[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 237 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23883]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 303


Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products 
Identification Act

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) amends the 
Rules and Regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification 
Act (Textile Rules) pursuant to the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical 
Corrections Act of 2004, enacted December 3, 2004. That Act imposes 
specific requirements for the disclosure of country of origin of socks 
included within certain Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings. For the 
affected socks, the country of origin label must be on the front of the 
package, adjacent to the size designation. The amendments announced 
herein conform the Textile Rules to the amended Textile Fiber Products 
Identification Act (Textile Act). Because the amendments are technical 
in nature and merely incorporate the statutory change, the Commission 
finds that notice and comment are not required. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b). 
For this reason, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
also do not apply. See 5 U.S.C. 603, 604.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The amended Rules are effective on March 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the amended Rules should be sent to 
the Consumer Response Center, Room 202, Federal Trade Commission, 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. The notice announcing 
the amendments is available on the Internet at the Commission's Web 
site: http://www.ftc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Jennings, Attorney, 
[email protected], or Stephen Ecklund, Senior Investigator, 
[email protected], (202) 326-2996, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of 
Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Textile Act, 15 U.S.C. 70, and 
Commission rules pursuant to the Act, 16 CFR Part 303, require that 
sellers of covered textile products mark each product to show: (1) The 
fiber content, (2) the country of origin, and (3) the identity of the 
manufacturer or another business responsible for marketing or handling 
the item. The general requirements for affixing textile labels and the 
arrangement of information on labels are set forth in 16 CFR 303.15 and 
303.16.
    The Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004, 
Public Law No. 108-429, 118 Stat. 2594, amends the Textile Act by 
adding a new subsection, 15 U.S.C. 70b(k), which imposes special 
requirements for the country of origin labeling of socks that are 
included within subheadings 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 6115.99.18, 
6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, and 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States, as in effect on September 1, 2003. For 
those socks, the country of origin marking must always be placed on the 
front of the package. If size information for the product also appears 
on the front of the package, the country of origin marking must be 
adjacent to the size information for the product. If no size 
information appears on the package or if the size information appears 
on the back of the package, the country of origin marking must still be 
placed on the front of the package. The information must be set forth 
in a manner that is clearly legible, conspicuous, and readily 
accessible to the consumer. In addition, the marking must be as 
indelible or permanent as the nature of the article or package will 
permit. For socks that are not fully enclosed in a package, but are 
banded together by a label or hangtag, the information must be placed 
on the front of the label or tag.
    There is an exception to this requirement for socks included in a 
package that also contains other types of goods (for example, a baby 
outfit that includes socks as well as other items of clothing). 
However, such packages of multiple items must comply with other 
relevant subsections of the Textile Rules. See, e.g., 16 CFR 303.28 
(products contained in packages) and 303.29 (labeling of pairs or 
products containing two or more units).

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 303

    Labeling, Textile fiber products identification, Trade Practices.


0
For the reasons set forth above, the Commission amends 16 CFR Part 303 
as follows:

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

0
1. The authority citation for Part 303 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 70 et seq.


0
2. Section 303.15 is amended by adding paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  303.15  Required label and method of affixing.

* * * * *
    (d) Socks provided for in subheading 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 
6115.99.18, 6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, or 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on September 1, 
2003, shall be marked, as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the 
nature of the article or package will permit, to disclose the English 
name of the country of origin. This disclosure shall appear on the 
front of the package, adjacent to the size designation of the product, 
and shall be set forth in such a manner as to be clearly legible, 
conspicuous, and readily accessible to the ultimate consumer. Provided, 
however, any package that contains several different types of goods and 
includes socks classified under subheading 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 
6115.99.18, 6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, or 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on September 1, 
2003, shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection.

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-23883 Filed 12-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P