[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 58 (Friday, March 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14728-14729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7397]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

[File No. 9823257]


Design Zone, Inc.; Analysis to Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed consent agreement.

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SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged 
violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to 
Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft 
complaint that accompanies the consent agreement and the terms of the 
consent order--embodied in the consent agreement--that would settle 
these allegations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: FTC/Office of the Secretary, 
Room 159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Jennings, FTC/S-4302, 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-3010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 69(f) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46, and section 2.34 of 
the Commission's Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given 
that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order 
to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to 
final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record 
for a period of sixty (60) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public 
Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the 
allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of 
the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page 
(for March 16, 1999), on the World Wide Web, at ``http://www.ftc.gov/
os/actions97.htm.'' A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public 
Reference Room, Room H-130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326-3627.
    Public comment is invited. Comments should be directed to: FTC/
Office of the Secretary, Room 159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580. Two paper copies of each comment should be filed, 
and should be accompanied, if possible, by a 3\1/2\-inch diskette 
containing an electronic copy of the comment. Such comments or views 
will be considered by the Commission and will be available for 
inspection and copying at its principal office in accordance with 
section 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's Rules of Practice (16 CFR 
4.9(b)(6)(ii).

Analysis of Proposed Consent Order to Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission has accepted, subject to final 
approval, an agreement to a proposed consent order

[[Page 14729]]

from Design Zone, Inc. The agreement would settle a proposed complaint 
by the Federal Trade Commission that Design Zone violated the Textile 
Fiber Products Indentification Act and engaged in unfair or deceptive 
acts or practices in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade 
Commission Act.
    The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for 
sixty (60) days for reception of comments by interested persons. After 
sixty (60) days, the Commission will again review the agreement and the 
comments received and will decide whether it should withdraw from the 
agreement or make final the agreement's proposed order.
    This matter concerns country-of-origin labeling practices relating 
to the sale of cotton t-shirts and other textile wearing apparel. The 
proposed complaint charges that Design Zone removed labels saying 
``Made in China'' from t-shirts manufactured in China and substituted 
labels containing the statement ``Made in the USA'' or, in some 
instances, added the ``Made in USA'' labels without removing the ``Made 
in China'' labels.
    The proposed consent order contains provisions designed to prevent 
Design Zone from engaging in similar acts and practices in the future. 
Part I of the proposed order prohibits Design Zone from 
misrepresenting, in any manner, the extent to which t-shirts or other 
items of textile wearing apparel are made in the United States or any 
other country. It further prohibits it from violating any provision of 
the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.
    The proposed order also contains standard provisions regarding 
record-keeping, notification of changes in corporate status, 
distribution of the order, termination of the order, and filing of a 
compliance report.
    The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the 
proposed order, and it is not intended to constitute an official 
interpretation of the agreement and the proposed order or to modify 
their terms in any way.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-7397 Filed 3-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M