[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67708-67710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32259]


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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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Rules and Regulations under the Fur 
Products Labeling Act (Fur Rules) by adding the International System of 
Units (SI metric system) equivalents beside the inch/pound unit 
measurements in Secs. 301.19 and 301.27. 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. Section 301.43 is amended to replace the phrase ``capacity or 
tendency to mislead or deceive'' with language conforming with that set 
forth in recent Commission cases. Section 301.12(e)(2) is amended to 
eliminate obsolete country names. Section 301.19(k) is amended to 
change the reference to the Bureau of Textiles and Furs, which no 
longer exists, to the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Finally, 
Sec. 301.1(a)(2) is republished to correct a typographical error in the 
CFR.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 24, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of this final rule should sent to the 
Public Reference Branch, Room 130, Federal Trade Commission, 
Washington, DC 20580.

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) 235-4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The Fur Products Labeling Act (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(s) that produced the fur(s); (2) 
that the fur product contains or is composed of used fur, when such is 
the fact; (3) that the fur product contains or is composed of bleached, 
dyed, or otherwise artificially colored fur, when such is the fact; (4) 
that the fur product is composed in whole or in substantial part of 
paws, tails, bellies, or waste fur, when such is the fact; (5) the name 
under which the manufacturer or other responsible company does 
business, or in lieu there of, the RN issued to the company by the 
Commission; and (6) the name of the country of origin of any imported 
furs used in the fur product. Pursuant to Section 8(b) of the Fur Act, 
``[t]he Commission 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.
    As part of the Commission's systematic review of all current 
Commission rules, regulations, and guides, the Commission published a 
Federal Register notice on May 6, 1994, 59 FR 23645, seeking public 
comment about the regulatory and economic costs and benefits of the Fur 
Rules. The notice also stated that the Commission proposed to amend 
Secs. 301.19 and 301.27 to include the metric equivalents beside the 
inch/pound unit measurements already included in those Sections. 
Finally the notice stated that, should the Commission retain 
Sec. 301.43, it would be amended to reflect language conforming with 
that set forth in Cliffdale Associates, Inc., 103 F.T.C. 110, 164-65 
(1984) and subsequent cases.

II. Amendments to the Fur Rules

    In a separate notice of proposed rulemaking, the Commission 
summarizes the results of its regulatory review of the Fur Rules, and 
seeks comment on whether it should make additional substantive 
amendments to the rules. In this final rule, the Commission announces 
adoption of the amendments set out in the May 6, 1994, request for 
comment.
    Currently, Secs. 301.19 and 301.27 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

[[Page 67709]]

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 Secs. 301.19 and 301.27 were set out in 
the regulatory review notice. Three of the seven comments submitted in 
response to the regulatory review expressed general support for the 
proposed metrication amendments; \1\ the remaining comments did not 
address the metrication amendments at all. The proposed amendment to 
Sec. 301.43 was also set out in the regulatory review notice; none of 
the seven comments addressed this proposed amendment.
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    \1\ Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. (3) p. 6, American Textile 
Manufacturers Institute (4) p. 6, and Milliken & Company (7) 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 Fur Rules. The regulatory 
reviews of the Textile Rules, the Wool Rules, and the Fur Rules were 
undertaken simultaneously. In each case, these three Fur Rules 
comments are identical copies of submissions that were made under 
both the Textile Rules and the Wool Rules. The three comments 
express general support for adding metric equivalents to the inch/
pound measurements in all three of the Commission's implementing 
Rules.
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    The metrication amendments to Secs. 301.19 and 301.27 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. The amendment to Sec. 301.43 does not alter its 
substance; it merely replaces the phrase ``or has the capacity or 
tendency to mislead or deceive'' with language conforming with that set 
forth in Cliffdale Associates, Inc., 103 F.T.C. 110, 164-65 (1984) and 
subsequent cases.
    The changes to Secs. 301.12(e)(1), 301.19(k), and 301.1(a)(2) are 
technical and non-substantive. The Commission finds that notice-and-
comment rulemaking procedures are unnecessary for these minor changes 
because they will have no impact on industry or the public. Section 
301.12(e)(1) lists in its examples of country of origin disclosures two 
country names that are now obsolete. These obsolete names are 
eliminated in the revised section. Section 301.19(k) makes reference to 
the FTC's ``Bureau of Textiles and Furs,'' which no longer exists. 
Those functions are now part of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. 
Section 301.19(k) is revised to reflect this change. Section 
301.1(a)(2) contained a typographical error in the CFR publication; 
this is corrected here.

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 301

    Furs, Labeling, Trade practices.

    For the reasons set out above, the Commission amends 16 CFR Part 
301 as follows:

PART 301--RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE FUR PRODUCTS LABELING ACT

    1. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 69.

    2. Section 301.1(a)(2) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 301.1  Terms defined.

    (a) * * *
    (2) The terms rule, rules, regulations, and rules and regulations, 
mean the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to 
section 8(b) of the act.
* * * * *
    3. Section 301.12(e)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 301.12  Country of origin of imported furs.

* * * * *
    (e) (1) The English name of the country of origin shall be used. 
Abbreviations which unmistakably indicate the name of a country, such 
as ``Gt. Britain'' for ``Great Britain,'' are acceptable. Abbreviations 
such as ``N.Z.'' for ``New Zealand'' are not acceptable.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 301.19, paragraphs (i)(1), (i)(2), (i)(3), (k) and 
(l)(2) are revised to read as follows:


Sec. 301.19  Pointing, dyeing, bleaching or otherwise artificially 
coloring.

* * * * *
    (i) (1) 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 described 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.
    (2) 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 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 white ink for 
all other stamps or markings on the leather side of the pelt.
    (3) 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 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 yellow ink for all other stamps 
or markings on the leather side of the pelt.
* * * * *
    (k) Any person who possesses fur pelts of a type which are always 
considered as dyed under paragraph (d) of this section after processing 
or any person who processes fur pelts which are always natural at the 
time of sale to the ultimate consumer, which pelts for a valid reason 
cannot be marked or stamped as provided in this section, may file an 
affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer 
Protection setting forth such facts as will show that the pelts are 
always dyed or natural as the case may be and that the stamping of such 
pelts cannot be reasonably accomplished. If the Bureau of Consumer 
Protection is satisfied that the public interest will be protected by 
the filing of the affidavit, it may accept such affidavit and advise 
the affiant that marking of the fur pelts themselves as provided in 
this section will be unnecessary until further notice. Any person 
filing such an affidavit shall promptly notify the Commission of any 
change in circumstances with respect to its operations.
    (l) * * *
    (2) 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.
* * * * *
    5. Section 301.27 is revised to read as follows:

[[Page 67710]]

Sec. 301.27  Label and method of affixing.

    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). Such 
label shall be of a material of sufficient durability and shall be 
conspicuously affixed to the product in a secure manner and with 
sufficient permanency to remain thereon throughout the sale, resale, 
distribution and handling incident thereto, and shall remain on or be 
firmly affixed to the respective product when sold and delivered to the 
purchaser and purchaser-consumer thereof.
    6. Section 301.43 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 301.43  Use of deceptive trade or corporate names, trademarks or 
graphic representations prohibited.

    No person shall use in labeling, invoicing or advertising any fur 
or fur product a trade name, corporate name, trademark or other trade 
designation or graphic representation which misrepresents directly or 
by implication to purchasers, prospective purchasers or the consuming 
public:
    (a) The character of the product including method of construction;
    (b) The name of the animal producing the fur;
    (c) The method or manner of distribution; or
    (d) The geographical or zoological origin of the fur.

    By the direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-32259 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M