written disclosure requirements and that providing the
required disclosures takes an average of 10 minutes per lease for a
total burden related to lease transactions of 416,700 hours. With
respect to lease advertising disclosures, most (although certainly not
all) lease promotions offer automobile transactions. The FTC estimates
that approximately 1 million lease advertisements per year are affected
by the Rule at 1 minute per advertisement for a total burden related to
lease advertisements of 16,666 burden hours.
5. Title: Regulations Promulgated Under the Truth-in-Lending Act, 15
U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq. (``TILA''), (``Regulation Z'')
Control Number: 3084-0088.
Description of collection of information and proposed use: The TILA
was enacted to foster comparison credit shopping and informed credit
decisionmaking by requiring accurate disclosure of the costs and terms
of credit to consumers. Regulation Z, promulgated by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, implements the TILA. Among
other things, section 226.25 of Regulation Z requires creditors to
retain evidence of compliance with the regulation (other than the
advertising requirements) for two years after the date disclosures are
required to be made or other action is required to be taken. These
requirements assist in enforcement of the Act and implementing
regulations. The FTC enforces the TILA as to all creditors except those
(such as federally chartered or insured depository institutions) that
are subject to the regulatory authority of another federal agency.
Regulation Z requires creditors to calculate and disclose terms
that apply to both open-end credit (e.g., revolving credit or credit
lines) and closed-end credit (e.g., installment financing). Regulation
Z imposes disclosure requirements on all types of creditors in
connection with consumer credit, including mortgage companies, finance
companies, retailers, and credit card issuers, to ensure that consumers
are fully apprised of the terms of financing prior to consummation of
the transaction and, in some instances, during the loan term. It also
imposes advertising disclosure requirements on advertisers of consumer
credit. Among other things, Regulation Z also establishes billing error
resolution procedures and limits consumer liability for the
unauthorized use of credit cards. The vast majority of Regulation Z's
disclosure requirements are expressly mandated by the TILA. See, e.g.,
open-end initial disclosures, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1637(a); and open-end
periodic disclosures, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1637(b). In most instances, the
disclosure and other requirements of Regulation Z form the basis both
for administrative enforcement of the TILA by the FTC and other
agencies and for private rights of action by private litigants.
Estimate of Collection of information burden: 41,600,000 total
burden hours.
Recordkeeping and Disclosures: In recent years Congress has amended
the TILA to include additional requirements. In addition, the various
types of credit accounts affected by the Regulation have greatly
increased. Because Regulation Z contains a wide variety of
requirements, it is extremely difficult to quantify the number of
entities and the number of transactions affected by these requirements.
Further, the number of regulated entities and the estimated amount of
time necessary to comply with each requirement varies widely according
to the specific provisions of each requirement. For example, businesses
place approximately 200,000 open-end home equity line of credit
advertisements per year at an average burden of 5 minutes per
advertisement. On the other hand, 4 million residential loan
originations are made per year at 10 minutes per loan. These figures
are difficult to quantify; however, the FTC estimates Regulation Z's
recordkeeping requirements to be approximately 1,000,000 hours and
Regulation Z's disclosure requirements to be 40,600,000 burden hours.
6. Title: Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification
Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 70 et seq. (``Textile Act'')
Control Number: 3084-0047.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
Textile Act prohibits misbranding and false advertising of textile
fiber products. The Textile Act Regulations, 16 C.F.R. Sec. 303, which
implement the Textile Act, require accurate disclosure of material
product information in a standardized format. Many of these disclosures
are required by the Textile Act. See 15 U.S.C. 70(b). The disclosure
requirements assist consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.
The Regulations also require manufacturers and marketers who
substitute labels (e.g., resellers) to maintain records, invoices, and
other documents that reflect the bases relied upon in making fiber
content and country of origin disclosures. These recordkeeping
requirements are specifically mandated by the Textile Act. See 15
U.S.C. 70d. The recordkeeping requirements assist the
[[Page 43767]]
Commission in enforcing the Regulations.
The Regulations also contain a petition procedure for requesting
the establishment of generic names for textile fibers. The information
submitted is used by the FTC to determine whether the petition should
be granted.
Estimate of information collection burden: 15,500,000 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that approximately 30,000 textile
firms retain required records at an average burden of 43 hours per
year, for a total recordkeeping burden of 1,290,000 hours. Disclosures:
The FTC also estimates that approximately 40,000 textile firms make
disclosures for 9,300,000,000 covered products at an average burden of
5.5 seconds per item, for a total disclosure burden of 14,208,000
hours. Petitions: Approximately 1 textile firm submits 1 petition per
year at an average burden of 50 hours.
7. Title: Regulations Under the Wool Products Labeling Act, 5 U.S.C.
Sec. 68 et seq. (``Wool Act'')
Control Number: 3084-0047.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
Wool Act prohibits misbranding of wool products. The Wool Act
Regulations, 16 CFR Sec. 300, require accurate disclosure of material
information about wool products, including fiber content and country of
origin disclosures. Many of these disclosures are mandated by the Wool
Act. See 15 U.S.C. Sec. 68b. The disclosure requirements assist
consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.
The Regulations also require manufacturers and other marketers of
covered products to maintain records that support both claims made on
labels and invoices and savings representations. These recordkeeping
requirements are specifically mandated by the Wool Act, see 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 68d, and assist the Commission in enforcing the Regulations.
The Regulations also contain a procedure for filing a petition
concerning whether or not representations of the fiber content of a
class of articles are commonly made, or whether or not the textile
content of certain products is insignificant or inconsequential. The
information submitted is used by the FTC to determine whether the
petition should be granted.
Estimate of information collection burden: 2,291,000 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that approximately 15,000 wool
firms retain records at an average burden of 12.73 hours per firm, for
a total recordkeeping burden of 191,000 hours. Disclosures:
Approximately 20,000 wool firms make disclosures on 1,375,000,000
covered products at an average burden of 5.5 seconds per item, for a
total disclosure burden of approximately 2,100,000 hours. Petitions:
Approximately 1 wool firm submits 1 petition per year at an average
burden of 50 hours.
8. Title: Regulations Under the Fur Products Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 69 et. seq. (``Fur Act'')
Control Number: 3084-0047.
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
Fur Act prohibits misbranding and false advertising of fur products.
The Fur Products Regulations, 16 CFR Sec. 301, which implement the Fur
Products Labeling Act, require accurate disclosure of material
information about fur products, including the fur content and the
country of origin. Many of these disclosures are mandated by the Fur
Act. See 15 U.S.C. Sec. 69b. The disclosure requirements assist
consumers in making informed purchasing decisions.
The Regulations also require manufacturers and dealers in fur
products to retain records to support claims made on labels and to
support representations made in advertisements. The recordkeeping
requirements are specifically mandated by the Fur Act, see 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 69e, and assist the Commission in enforcing the Regulations.
The Regulations also provide a procedure for exemption from certain
disclosure provisions under the Act.
Estimate of Information Collection Burden: 137,600 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: The burden associated with the rule's general
recordkeeping requirements is estimated to be 15 to 30 minutes per week
for retailers and 1 hour per week for manufacturers. With an allowance
for the specific recordkeeping requirements associated with exempted
products and price savings claims, the total recordkeeping burden
associated with the rules is estimated to be approximately 59,000
hours.
Disclosures: The FTC estimates that approximately 600 fur products
manufacturers make an average of 2,000 garments per year. In addition,
approximately 1,000 retailers will substitute labels for 500 fur
garments apiece. Preparation of a label for each garment will take an
average of 2 minutes per garment for a total labeling burden of 57,000
hours annually. Because invoices will be generated in the normal course
of business, the additional time needed to comply with the rule's
invoice disclosure requirement should be minimal and is estimated to be
30 seconds per garment, or an industry total of approximately 14,000
hours. The FTC also estimates that the advertising disclosure
requirement in the rule imposes an average burden of 1 hour per year
for each of the approximately 7,500 fur retailers in the nation, for an
estimated burden of 7,500 hours.
Petitions: Over the past decade, the FTC has received no petitions
for an exemption under the Fur Act provisions. Nonetheless, the FTC is
estimating this yearly burden to be approximately 50 hours.
9. Title: The ``900'' Number Rule, 16 CFR Part 308
Control Number: 3084-0102
Description of the collection of information and proposed use: The
900 Number Rule establishes requirements for advertising and operating
pay-per-call services. The Rule also establishes procedures for billing
and collecting charges for these services. The primary purpose of the
Rule is to assist in preventing unfair and deceptive acts or practices
by ensuring that consumers are informed of cost and other material
information prior to calling 900 numbers; to provide consumers with
adequate billing information subsequent to calling 900 numbers; and to
establish a mechanism for disputing charges for 900 number calls. The
advertising, preamble, and billing statement disclosures are
specifically mandated by the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute
Resolution Act. 15 U.S.C. Sec. 5701 et seq (``TDDRA''). The TDDRA also
requires the rules under the billing dispute resolution portion of the
Rule to be substantially similar to the requirements imposed under the
Truth-in-Lending Act and Fair Credit Billing Acts. 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 5721(a)(2).
In addition, any common carrier who provides telecommunication
services to a provider of pay-per-call services is required to provide
the Commission with financial information and other records relating to
the arrangement. This requirement assists in the enforcement of the
Rule by permitting the Commission to obtain information from telephone
companies that provide transmission services to 900 number providers.
Estimate of information collection burden: 3,241,200 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping/Reporting: The FTC estimates that approximately 25
common carriers make records available to the Commission at an average
burden
[[Page 43768]]
of 5 hours per submission, for a total reporting burden of 125 hours.
Disclosures: As directed by statute, the 900 Number Rule requires
certain disclosures to be made in advertisements for 900 numbers.
Specifically, every advertisement for a 900 number must contain a
disclosure of the cost of the telephone call. Other types of 900 number
advertisements (those directed primarily to individuals under 18,
sweepstakes ads, and federal programs ads) must contain additional
disclosures. The FTC estimates that each disclosure mandated by the
Rule requires 1 hour of compliance time. Of 60,000 advertisements
(20,000 information providers x 3 services/ads for each),
approximately 30% are advertisements for sweepstakes or federal
programs, and approximately 50% are directed to individuals under the
age of 18. Thus, it would take 110,000 burden hours (60,000 (cost) +
20,000 (sweepstakes/federal programs) + 30,000 (parental permission) to
comply with all of the advertising disclosures contained in the Rule.
The FTC estimates that approximately 60,000 pay-per-call services
are required to make disclosures in the preamble at an average burden
of 10 hours for each preamble, for a total burden estimate of 600,000
hours.
In addition, the 900 Number Rule requires information providers to
ensure that disclosures appear on each billing statement. The FTC
estimates that approximately 2,000 of 20,000 information providers will
conduct monitoring of billing statements at an average burden estimate
of 12 hours per provider, for a total burden estimate of 24,000 hours.
Pursuant to the statute, the Rule also requires that information
providers ensure that certain disclosures appear on each billing
statement that contains a charge for a call to a 900 number. The FTC
estimates that approximately 50,000,000 calls are made to pay-per-call
services each year; of those calls, approximately 5% result in charges
about which consumers call to complain and which constitute ``billing
errors'' as defined by the Rule. While the time it takes to respond to
each alleged billing error will vary according to the type of complaint
and the ease with which it can be resolved, staff estimates that, on
average, a billing entity will spend 1 hour resolving each alleged
billing error. Accordingly, the compliance burden would be 2,500,000
hours (5% of 50,000,000 x 1 hour for each billing error) to comply
with the dispute resolution requirements contained in the rule.
Billing entities are also required to notify pay-per-call customers
in writing, at least annually, of their rights and obligations with
respect to pay-per-call service charges. The FTC estimates that it will
take 7,000 hours for billing entities to notify pay-per-call customers
in writing, at least annually, of their rights and obligations with
respect to pay-per-call service charges (1400 billing entities x 5
hours to review and revise disclosure each year), for a total burden
estimate of 7,000 hours.
Based on these figures, the total yearly burden of the 900 Number
Rule is approximately 3,241,125 hours (125 reporting hours + 3,241,000
disclosure hours).
10. Title: The Care Labeling Rule, 16 CFR Part 423
Control Number: 3084-0103.
Description of collection of information and proposed use: The Care
Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers to attach a
permanent care label to all covered textile clothing. Also,
manufacturers and importers of piece goods used to make textile
clothing must provide the same care information on the end of each bolt
or roll of fabric. These labels disclose information about washing or
dry cleaning the apparel or fabric. These requirements assist consumers
in making purchasing decisions and in deciding what method to use to
clean their apparel. Professional cleaners also use this information to
clean apparel in a manner that avoids damage to the garment. The Rule
also provides a procedure whereby a member of the industry may petition
the Commission for an exemption for products that are claimed to be
harmed in appearance by the requirement for a permanent label.
Estimate of information collection burden: 3,985,000 total burden
hours.
Disclosures: The FTC estimates that approximately 25,000 apparel
manufacturers and importers make disclosures at an average burden of
approximately 159 hours per company per year, for a total burden
estimate of approximately 3,985,000 hours. Petitions: Only 1 petition,
subsequently withdrawn, has been filed in recent years. Thus, an
estimated 50 hours for preparing a petition has been incorporated into
the total burden calculated for the disclosure requirements.
11. Title: Regulation Under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, 15
U.S.C. Sec. 1450 (``FPLA'')
Control Number: 3084-0110.
Description of collection of information and proposed use: The FPLA
was enacted to eliminate consumer deception concerning product size
representations and package content information. The Regulations that
implement the FPLA, 16 CFR Sec. 500, establish requirements for the
manner and form of labeling consumer commodities. Section 4 of the FPLA
specifically requires packages or labels to be marked with: (1) a
statement of identity, (2) a net quantity of contents disclosure, and
(3) the name and place of business of a company that is responsible for
the product.
Estimate of Information Collection Burden: 12,000,000 total burden
hours.
Recordkeeping: Most of the records that manufacturers, packagers,
distributors, and retailers of consumer commodities are required to
retain would otherwise be kept in the normal course of business, and
any hours that would constitute a ``burden'' under the Paperwork
Reduction Act have been included in the figure established for
disclosures.
Disclosures: The FTC estimates that approximately 1,200,000
manufacturers, packagers, distributors, and retailers of consumer
commodities make disclosures, most of which are statutorily required,
at an average burden of 10 hours per company, for a total disclosure
burden of 12,000,000 hours.
12. Title: The Fuel Rating Rule, 16 CFR Part 306
Control Number: 3084-0068.
Description of collection of information and proposed use: The Fuel
Rating Rule establishes standard procedures for determining, certifying
and disclosing the octane rating of automotive gasoline and the
automotive fuel rating of alternative liquid automotive fuel. These
requirements are specifically mandated by the Petroleum Marketing
Practices Act. See 15 U.S.C. Sec. 2822(a)-(c). The fuel rating
determination, certification, and labeling requirements establish a
framework that provides consumers with reliable, comparable, and
readily available information about the fuel ratings of similar types
of fuel.
The Rule also requires refiners, producers, importers, distributors
and retailers to retain records of delivery tickets, letters of
certification or tests upon which automotive fuel ratings are based.
The primary purpose of the Rule's recordkeeping requirements is to
preserve evidence of automotive fuel rating certification for
enforcement purposes.
Estimate of Information Collection Burden: 43,000 total burden
hours.
[[Page 43769]]
Recordkeeping: The FTC estimates that approximately 190,000
automotive fuel industry members retain records at an average annual
burden of 6 minutes per industry member, for a total recordkeeping
burden of 19,000 hours. Disclosures: The FTC also estimates that
approximately 24,000 distributors make required disclosures at an
average annual burden of 1 hour per industry member, for a total
disclosure burden of 24,000 hours.
Benjamin I. Berman,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-21799 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M