[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57950-57970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27036]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 10, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 57950]]



FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 305

[RIN 3084-AB03]


Appliance Labeling Rule

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'').

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: Section 321 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
2007 requires the Commission to conduct a rulemaking to consider the 
effectiveness of current labeling requirements for lamps (commonly 
referred to as ``light bulbs'') and to consider alternative labeling 
approaches. After reviewing public comments and consumer research, the 
Commission seeks comments on proposed changes to the existing labeling 
requirements for lamp products.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 28, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
electronically or in paper form by following the instructions in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Comments in electronic form 
should be submitted by using the following weblink: (https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/lampamendmentsNPRM) (and following the 
instructions on the web-based form). Comments filed in paper form 
should be mailed or delivered to the following address: Federal Trade 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135(Annex N), 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580, in the manner detailed 
in the Request for Comment part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hampton Newsome, (202) 326-2889, or 
Lemuel Dowdy, (202) 326-2981, Attorneys, Division of Enforcement, 
Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Room NJ-2122, 
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Background
III. Current FTC Labeling
IV. Consumer Research
V. Effectiveness of Current Labeling Requirements
VI. Proposed Rule Changes
A. Proposed Product Coverage
B. Proposed Package Labeling
1. Front and Rear Panel Format
2. Required Package Disclosures
a. Brightness/ Light Output
b. Energy Use/ Efficiency
c. Life
d. Color Appearance
e. Voltage
f. Mercury Disclosure
3. Affirmative Disclosures for Energy Cost and Life Claims on 
Package
4. Total Lifecycle Cost (Not Proposed for Label)
5. Color Rendering Index (Not Proposed for Label)
C. Product Labeling
D. Reporting Requirements
E. Website and Paper Catalog Requirements
VII. Consumer Education
VIII. Section by Section Description of Proposed Changes
IX. Request for Comment
X. Communications by Outside Parties to the Commissioners or Their 
Advisors
XI. Paperwork Reduction Act
XII. Regulatory Flexibility Act
XIII. Proposed Rule Language

I. Introduction

    In accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 
(Pub. L. 110-140) (``EISA''), the Commission has considered the 
effectiveness of current requirements and alternative approaches for 
labeling lamps, commonly referred to as light bulbs.\1\ After reviewing 
public comments and conducting consumer research, the Commission now 
proposes amendments to the Appliance Labeling Rule (16 CFR Part 305) 
that would require light bulb packages to display brightness and energy 
cost information on the front panel and a detailed ``Lighting Facts'' 
label on the side or rear. The proposed amendments also would require 
certain disclosures on the bulbs. These new labeling requirements 
should help consumers choose energy efficient bulbs that meet their 
lighting needs. The Commission seeks comments on these proposed 
changes.
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    \1\ This Notice uses the terms lamp, light bulb, and bulb 
interchangeably.
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    To facilitate comment, this Notice provides background on the EISA 
provisions, the current labeling requirements, the public comments, and 
the FTC consumer research; details the proposed changes to the 
labeling, reporting, website and catalog requirements; discusses 
proposed consumer education measures; provides a section by section 
description of the proposed changes; and analyzes the impact of the 
proposed changes pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act and the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

II. Background

    EISA directs the Department of Energy (``DOE'') to issue stringent 
energy efficiency standards for lighting products. These standards will 
eliminate low efficiency incandescent light bulbs from store shelves. 
The remaining high efficiency light bulbs will include products widely 
available now, such as compact fluorescent lamps (``CFLs''), as well as 
products that are likely to become increasingly available in the future 
such as improved incandescent bulbs and very high efficiency solid-
state lighting (e.g., light-emitting diode (LED) products).
    Given these changes, Congress directed the FTC to consider the 
effectiveness of its current light bulb disclosure requirements and 
possible alternative labeling disclosures that could help consumers 
understand new high-efficiency bulbs and help them choose bulbs that 
meet their needs.\2\ In particular, the law directs the Commission to 
consider labeling disclosures that address consumer needs for 
information about lighting level, light quality, lamp life, and total 
lifecycle cost. The Commission must complete this effort by June 
2010.\3\ EISA (section 321(c)) also requires DOE, in cooperation with 
the FTC and other agencies, to conduct a ``proactive

[[Page 57951]]

national program of consumer awareness, information, and education'' to 
help consumers understand new light bulb labels and make energy-
efficient lighting choices that meet their needs.
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    \2\ Section 321(b) of EISA amends section 324(a)(2)(C) of the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) (42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(C)). 
Additional amendments in EISA redesignate 6294(a)(2)(C) as 
6294(a)(2)(D) (see section 324(d) of EISA).
    \3\ Section 321(b) of EISA (42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(D)) also gives 
the Commission the discretion to ``consider reopening the rulemaking 
not later than 180 days before the effective dates of the standards 
for general service incandescent lamps [implemented by DOE], if the 
Commission determines that further labeling changes are needed to 
help consumers understand lamp alternatives.''
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    To begin fulfilling this mandate, the Commission published an 
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (``ANPR'') on July 18, 2008 (73 
FR 40988) seeking comment, and then held a public roundtable on 
September 15, 2008.\4\ Commenters and roundtable participants discussed 
the effectiveness of current labeling requirements, as well as whether 
labeling alternatives would help consumers in their purchasing 
decisions. Using this information, the Commission conducted a consumer 
research study to aid in determining what revisions, if any, it should 
make to existing labeling requirements.\5\
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    \4\ The comments received in response to the ANPR are at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/lightbulbs/index.shtm). A transcript of the 
Roundtable can be found at (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/lamp/transcript.pdf).
    \5\ See 73 FR 72800 (Dec. 1, 2008); 74 FR 7894 (Feb. 20, 2009). 
See comments at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/lampstudypra2/index.shtm).
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III. Current FTC Labeling

    Current FTC regulations require that most incandescent and compact 
fluorescent lamp packages display information about the product's light 
output (in lumens), energy use (in watts), and lamp life (in hours).\6\ 
The package disclosures also must provide the following statement: ``To 
save energy costs, find the bulbs with the light output you need, then 
choose the one with
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.067

Figure 1

Example of Current Disclosures
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    \6\ The FTC issued the current lighting disclosure requirements 
in 1994 (see 16 CFR Sec. Sec.  305.15(a), (b), & (c)). See 59 FR 
25176 (May 13, 1994). Figure 1 contains a sample of the current 
label.
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the lowest watts.'' Additionally, catalog retailers (including 
websites) must disclose this information for the covered lamps they 
sell.\7\ The current rule provides manufacturers flexibility regarding 
the size, font, and style in which the information is presented, but 
otherwise mandates the wording, relative size, and order of the 
disclosures.\8\ Figure 1 provides one example of how the disclosures 
required by the current rule may appear on the package.
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    \7\ 16 CFR 305.20.
    \8\ In addition to the requirements for common household (medium 
screw base) light bulbs, the rule directs manufacturers of 
fluorescent lamp ballasts and luminaires, metal halide lamp 
fixtures, and certain tube-type (``general service'') fluorescent 
lamps to mark their products with an encircled ``E,'' a symbol 
signifying compliance with DOE minimum efficiency standards. See 16 
CFR 305.15. Packages for incandescent reflector lamps must also 
display the encircled ``E'' as well as information on light output, 
energy use, and watts.
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    The current rule also requires manufacturers to possess and rely 
upon a reasonable basis consisting of competent and reliable scientific 
tests to substantiate the information on their labels. For lamp life 
and light output representations, the rule states that the Commission 
will accept as substantiation data derived from applicable IES 
(``Illuminating Engineering Society'') test protocols.\9\ The rule, 
however, does not require manufacturers to use these protocols.
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    \9\ See 16 CFR 305.5. For fluorescent lamp ballasts, the rule 
requires manufacturers to derive energy consumption information 
using specific DOE test procedures (10 CFR Part 430, subpart B, 
430.23(q)). There were no DOE test procedures available for other 
lighting products when the FTC first published the lamp labeling 
rules in 1994.
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IV. Consumer Research

    In its ANPR, the Commission requested that commenters provide 
consumer research related to lighting disclosures. However, no 
commenters submitted or identified any recent, comprehensive consumer 
studies. Therefore, the FTC, through a contractor, conducted a consumer 
focus group about various light bulb attributes in October 2008.\10\ 
After considering the results of this focus group, the FTC conducted a 
quantitative label study in the Spring of 2009.\11\
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    \10\ A report on the focus group (``FTC Focus Group Report''), 
prepared by FTC's contractor, Synovate, Inc., is available at 
(http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/lightbulbs/index.shtm).
    \11\ The Commission announced this study in a December 1, 2008 
notice (73 FR 72800) and provided details regarding the research in 
a February 20, 2009 notice (74 FR 7894). Comments received in 
response to the February 20, 2009 notice are available at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/lampstudypra2/index.shtm).

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[[Page 57952]]

    The label study employed standard consumer survey methodologies, 
including choice experiments, to explore how different disclosure 
approaches impact consumer decision-making.\12\ The FTC analyzed the 
data using a multi-variate probit model to determine which disclosure 
approaches were most successful in helping respondents choose correct 
answers, holding other factors constant.\13\ The study did not generate 
information about national public opinion and did not provide 
nationally representative results. Instead, the results provided the 
FTC with information about the comparative effectiveness of various 
label approaches.\14\
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    \12\ The FTC's contractor administered questions over the 
Internet to a sample of approximately 5,600 respondents who were at 
least 18 years old and were recent or likely future light bulb 
purchasers.
    \13\ A probit analysis is a statistical technique that uses 
several independent variables to predict the probability of some 
outcome, such as the probability that a correct answer will be 
selected. In some cases, the FTC staff also performed Pearson's chi-
squared tests to test for significant differences across treatment 
groups in the proportion of respondents selecting the correct 
answer.
    \14\ The complete results (``Lamp Labeling Consumer Research 
Supplement to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Related to the 
Effectiveness of the Current Lamp Labeling Requirements (16 CFR Part 
305)''), including the questionnaire and all other study details, 
are available at (www.ftc.gov/energy).
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    In addition to the FTC research, the Commission considered 
concurrent research conducted in 2009 by Natural Resources Canada 
(``NRCan'').\15\ NRCan's research sought to gather information on 
`Canadians' knowledge, perceptions and understanding of household 
lighting, both in terms of the product and the terminology used to 
describe it.'' Specifically, NRCan conducted ten focus groups and an 
online survey. The survey explored Canadian consumers' experiences with 
different bulb types, their understanding of energy efficiency related 
to lighting options, their understanding of lighting terminology, the 
criteria they use in the selection of light bulbs, and their reaction 
to different labeling concepts.\16\
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    \15\ ``Lighting Survey: Combined Executive Summary,'' Sage 
Research Corporation (prepared for the Canadian Electricity 
Association and Natural Resources Canada) (``NRCan Lighting 
Survey'') May 2009, at 2.
    \16\ See generally NRCan Lighting Survey.
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V. Effectiveness of Current Labeling Requirements

    In considering the effectiveness of the current label, the 
Commission reviewed comments, information provided at the fall 
roundtable, and the consumer research. The review yielded two primary 
conclusions. First, the use of watts in the required disclosure is 
problematic because consumers tend to use watts (instead of lumens) as 
a measure of brightness. Second, the current FTC disclosures do not 
provide some types of information that may be important to consumers.
    The comments and research show that consumers interpret wattage to 
measure brightness even though wattage is a measure of energy use. For 
instance, the Focus Group Report concluded that ``respondents 
mistakenly understood the measure of brightness to be wattage, and this 
was how they selected bulbs.''\17\ In the FTC label study, respondents 
viewing label variations including watts on the front panel, who were 
asked to choose the brightest bulb, were somewhat more likely to pick 
the incorrect bulb than respondents viewing labels with other energy 
descriptors.\18\ Thus, a significant number of respondents viewing 
those variations appear to have based their brightness determination on 
wattage information, rather than criteria intended to communicate light 
output. Similarly, the Canadian research concluded that the majority of 
respondents in Canada think of ``watts as a measure of brightness or 
both as a measure of brightness and energy use.''\19\
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    \17\ FTC Focus Group Report at 6.
    \18\ Question 201 asked respondents to choose the bulb that 
would fill their room with as much light as possible. Question 202 
asked them to give their second choice. Of the respondents who 
viewed watts as the only descriptor on the front panel, 59.28% and 
49.72% correctly answered Questions 201 and 202, respectively; 
whereas 66.72% and 52.92% of respondents who did not view watts on 
the front panel correctly answered Questions 201 and 202, 
respectively. See Consumer Research Supplement at 356.
    \19\ The NRCan research study states: ``When asked to describe 
in their own words their understanding of ``watts,'' less than half 
(42%) of respondents mentioned something approximating the correct 
definition of energy/power use, while 64% mentioned brightness (or 
synonyms).'' NRCan Lighting Survey at 17. The NRCan research also 
found that the majority of Canadians ``still have an incandescent 
mindset in how they tend to think about lighting choices, the 
terminology they use, and the criteria they use to make decisions 
about what they buy.'' NRCan Lighting Survey at 14.
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    Consumers' use of watts, and not lumens, to gauge light output 
worked in a market dominated by incandescent bulbs because the wattage 
(i.e., energy use) of incandescent lamps provides a consistent proxy 
for brightness (i.e., light output). For example, a ``100-watt'' 
incandescent bulb typically provides enough light for reading while a 
``40-watt'' incandescent bulb typically provides sufficient brightness 
to light a hallway or utility room. However, a wattage based approach 
does not work in a market that includes different high efficiency bulbs 
because the wattage needed to attain a particular light output can 
differ substantially across these technologies.\20\
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    \20\ For example, a traditional, standard incandescent bulb 
typically uses 100 watts to provide 1,600 lumens of light output. A 
CFL, on the other hand, can provide the same light output using only 
25 watts, while an LED lamp may use even less energy to produce the 
same light output.
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    In addition to concerns about wattage disclosures, the Commission's 
review identified three types of important information the current 
disclosures do not address. First, the current disclosures do not 
provide consumers with energy cost information. Many commenters 
identified energy cost as important information for the FTC label.\21\ 
Second, the current rule does not require color temperature information 
(i.e., the cool or warm appearance of a bulb's light). Color 
temperature garnered significant attention in the comments and during 
the roundtable because, as more color temperature variations become 
available, particularly for high efficiency bulbs, uniform color 
temperature information may become increasingly important.\22\ Finally, 
some commenters noted that there are no current federal disclosures 
regarding the mercury content in CFLs.\23\ They argued that such 
information is important to help consumers understand how to safely use 
and dispose of these products.
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    \21\ See, e.g., sample labels from Philips, GE, OSRAM, and NRDC 
at (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/lamp/index.shtml).
    \22\ For example, session two of the Roundtable addressed color 
disclosures. See (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/lamp/index.shtml).
    \23\ See GE (540385-00002) and NEMA (540385-
00005).
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VI. Proposed Rule Changes

    The Commission is proposing significant changes to its light bulb 
labeling requirements. These changes affect the rule's product 
coverage, the required package and product disclosures, reporting, and 
website (catalog) disclosures. In drafting these requirements, the 
Commission considered the severe space limitations on typical light 
bulb packaging and sought to propose simple, straightforward 
disclosures.

A. Proposed Product Coverage

    The proposed amendments apply to common household (medium screw 
base) light bulbs, including general service incandescent bulbs and 
CFLs. These two technologies are the most commonly available bulbs 
presently on the market. The amendments also would apply to medium 
screw base light emitting diode (LED) lamps, which

[[Page 57953]]

are likely to become widely available over the next few years.\24\ 
Though the EISA amendments do not expressly require labeling for LEDs 
(42 U.S.C. 6294),\25\ the Commission proposes to cover them using its 
general authority to label consumer products under 42 U.S.C. 
6294(a)(6).\26\
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    \24\ LED products are more efficient and last longer than both 
incandescent and CFL bulbs and can replace those bulbs in common 
residential fixtures. The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is 
currently supporting domestic research and development for new 
solid-state lighting technologies. For more information about DOE's 
efforts and LED technology in general, see (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/).
    \25\ The EISA amendments included definitions for solid-state 
lighting products (e.g., LED), but did not alter the scope of 
lighting products for which labeling is required. Therefore, the 
current law does not specifically direct the FTC to require labeling 
for solid-state lighting products. (See 42 U.S.C. 6291(30)(BB-DD) 
and 42 U.S.C. 6294(a)).
    \26\ Section 6294(a)(6) gives the Commission authority to 
require disclosures for consumer products not subject to specific 
labeling requirements in section 6294 (i.e., products ``not 
specified'' under existing labeling requirements). The law defines 
``consumer product'' as any article (other than an automobile) which 
``in operation consumes, or is designed to consume energy'' and 
``which, to any significant extent is distributed in commerce for 
personal use or consumption by an individual.'' 42 U.S.C. 6291(1). 
The Commission believes that labeling for LED bulbs is likely to 
assist consumers in their purchasing decisions because they are 
substitutes for incandescents and CFLs and are likely to become 
increasingly available for household use.
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    To effect the coverage of these three bulb types, the proposed rule 
requires the new labels for any ``general service lamp,'' a term 
defined in the proposed rule to include any medium screw base lamp that 
is a general service incandescent, CFL, or general service LED.\27\ 
This proposed coverage is consistent with commenter suggestions urging 
the Commission to require consistent disclosures for lamps regardless 
of technologies.\28\
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    \27\ The Commission also plans to use section 6294(a)(6) to 
require labeling for two types of incandescent bulbs: reflector 
lamps and 3-way incandescent lamps. Prior to EISA, the Commission's 
rules covered such products because they fell under the statutory 
definition of ``general service incandescent lamp.'' The EISA 
amendments, however, appear to have inadvertently removed these 
products from the labeling section by excluding them from the 
definition of ``general service incandescent lamps.'' See 42 U.S.C. 
6291(30)(D). The Commission proposes to continue required labeling 
for reflector lamps and 3-way incandescent lamps because they have 
been labeled by the FTC for more than a decade, because they remain 
common products for which continued labeling would assist consumers, 
and because no comments suggest any reason for excluding them. The 
Commission seeks comment on this proposal, including any reasons why 
these lamps should not be subject to the labeling requirements.
    \28\ See, e.g., Phillips (536795-00015), Energy 
Solutions (536795-00010), NRDC (536795-0003), and 
CEE (536795-00011). The Commission also seeks comment on 
whether there are other types of consumer lamps that the Commission 
should include under the new labeling requirements proposed in this 
Notice.
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B. Proposed Package Labeling

    The proposed package labeling amendments create a two-panel 
labeling format: a front panel with brightness and energy cost 
information and a Lighting Facts label with additional information on 
the side or rear panel (see Figure 2). This two-panel approach benefits 
consumers by providing the most important information in a simple-to-
read format on the package front and more detailed information on the 
side or rear panel. The proposed required disclosures are brightness, 
energy cost, life, color appearance, wattage, mercury content, and, for 
non-standard voltage bulbs, voltage information. The proposed 
amendments also allow manufacturers the discretion to provide the 
ENERGY STAR logo (if applicable). Additionally, the amendments expand 
the current rules for voluntary cost and life claims, and do not 
require manufacturers to make disclosures regarding a light bulb's 
lifecycle or its color rendering index. Finally, in addition to 
changing the disclosures on package labels, the amendments would 
require the bulbs themselves to display brightness and mercury 
information.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.068


[[Page 57954]]



FRONT PANEL

REAR PANEL

Figure 2

Front Panel and Lighting Facts

1. Front and Rear Panel Format
    Under the proposed rule, the front panel displays brightness in the 
form of lumens and energy information in the form of annual energy 
cost. Brightness and energy information warrant placement on the front 
panel because both are particularly important to consumers. 
Participants in the FTC focus group identified ``brightness'' as the 
most important bulb attribute.\29\ In the FTC label study, respondents 
gave high scores to the importance of brightness as well as energy 
information.\30\ Similarly, the NRCan research indicated that the ``two 
top pieces of information people look for on light bulb packaging are 
brightness and energy usage or efficiency.''\31\ The prominent 
disclosure of these two key pieces of information on the front panel 
should allow consumers to make quick comparisons in the store.
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    \29\ FTC Focus Group Report at 6.
    \30\ Respondents in the FTC label study also scored bulb life 
high in terms of importance. However, the Canadian research 
indicated that consumers refer to bulb life only ``on occasion'' 
when buying light bulbs and ranked life below brightness and energy 
efficiency as a descriptor that ``must'' appear on the label. NRCan 
Lighting Survey at 13. Given the contradictory research results and 
the need to minimize disclosures on the front package, the 
Commission proposes to require life information on the Lighting 
Facts label, but not on the package front.
    \31\ NRCan Lighting Survey at 13. When asked what information 
must appear on the label, the Canadian opinion survey results 
indicated an 83% response rate for brightness, 74% for energy 
efficiency, and 69% for bulb life.
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    The rear or side panel features a more detailed Lighting Facts 
label similar in format to the ``Nutrition Facts'' and ``Drug Facts'' 
labels required by the Food and Drug Administration. Each of these 
proposed disclosures is discussed in detail in Section B.2. To ensure 
uniformity, the proposed rule limits the permissible disclosures on the 
Lighting Facts label.
    The Lighting Facts label has several benefits.\32\ First, it 
provides a format consistent with other government mandated labels, 
which should help consumers find information to compare bulbs. Second, 
the label reinforces the brightness and cost information on the front 
of the package, including detail about the electricity rate and usage 
assumptions underlying the energy cost estimate. Third, the label 
provides detailed information in a small space, which is a particular 
concern given the size of typical light bulb packages. Finally, it 
provides uniform information that online sellers would be able to use 
to comply with the catalog disclosure requirements (section 305.20).
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    \32\ ``Lighting Facts'' is a trademark held by the U.S. 
Government through the DOE solid-state lighting program. During the 
Roundtable and in comments, several commenters suggested a uniform 
label consistent with the ``Nutrition Facts.'' See, e.g., Roundtable 
Tr. at 107, 108, 120, and 121; Philips 536795-00015.
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    The Commission considered requiring only a Lighting Facts label 
(with no required disclosures on the front of the package). In the FTC 
label study, however, the label variation which contained only the 
Lighting Facts label did not perform as well as two-panel variations in 
aiding respondents to answer questions regarding light output.\33\
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    \33\ Question 201 asked respondents to choose the bulb that 
would fill their room with as much light as possible. Question 202 
asked them to give their second choice. Of respondents who viewed 
the Lighting Facts label only, 52.56% and 39.49% correctly answered 
Questions 201 and 202, respectively; whereas 66.17% and 53.17% of 
respondents who viewed two panel label formats correctly answered 
the questions, respectively. See Consumer Research Supplement at 
357.
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    The Commission seeks comment on whether the rule should require a 
front and back label format as proposed. The Commission also seeks 
comment on whether the Lighting Facts label will fit on existing 
packages and whether the FTC needs to specify an alternative format for 
packages that are too small for the proposed label.
2. Required Package Disclosures
    The proposed amendments require six mandatory disclosures on the 
package: brightness, energy cost, bulb life, color temperature 
(appearance), wattage, and, in some cases, voltage and mercury 
information.
a. Brightness/Light Output
    Two significant problems with the current labeling requirements 
shaped the Commission's approach to light output disclosures. First, as 
discussed in section V, the current label highlights bulb wattage on 
the front of the package as an energy descriptor, but consumers tend to 
use it to measure light output. Second, many consumers do not 
understand that lumens provides a consistent measurement of light 
output. For example, in the FTC label study, even when provided with 
lumens information, roughly one-fifth of respondents mistakenly chose 
the dimmest bulb when asked to choose the brightest model.\34\ 
Similarly, the majority of respondents in the NRCan study did not 
understand that ``lumens'' or even ``light output'' convey 
brightness.\35\
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    \34\ In Question 201, 17.9% of all respondents chose the dimmest 
bulb when asked to choose the bulb that would fill their room with 
the most light. See Consumer Research Supplement at 89.
    \35\ NRCan Lighting Survey Combined Executive Summary at 17. The 
NRCan focus group report indicated that ``quite a few'' participants 
``said they were not sure what `light output' means.'' Lighting 
Research Focus Groups Final Report, Sage Research Corporation (for 
NRCan and the Canadian Electrical Association), May 20, 2009 
(``NRCan Focus Group Report'') at 22.
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    To address these two concerns and enhance consumer understanding of 
the light output of high efficiency bulbs, the Commission proposes two 
changes to the labeling requirements. First, the amended rule would 
remove mandatory wattage information from the front of the package, 
while maintaining a prominent lumens disclosure. This change should 
help consumers focus on lumens, instead of watts, to determine light 
output. A less prominent wattage disclosure would appear on the 
Lighting Facts label for consumers and professionals who want to know 
the wattage of a bulb. Second, the proposed amendments change the term 
describing lumens from ``light output'' to ``brightness.''\36\ Both the 
FTC focus group and NRCan research suggest that consumers prefer the 
term ``brightness'' to ``light output,''\37\ and participants at the 
FTC's Roundtable routinely used the term ``brightness'' when describing 
the light output of lamps.\38\
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    \36\ The Commission recognizes that the technical term to 
describe a light source's lumen output is ``luminous flux,'' not 
``brightness'' (or even ``light output''). However, this technical 
distinction is unlikely to be material to consumers.
    \37\ FTC Focus Group Report at 3; and NRCan Lighting Survey at 
17. The FTC Focus Group Report concluded that: ``All respondents 
agreed that `Brightness' was a far superior communication than 
`Light Output.' `Brightness' was direct, easy to understand, and 
most importantly, the word respondents already use when referring to 
this attribute.'' The NRCan survey report recommended that lumen 
disclosures be prefaced with a widely understood term such as 
``brightness.'' The NRCan focus group indicated that several 
participants stated that they would have paid more attention to 
package information it if had been labeled ``brightness'' because 
that is a much more familiar term. NRCan Focus Group Report at 22.
    \38\ See, e.g., Roundtable Tr. at 32, 35, 41, 67, and 121.
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    In addition to these labeling changes, the Commission recommends 
education efforts to help consumers understand how to use lumens. When 
properly understood, lumens permit consumers to determine whether a 
bulb provides sufficient light to meet their needs across technologies. 
The DOE-led consumer education programs required by section 
321(c)(1)(C) of EISA provide an opportunity to improve consumer 
understanding of lumens, and the FTC plans to work with DOE as it 
implements these programs. In addition, the FTC may develop its own 
consumer education materials and strategies.

[[Page 57955]]

    The Commission also considered whether to require watt equivalence 
information to help consumers compare the light output of high 
efficiency bulbs to incandescent bulbs. Manufacturers routinely 
communicate light output on CFL packages by providing conspicuous 
comparisons to incandescent lamps (e.g., ``this bulb is a `100-watt' 
equivalent'' or ``13W=60W'').\39\ Although both industry practice and 
the NRCan research suggest that watt equivalence information aids 
consumers in understanding the brightness of high efficiency bulbs,\40\ 
the proposed rule does not require such information for two reasons. 
First, watt-equivalence information is likely to become much less 
important as the new DOE energy standards render most incandescent 
bulbs obsolete. Indeed, by the time any new FTC labeling rules become 
effective, the DOE standards eliminating traditional low efficiency 
incandescent bulbs will be close at hand. Second, mandatory wattage 
equivalence information could perpetuate consumer reliance on outdated 
incandescent watt information and hinder their transition to using 
lumens.\41\
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    \39\ Several comments recommend that the FTC require watt-
equivalence information on the label. See, e.g., CEE 
(536795-00011), NRDC (536795-00003), and ACEEE 
(536795-00012). In addition, NRDC urged the Commission to 
set standards for watt equivalence claims. NRDC (536795-
0003). NRDC also suggested the creation of categories similar to 
batteries (such as A, AAA, C, etc.), to describe light output. 
Roundtable Tr. at 29 (Horowitz). However, the Commission believes it 
is better to focus on educating consumers about lumens, a descriptor 
that already exists and may have some consumer recognition, rather 
than to create an entirely new system.
    \40\ NRCan Lighting Survey at 13. In the FTC label study, 
wattage equivalent information included on the Lighting Facts labels 
did not make a difference in respondents' ability to choose the 
brightest bulb. The study, however, did not explore whether such 
information helped consumers relate CFL brightness to their 
experience with the wattage (and associated brightness) of 
incandescent bulbs.
    \41\ The Commission expects that, in the short term, 
manufacturers will continue to make watt equivalence representations 
voluntarily. As the market rapidly changes over the next few years, 
manufacturers can adjust such voluntary representations to evolving 
consumer understanding and reevaluate the need for watt equivalence 
disclosures with greater flexibility than the Commission can through 
rulemaking. Nevertheless, to avoid consumer confusion, when making 
such claims manufacturers should ensure that the incandescent bulb 
they are comparing is similar to the CFL (or LED) they are selling 
not only in brightness, but also in other material respects such as 
bulb type and color appearance. Manufacturers, of course, must also 
substantiate all other material claims they make about the product.
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b. Energy Use/Efficiency
    As discussed in Section VI.b.1., a bulb's energy information is 
important to consumers whether they are concerned about their 
electricity bills, improving the environment by using less energy, or 
both. The current rule provides energy information to consumers in the 
form of watts. However, the FTC looked for an alternative because of 
consumers' tendency to equate watts with brightness.
    Commenters suggested three alternatives: annual energy cost, lumens 
per watt, and a five-star rating system.\42\ In general, annual energy 
cost is a measure of energy use while lumens per watt and the star 
rating are measures of energy efficiency (i.e., energy the product uses 
for a given light output). More specifically, annual energy cost 
communicates a bulb's energy use by converting watts to dollars per 
year based on a given electricity rate and daily usage estimate; lumens 
per watt communicates a bulb's energy efficiency by providing the 
number of lumens the bulb produces for a single watt of energy; and the 
five-star system communicates the energy efficiency of the bulb by 
assigning a star rating (e.g., three stars) to a bulb's energy 
efficiency (as measured in lumens per watt). The FTC consumer research 
explored each of these approaches in conjunction with the ENERGY STAR 
logo, which also communicates energy efficiency information.
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    \42\ See sample labels from Philips, GE, OSRAM, and NRDC at 
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/lamp/index.shtml). See also, e.g., 
EPA comments (536795-00006), NRDC comments (suggesting five 
star system and energy cost) (536795-00003), and NEMA 
(suggesting energy cost) (536795-00007). Some comments also 
suggested consideration of lifetime cost (see, e.g., NEMA 
(536795-00007). However, the Commission has not explored 
lifetime cost in detail because the tremendous variability of bulb 
life makes it a confusing descriptor. For example, an efficient bulb 
that lasts 20 years and costs $1 per year to operate would have a 
lifetime cost of $20 whereas a lower efficiency bulb that last 2 
years and costs $2 per year to run would have a lifetime cost of $4. 
The labels in this scenario could lead consumers to choose the lower 
efficiency bulb simply because the cost printed on its label is 
lower.
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    After considering the research results and the comments, the 
Commission proposes to require annual energy cost as the primary energy 
disclosure on the front package panel and on the rear (or side panel) 
Lighting Facts label. Specifically, the proposed rule would require 
that the front panel display ``estimated energy cost'' in an annual 
dollar figure (e.g., $7.49 per year). The proposed Lighting Facts label 
also provides this information with rate and usage assumptions (i.e., 3 
hours per day and 11.4 cents per kWh),\43\ and a disclosure that actual 
cost depends on a consumer's electricity rates and usage.
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    \43\ The general consensus at the Roundtable was that 3 hours 
per day was a reasonable figure to use for such estimates. 
Roundtable Tr. at 54. The electricity cost figure is based on 2009 
DOE data. See 74 FR 26675 (June 3, 2009). Consistent with the 
Commission's approach on the EnergyGuide label (16 CFR 305.10), the 
Commission would change the cost rate every five years based on DOE 
data. This approach minimizes label changes while ensuring that cost 
information is based on a reasonable estimate of national average 
electricity costs. However, as with appliance labeling, the 
Commission may revisit the energy cost estimate sooner than five 
years should such costs change significantly.
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    The Commission has decided to propose requiring annual energy cost 
for three reasons. First, estimated annual energy cost provides a 
simple way to convey how much energy a bulb is likely to use.\44\ In 
essence, the disclosure is a conversion of wattage to the amount of 
money the bulb costs to operate in a year. Second, in the label study, 
compared to the five-star rating and the lumens per watt disclosure, 
energy cost information performed well in enabling respondents to 
answer energy questions correctly.\45\ Specifically, for questions 
asking respondents to pick the bulb that used the least (or, for some 
questions, most) energy, the energy cost descriptor somewhat 
outperformed the five-star rating and substantially outperformed the 
lumens per watt disclosure.\46\ For most questions asking respondents 
to pick the most energy efficient bulb, energy cost performed as well 
as the

[[Page 57956]]

five-star rating and substantially better than lumens per watt.\47\
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    \44\ The NRCan Focus Group Report stated that ``some 
participants liked the idea of expressing energy usage in terms of 
operating cost per year, as they felt dollar figures are tangible, 
easily understood, and motivating.'' NRCan Focus Group Report at 8.
    \45\ Respondents in the label study who viewed watts were 
somewhat more likely to answer correctly most energy-related 
questions in the FTC labeling study (Questions 213, 213.1, 214, 
214.1, 215, 216, and 216.1) than respondents who viewed other energy 
descriptors. See Consumer Research Supplement at 360-362. However, 
the proposed rule does not require such information on the front of 
the package because of the significant confusion it causes related 
to light output as discussed in Section IV.A.2.b. The proposed rule 
retains a less prominent watts disclosure on the Lighting Facts 
label because such precise wattage information may be important to 
some consumers.
    \46\ Two questions (213 and 215) asked respondents to view three 
bulbs and choose the one that used the least amount of energy. In 
Question 213, the percentage of respondents who answered the 
question correctly, grouped by front-panel energy descriptor, were: 
energy cost (74.5%); stars (69.94%); and lumens per watt (50.62%). 
For Question 215, the results were: energy cost (79.9%); stars 
(70.42%); and lumens per watt (41.71%). Two other questions (214 and 
216) asked respondents to view three bulbs and choose the one that 
used the most energy. In Question 214, the percentage of respondents 
who answered the question correctly, grouped by front-panel energy 
descriptor, were: energy cost (71.83%); stars (67.58%); and lumens 
per watt (47.68%). For Question 216, the results were: energy cost 
(71.61%); stars (68.34%); and lumens per watt (48.91%). See Consumer 
Research Supplement at 363-366.
    \47\ For example, Question 213.1 asked respondents to view three 
bulbs and choose the most energy efficient one. The percentage of 
respondents who answered that question correctly, grouped by front-
panel descriptor, were: stars (81.66%); energy cost (81.09%); and 
lumens per watt (63.22%). Both Questions 214.1 and 216.1 asked 
respondents to choose the least efficient bulb (though each question 
displayed a different set of bulbs). The percentage of respondents 
who answered Question 214.1 correctly were: energy cost (77.17%); 
stars (76.28%); and lumens per watt (57.91%). For Question 216.1, 
the results were: stars (80.25%); energy cost (78.02%); and lumens 
per watt (63.51%). The differences between the cost and star 
descriptor results, however, are not statistically significant. See 
Consumer Research Supplement at 367-371.
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    Third, unlike efficiency ratings, an energy cost disclosure should 
help consumers avoid buying bulbs that are brighter than necessary. In 
many cases, a higher energy efficiency rating for a particular bulb 
equates to lower energy costs or energy use - but not always. For 
example, a bright bulb with a high efficiency rating may cost much more 
to operate than a dimmer bulb with a lower efficiency rating.\48\ Thus, 
reliance on efficiency information alone may lead consumers, in some 
cases, to purchase bulbs that are brighter than needed and thus use 
more energy and pay more money than necessary. The annual energy cost 
descriptor helps avoid this problem.
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    \48\ For example, compare the characteristics of high efficiency 
bulb ``A'' to lower efficiency bulb ``B''. Bulb A= 1750 lumens, 26 
watts, 67 lumens per watt, and $3.25 per year (assuming 11.4 cents 
per kWh) and Bulb B= 825 lumens, 13 watts, 63 lumens per watt, and 
$1.62. Therefore, bulb ``A'' has a higher efficiency rating in 
lumens per watt but uses more energy and thus costs more to operate.
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    The proposed rule also allows manufacturers to place the ENERGY 
STAR logo on the Lighting Facts label if the product meets ENERGY STAR 
criteria. This approach is consistent with the EnergyGuide label for 
appliances and allows manufacturers to place relevant information about 
the product in one place.\49\
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    \49\ Manufacturers would continue to have the discretion to 
place the ENERGY STAR logo elsewhere on the package consistent with 
EPA's criteria.
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    The Commission is not proposing to require lumens per watt on the 
Lighting Facts label. As discussed above, in the FTC label study, 
respondents viewing lumens per watt information were less likely to 
provide correct answers to most energy use and efficiency questions 
(e.g., accurately pick the most efficient bulb) than respondents 
viewing the other energy descriptors. Additionally, as discussed above, 
lumens per watt information could lead consumers to choose bulbs that 
are brighter than needed. Lumens per watt, however, is a common 
efficiency metric used in the lighting industry and serves as the 
yardstick for the DOE efficiency standards and for performance criteria 
in the ENERGY STAR program. It also appears on the existing Lighting 
Facts label developed by DOE under its LED program. Therefore, the 
Commission seeks comment on whether lumens per watt should appear as an 
energy descriptor on the Lighting Facts label either as a mandatory or 
voluntary disclosure.
    The Commission also is not proposing to include a five-star rating 
system on the Lighting Facts Label even though the FTC's research 
suggests some benefits to this approach. Specifically, respondents 
viewing this descriptor were somewhat more likely to spend more for a 
higher efficiency bulb; in addition, all respondents scored this 
descriptor 's usefulness and trustworthiness somewhat higher than other 
descriptors.\50\ However, four problems with the five-star rating 
system outweigh these benefits. First, the star-system did not perform 
better than energy cost in helping consumers answer the energy 
questions in the label study. Second, the star system may have a 
greater tendency inadvertently to communicate quality information. 
Specifically, in the label study, respondents viewing the five-star 
label were somewhat more likely than other respondents to say one bulb 
was more reliable than the others, even though the label did not 
contain information about reliability.\51\ Third, the five-star system 
potentially would create confusion over time as bulb technology 
changes. For instance, after 2012, the FTC would have to reconfigure 
the star levels as inefficient incandescent bulbs leave the market, 
which could confuse consumers. Finally, the five-star system may raise 
problems in terms of its interaction with ENERGY STAR. Specifically, 
respondents viewing the five-star label were more likely to identify 
incorrectly a bulb as ENERGY STAR qualified even when the question 
displayed no bulbs with the ENERGY STAR logo.\52\ Given these issues, 
the Commission sees no compelling need to create a five level energy 
efficiency rating system.\53\
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    \50\ In the FTC label study, respondents answered questions 
about whether they would be willing to pay more for a higher 
efficiency bulb of similar brightness (Questions 217). The 
percentages of respondents willing to pay more, grouped by energy 
descriptor, were: stars (73.16%); energy cost (68.65%); watts 
(66.57%); and lumens per watt (65.02%). See Consumer Research 
Supplement at 372-373.
    The questionnaire also asked respondents who indicated they 
would pay more how much they would pay for the higher efficiency 
bulb (Question 218). Even though the more efficient bulb could save 
over $6.00 in energy cost during the first year, and about $140 over 
the entire life of the bulb, the average price that all subjects in 
the various treatment groups were willing to pay were as follows, as 
grouped by front-panel energy descriptor: star ($2.92); energy cost 
($2.58); lumens per watt ($2.42); and watts ($2.16). The difference 
between the star ($2.92) and energy cost ($2.58) willingness-to-pay 
numbers is not statistically significant. See Consumer Research 
Supplement at 377-378.
    Respondents also scored the ``usefulness'' of various energy 
descriptors (Question 220b) on a 1 to 10 scale. The average scores 
were: stars (8.69); energy cost (8.53); and lumens per watt (8.21). 
Additionally, on average, respondents scored the ``trustworthiness'' 
of the same information (Question 220c) as follows: stars (8.04); 
lumens per watt (7.80); and energy cost (7.60). See Consumer 
Research Supplement at 379-380.
    \51\ Likewise, when asked to identify the most reliable bulb 
(Question 701), respondents who viewed the star descriptor on the 
front panel were somewhat less likely than respondents who viewed 
other energy descriptors to provide correct responses, which were 
``can't tell'' or ``not sure.'' The percentages of respondents who 
correctly answered Question 701, grouped by front-panel energy 
descriptor, were: energy cost (29.36%), lumens per watt (26.16%), 
and stars (21.83%). See Consumer Research Supplement at 376.
    \52\ Question 403 asked respondents to review three bulb labels 
and identify the ENERGY STAR models. None of the models, however, 
displayed the ENERGY STAR logo. The rates at which respondents 
mistakenly identified at least one of the bulbs as an ENERGY STAR 
were as follows, as grouped by front panel: stars (48.87%); energy 
cost (37.59%); and lumens per watt (37.44%). There were no 
significant differences in correct responses, however, between stars 
and other treatments when the ENERGY STAR logo appeared on bulbs 
(Question 402). See Consumer Research Supplement at 374-375.
    \53\ This conclusion is consistent with prior Commission 
consideration of the five-star rating in the context of EnergyGuide 
labels for appliances. 72 FR 6836, 6844-6846 (Feb. 13, 2007). At 
that time, the Commission concluded that the FTC label should 
complement, not detract from, the ENERGY STAR program. The 
Commission explained that the combination of the FTC label and the 
ENERGY STAR program appears to provide a sound framework for 
conveying energy information to consumers and promoting energy 
efficiency. The FTC label displays detailed energy information about 
all products regardless of energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR provides 
the U.S. Government's imprimatur for high efficiency products. This 
system, as a whole, provides a robust source of energy efficiency 
information to consumers. The consumer research on light bulb 
labeling reinforces these earlier findings.
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c. Life
    Bulb life information helps consumers compare the value of 
competing bulbs. For instance, if two bulbs have the same purchase 
price and energy use, the longer lasting bulb provides a better value. 
Bulb life information also helps consumers reduce the time spent 
replacing bulbs, particularly those located in remote areas. The 
current rule (Sec.  305.15(b)) requires bulb life to be expressed in 
hours. However, several

[[Page 57957]]

commenters urged the Commission to consider requiring bulb life in 
years.\54\
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    \54\ See, e.g., NEMA (536795-00007); Philips 
(536795-00015); and GE (540385-00005). Roundtable 
participants appeared to be comfortable with using 3 hours as a 
usage pattern for expressing life in years. Roundtable Tr. at 54.
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    In the label study, consumers correctly identified longer lasting 
bulbs whether life was expressed in years or hours. However, when asked 
about the usefulness of life information (Question 208b), respondents 
showed a slight preference for life in years (8.74) over life in hours 
(8.31). In addition, the NRCan research noted that consumers ``find it 
difficult to relate stated numbers of hours to actual experience of 
bulb life'' (NRCan Labeling Survey at 14). Therefore, the Commission is 
proposing to require a ``life in years'' disclosure on the Lighting 
Facts label based on a usage rate of three hours per day.
d. Color Appearance
    Some bulbs have a warm appearance while others have a cooler 
appearance. Different color appearances are scientifically expressed as 
correlated color temperature (``CCT'').\55\ While many consumers are 
unfamiliar with color appearance, it may become a more important factor 
for consumers as new products with a wide variety of color temperatures 
increasingly become available.\56\ Several comments noted the growing 
importance of color appearance and suggested the FTC include on the 
label a uniform method of communicating color temperature. 
Specifically, some commenters suggested the label require a consistent 
set of terms for conveying color temperature (e.g., ``soft white'' or 
``daylight'') (DOE (536795-00001) and NRDC (536795-
00003).\57\ Others urged consideration of a graphical approach for 
color temperature such as a range (GE (536795-00005) or the 
color scale system considered in earlier research funded by DOE and 
EPA.\58\ Accordingly, the Commission explored three approaches for 
communicating color temperature: a word descriptor (e.g., soft white 
and daylight), a simple ``warm-cool'' black and white scale, and a 
color scale consisting of six colored boxes.\59\
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    \55\ Light color measurements, expressed in Kelvin (``K''), 
range generally from 2700K to 6500K. A bulb with lower kelvin 
numbers (e.g., 2700K or 3000K) produces light that has a yellowish 
appearance, such as light provided by traditional incandescent 
bulbs. Bulbs with higher Kelvin numbers produce light that is whiter 
(e.g., 4100K) or blueish (e.g., 6500K).
    \56\ The research results suggest that consumers are generally 
unfamiliar with color temperature. For example, the FTC's focus 
group indicated there was little awareness of ``color'' among 
respondents. And, according to the focus group report, respondents 
``had no idea of how light color was measured'' and were largely 
unfamiliar with the term ``color temperature'' and entirely 
unfamiliar with the Kelvin scale. FTC Focus Group Report at 3. 
However, after exposure to color appearance concepts in the FTC 
label study, respondents on average assigned color appearance a 
score of 7.6 on a 10 point scale designed to rate the importance of 
particular light bulb attributes (0 = not important; 10 = very 
important) (Question 211). This suggests that, once consumers become 
aware of color appearance, it is an important issue.
    \57\ It is common for bulb packages to provide various 
descriptions of color temperature or appearance on their packages 
and in marketing materials, such as ``soft white,'' ``cool white,'' 
and ``daylight.''
    \58\ See Leslie, R., and Rea, M., ``A System for Communicating 
Color: What Do Consumers Think,'' Lighting Research Center, 
Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/lightingTransformation/colorCommunication/pdf/whatDoConsumersThink.pdf).
    \59\ In the label study, respondents viewed three photographs of 
a table lamp, each displaying a bulb with a different color 
temperature. The questionnaire then asked respondents to pick the 
bulb label that would provide the light displayed in each 
photograph.
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    After considering these approaches, the Commission proposes to 
require a black and white warm-cool scale with a Kelvin number on the 
Lighting Facts Label. In the FTC label study, a scale performed 
somewhat better than word descriptors.\60\ Moreover, unlike word 
descriptors, a scale provides both an empirical Kelvin measurement that 
consumers can use to compare bulbs across technologies, as well as 
information about whether that Kelvin rating is associated with a 
``warmer'' or ``cooler'' appearance. Manufacturers would have the 
discretion to non-deceptively supplement the required scale with word 
descriptors elsewhere on the package or in other marketing.
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    \60\ Questions 209 and 210 asked respondents to match the color 
appearance of several photographs to specific labels bearing color 
appearance information. Of respondents who viewed a scale 
communicating color appearance information, 48.30% and 43.89% 
correctly answered Questions 209 and 210, respectively; whereas 
30.58% and 34.47% of respondents who viewed the color appearance 
word descriptor on the front panel correctly answered Questions 209 
and 210, respectively. See Consumer Research Supplement at 358.
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    The Commission proposes a black and white warm-cool scale, instead 
of a color scale, because the former holds down costs.\61\ The color 
scale, however, performed somewhat better in the label study.\62\ 
Therefore, the Commission seeks comment on whether the FTC should 
require a scale printed in color, including any benefits of a color 
scale and any costs or other burdens associated with a color scale, 
particularly for small manufacturers. The Commission also seeks comment 
on whether the label should use the term ``Light Appearance'' on the 
label instead of ``Color Appearance'' to minimize the possibility that 
consumers will interpret the label to convey information about colored 
lights (e.g., red, green, etc.).
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    \61\ Because there is no test procedure in DOE's regulations for 
measuring color temperature, the proposed rule requires 
manufacturers to substantiate their CCT and color appearance claims 
with competent and reliable evidence. Should DOE publish applicable 
test procedures in the future, the Commission will consider amending 
its rules.
    \62\ Of respondents who viewed the color scale on the front 
panel, 53.4% and 48.58% correctly answered Questions 209 and 210 
(questions related to color appearance), respectively; whereas 
46.84% and 42.54% of respondents who viewed the black and white 
warm-cool scale on the front panel correctly answered Questions 209 
and 210, respectively. See Consumer Research Supplement at 359.

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[[Page 57958]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.069

Figure 3

Proposed (Left) and Alternative (Right) Color Appearance Scales\63\
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    \63\ Color versions of these graphics are available at 
www.ftc.gov/energy.
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e. Voltage
    Voltage is a measure of the electromotive force of electricity and 
can affect the operation of a light bulb.\64\ For instance, for a given 
bulb, the higher the voltage, the higher the light output in lumens, 
the higher the wattage, and the shorter the life. In the U.S. 
residential market, the voltage provided by electric utilities for 
lighting purposes is primarily 120 volts. As a result, under the 
current rule, manufacturers do not have to disclose the design voltage 
of a bulb unless it is other than 120.
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    \64\ See discussion at 59 FR 25184 (May 13, 1994).
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    No comments urged the FTC to amend this approach. Accordingly, the 
amendments would maintain the current rule's requirements. If the 
manufacturer must disclose voltage under the rule, because it is not 
120, it must do so on the Lighting Facts panel. For 120 volt bulbs for 
which no voltage disclosure is required, manufacturers may disclose 
voltage voluntarily elsewhere on the package. The Commission seeks 
comment on whether the voluntary disclosure of 120 volts also should be 
permitted on the Lighting Facts label.
f. Mercury Disclosure
    Mercury is an essential component of compact fluorescent light 
bulbs (CFLs).\65\ CFLs do not release mercury when the bulbs are intact 
(not broken) or in use, but they can release mercury vapor, and thus 
create environmental concerns, if they break after being dropped, 
roughly handled, or disposed of improperly.\66\ Therefore, two 
commenters urged the FTC to consider requiring mercury disclosures for 
CFL bulbs. GE (540385-00002) wrote that ``a uniform national 
approach is needed for mercury content labeling'' and the FTC should 
consider a consistent notice that would clearly convey mercury content. 
NEMA (540385-00005) also encouraged the FTC to require a 
nationwide mercury label and suggested that the FTC require the 
disclosure NEMA recommends for its members (i.e., the symbol ``Hg,'' a 
statement such as ``Manage in accordance with disposal laws,'' and a 
link to NEMA's website ``www.lamprecycle.org'').\67\ NEMA noted that 
their disclosure is consistent with state requirements.
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    \65\ Although lighting manufacturers have greatly reduced the 
amount of mercury used in CFLs over the past 20 years, they have not 
eliminated it. Currently, on average, CFLs contain about 5 
milligrams or about 1/100th of the amount of mercury found in a 
mercury fever thermometer. Therefore, CFLs can affect the 
environment during disposal. See (http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/basic.htm).
    \66\ EPA provides consumers with recommendations for cleaning up 
and disposing of broken bulbs to help minimize any exposure to 
released mercury vapor. It also encourages consumers to recycle 
burned out fluorescent bulbs rather than dispose of them in regular 
household trash. According to EPA, ``[r]ecycling of burned out CFLs 
is one of the best ways to help prevent the release of mercury to 
the environment by keeping mercury out of landfills and 
incinerators.'' See (http://epa.gov/mercury/consumerinfo.htm#cfl).
    \67\ See, NEMA, ``The Labeling of Mercury Containing Lamps, 
October 2004,'' (http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/lamps/upload/Labeling%20White%20Paper%20Final%2010%2004-2.pdf).
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    Given the mercury content of CFLs, it is important for consumers to 
have access to information about proper disposal and handling of these 
products. Thus, the Commission proposes requiring disclosures for light 
bulbs containing mercury.\68\ The proposed language would appear on the 
Lighting Facts label (see Figure 4) as follows: ``Contains Mercury: 
Manage in accordance with local, state, and federal disposal laws. For 
more information see epa.gov/bulbrecycling or call 1-800-XXX-XXXX. Hg 
[encircled].'' This language is consistent with disclosures that 
already appear on many packages as a result of existing ENERGY STAR 
criteria and language recommended by NEMA to its members.\69\ 
Accordingly, the Commission expects that most manufacturers already 
provide information about mercury on their packages. In addition, as 
detailed in subsection C below, the proposed amendments require a 
shorter mercury disclosure on the bulbs themselves to help consumers 
properly dispose of CFLs.
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    \68\ The EISA amendments provided the Commission with general 
authority to consider ``alternative labeling approaches that will 
help consumers to understand new high efficiency lamp products'' 
including CFLs. See 42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(D)(iii)(I)(bb).
    \69\ ENERGY STAR, which covers a large majority of CFLs in the 
market, requires all participating manufacturers to label their 
packages with:
    (1) the symbol ``Hg'' within a circle;
    (2) ``Lamp Contains Mercury''; and
    (3) (www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling). ENERGY STAR provides 
manufacturers the option of using (www.lamprecycle.org) instead of 
the EPA website. NEMA recommends that its members use the following 
language: ``Hg - LAMP CONTAINS MERCURY; MANAGE IN ACCORD WITH 
DISPOSAL LAWS; See (www.lamprecycle.org).''
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    Unlike NEMA's disclosure, which uses the website 
www.lamprecycle.org, the proposed FTC language directs consumers to 
EPA's website and EPA's telephone hotline. This link would ensure that 
the disclosure leads consumers to information provided by the U.S. 
government. Such an approach is consistent with the FTC's alternative 
fuel vehicle label which directs

[[Page 57959]]

consumers to EPA's website for information on vehicle emissions.\70\ 
Finally, the Commission notes that several states have issued mercury 
disclosure requirements. The Commission intends for the proposed rule 
to be as consistent with state requirements for mercury disclosure as 
possible. Therefore, the Commission seeks comment on the impact of the 
proposed labeling on existing state requirements. Further, if any 
inconsistencies exist between the proposed disclosure and existing 
state requirements, the Commission seeks comment on whether, how, and 
why the Commission should address such inconsistencies.
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    \70\ See 16 CFR Part 309 (Appendix A, Figure 4).
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.070
    
Figure 4

Lighting Facts with Mercury Disclosure

3. Affirmative Disclosures for Energy Cost and Life Claims on Package
    The Commission is concerned that consumer confusion and deception 
could arise from voluntary claims on bulb packages about energy cost 
savings and life that are based on different assumptions than those 
used for the required disclosures. In particular, if the assumptions 
behind an energy cost-related claim are different from those used for 
the Lighting Facts label, consumers may have difficulty comparing 
claims across products. For instance, if a manufacturer makes an energy 
saving claim using a significantly higher electricity rate than the 
rate used for the mandatory energy cost disclosures, consumers may be 
confused or even misled regarding the energy performance of that 
bulb.\71\ To address this concern, some commenters urged the Commission 
to create uniform requirements for cost and life-related claims made by 
manufacturers.\72\
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    \71\ The current rule (section 350.14(b)(4)) already contains a 
provision that requires manufacturers to disclose the assumptions 
upon which any operating cost claim is based, including, for 
example, purchase price, unit cost of electricity, hours of use, and 
patterns of use.
    \72\ See, e.g., NEMA 536795-00007 and NRDC 
536795-00003.
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    After considering these comments, the Commission is not proposing 
to require uniform cost and life-related assumptions because it does 
not appear that such claims would be deceptive in all cases. However, 
the proposed rule\73\ requires manufacturers that make any energy cost-
related claim based on an electricity rate or usage rate other than the 
rate required on the Lighting Facts label to make an equally 
conspicuous disclosure calculated using the required electricity 
rate.\74\ This approach should ensure that consumers can easily compare 
voluntary energy cost-related claims across products. The same 
rationale also applies to life claims. Specifically, if a manufacturer 
provides any life claim based on an annual usage rate other than the 
rate required on the label, the manufacturer also must provide, equally 
conspicuously, the bulb life calculated with the usage rate required on 
the Lighting Facts label (i.e., 3 hours per day).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ Proposed section 305.15(c)(4).
    \74\ The FTC's Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New 
Automobiles follows a similar approach for mileage claims based on 
non-EPA test procedures. See 16 CFR 259.2(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Total Lifecycle Cost (Not Proposed for Label)
    The EISA amendments directed the Commission to consider total 
lifecycle cost disclosures in developing alternative labeling 
approaches.\75\ After consideration, the Commission has decided not to 
propose such a requirement. Several participants at the Roundtable 
suggested that the numerous potential criteria related to assessing 
lifecycle cost make attaining an accurate, uniform measurement 
problematic at this time. For example, one participant explained that 
different retail prices, alone, severely impede any effort to 
accurately communicate a useful disclosure of total lifecycle cost 
(Roundtable Tr., Horowitz at 50). Another participant explained that 
differences in disposal costs similarly hamper efforts to present an 
accurate measurement.\76\ Given these concerns and the absence of 
comments urging the Commission to explore this issue in detail, the 
proposed amendments do not require total lifecycle cost disclosures

[[Page 57960]]

on the label. However, if manufacturers and other sellers make 
advertising claims related to lifecycle costs, they must have competent 
and reliable scientific evidence to support such claims.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ See 42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(D)(iii)(I)(bb).
    \76\ Roundtable Tr. 58 (Karney); see also Roundtable Tr. at 59 
and NEMA Comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Color Rendering Index (Not Proposed for Label)
    The color rendering index (``CRI'') measures how the colors of an 
object look when the object is illuminated by a particular bulb using a 
rating of 0 to 100.\77\ A standard incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100. 
In the ANPR and at the Roundtable, the FTC sought comments about the 
inclusion of CRI on the required labels. Commenters explained there is 
no need for mandatory CRI disclosures because EISA sets a minimum CRI 
standard of 80 for all bulbs beginning in 2012 and distinctions between 
the CRIs of bulbs at such high ratings are not significant enough to 
warrant mandatory disclosures.\78\ Therefore, the Commission is not 
proposing to require such a disclosure, but seeks comment on whether 
the rule should allow manufacturers to place CRI information on the 
proposed Lighting Facts label.\79\ The Commission seeks comment on what 
benefits and costs such voluntary information would provide to 
consumers, as well as on whether consumers will understand its meaning.
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    \77\ Under the current law (EPCA), the term ``color rendering 
index'' or ``CRI'' means ``the measure of the degree of color shift 
objects undergo when illuminated by a light source as compared with 
the color of those same objects when illuminated by a reference 
source of comparable color temperature.'' (42 U.S.C. 6291(30)(J)).
    \78\ See Roundtable Tr., Horowitz at 91 (``Within the lighting 
industry, it's assumed if you're 80, you're giving at least pretty 
good color rendering.''); Howley at 100. See 42 U.S.C. 
6295(i)(B)(ii).
    \79\ Several commenters, however, did suggest that CRI should be 
allowed as a voluntary disclosure. NRDC (540385-00003); and 
Roundtable Tr., Horowitz at 83; Karney at 100; Howley at 100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Product Labeling

    In addition to the proposed package labeling requirements, some 
commenters suggested that the FTC require manufacturers to include 
light output on the bulb itself. For example, NRDC (536795-
00003) explained that ``[p]utting the light output directly on the bulb 
will help the consumer when they need to replace the existing bulb when 
it fails.'' NRDC also indicated that manufacturers already disclose a 
bulb's energy use in watts on the glass and that it should not be 
difficult also to include lumens information. Similarly, Energy 
Solutions (536795-00010) stated that lumens information on the 
bulb will ``ensure that consumers can find a product of equivalent 
light output when returning to the store to replace a burned out 
bulb.''
    The Commission agrees that having lumens information on the bulb 
should help consumers in purchasing appropriate replacement bulbs. It 
also should reinforce the importance of lumens as the key measure of 
light output for high efficiency bulbs. Because bulbs already typically 
display information such as watts, the addition of lumens should not 
impose a significant burden on manufacturers so long as they are given 
sufficient time to implement such changes. Therefore, the proposed rule 
requires that bulbs be labeled with lumens.
    As discussed above, the proposed rule also requires manufacturers 
of mercury-containing lamps to print somewhere on the product itself 
the following information: ``Contains MERCURY. See epa.gov/bulbrecycling or 1-800-XXX-XXXX.'' Because it is highly unlikely 
consumers will have the package available to them when a bulb burns 
out, mercury information on the bulb itself will be useful to them at 
the time of disposal.\80\ The Commission seeks comment on these 
proposals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ The FTC's current labeling requirements apply to the bulb 
package and not the product itself (see 42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(C)). In 
passing EISA, however, Congress directed the Commission to consider 
``alternative labeling approaches.'' This broad directive provides 
the Commission with authority to consider requiring labeling on the 
bulb.
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D. Reporting Requirements

    EPCA indicates that each manufacturer of a labeled product ``shall 
annually, at a time specified by the Commission,'' supply to the 
Commission relevant data respecting energy consumption or water use 
developed in accordance with ``applicable DOE test procedures.''\81\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ 42 U.S.C. 4296(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission's current rule does not require such reporting 
because the Commission stayed the reporting requirement (section 305.8) 
for lighting products in 1994 due to the absence of a DOE test 
procedure. See 59 FR 25176, 25201-25202 (May 13, 1994). Since then, DOE 
has issued test procedures for general service incandescent lamps and 
medium base compact fluorescent lamps (see 10 CFR Subpart B, App. R and 
W). Accordingly, the Commission now proposes requiring energy data 
reporting for CFL and incandescent lighting products.\82\ To minimize 
burden, the proposed rule requires these reports beginning in 2012 to 
coincide with the effective date of DOE standards (which will require 
the same testing). The reports will be due on March 1 of each year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ In conjunction with lifting the stay on reporting 
requirements for CFLs and general service incandescent lamps, the 
Commission proposes to amend the testing provisions in section 305.5 
to make them consistent with DOE test procedures in 10 CFR Part 430 
covering general service incandescent lamps, general service 
fluorescent lamps, and medium base CFLs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission seeks comments on whether the specific reporting 
requirements, which are currently stayed, should be modified. The 
current rule indicates that annual reports for CFLs and incandescent 
lamps should include: (1) the name and address of the manufacturer; (2) 
all trade names under which the lamps are marketed; (3) the model or 
other identification numbers; (4) the starting serial number, date 
code, or other means of identifying the date of manufacture (date of 
manufacture information must be included only with the first submission 
for each basic model or type); and (5) the test results for the wattage 
and light output ratings of each lamp model or type, and for each model 
or type of covered fluorescent lamp, test results for the color 
rendering index, measured according to the DOE test procedure.\83\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ The DOE tests currently do not include procedures for 
measuring correlated color temperature. Therefore, consistent with 
42 U.S.C.6296(b), the proposed rule would not require reporting for 
such information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

E. Website and Paper Catalog Requirements

    Section 305.20 of the current rule requires any manufacturer, 
distributor, retailer, or private labeler who advertises a covered 
product in a catalog, including a website that qualifies as a catalog, 
to disclose energy information about the product to consumers. For lamp 
products, the current rule (section 305.20(c)) requires catalog sellers 
to disclose the information that is required on the package label 
(except for the number of units in the package).\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \84\ EPCA indicates that catalogs must ``contain all information 
required to be displayed on the label, except as otherwise provided 
by the rule of the Commission.'' (42 U.S.C. 6296(a)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule requires website and paper catalog sellers to 
disclose the same information that appears on the proposed Lighting 
Facts label.\85\ This requirement should ensure that online consumers 
have the same information available in stores. To encourage uniform 
disclosures and reduce burden on catalog sellers, the proposed rule 
would allow catalog sellers to comply

[[Page 57961]]

with the rule by posting the manufacturer's Lighting Facts label for 
each covered lamp model. The rule currently allows this approach for 
appliances (see section 305.20(a)). The Commission seeks comments on 
this proposal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ The Commission is not proposing to require the same two-
panel disclosure for websites or catalogs that is being proposed for 
product packages. Although the two-panel format will be helpful for 
consumers examining physical packages in stores, the format is 
likely to be repetitive and cumbersome for consumers navigating 
information on the internet.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Consumer Education

    Section 321(c) of EISA directs the Department of Energy, in 
cooperation with the FTC and other agencies, to conduct a proactive 
national program of ``consumer awareness, information, and education'' 
to help consumers understand light bulb labels and make energy-
efficient lighting choices that meet their needs. In response, the 
Commission is considering ways to communicate general consumer guidance 
that does not fit easily on the average lamp package. In particular, 
such education material could include a detailed watt-equivalence scale 
as suggested in comments (e.g., NRDC (536795-00003)) and a 
detailed color temperature scale similar to that considered in NRCan's 
research and currently used under the Department of Energy's solid-
state lighting program.\86\ Figure 5 contains a draft of such 
information. The Commission seeks comments on such an approach, how 
such information should be presented, and whether there is additional 
information that can be provided to consumers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \86\ See http://www.lighting-facts.com/.
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.071
    
Figure 5

Sample Graphs for Consumer Education Materials\87\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ Color versions of these graphics are available at 
www.ftc.gov/energy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. Section by Section Description of Proposed Changes

    Lamp Coverage (section 305.3): The proposed labeling requirements 
apply to medium screw base general service incandescent (including 
halogen and reflector), compact fluorescent, and LED lamps. The 
proposed amendments group these products under the term ``general 
service lamp.''
    Front Package Panel (section 305.15(b) & (c)): The proposed 
amendments require two disclosures on the front package panel: 
brightness in lumens and energy cost in dollars per year.
    Rear or Side Package Panel (section 305.15(b) & (c)): The back (or 
side) panel contains detailed disclosures in the form of a Lighting 
Facts label similar to the Nutrition Facts label required on food 
packaging. The disclosures on the Lighting Facts label would detail 
brightness, energy cost, life, color temperature, watts, and, in some 
cases, voltage, and mercury information. Cost and Life Claims on 
Packages (section 305.15(c)): Manufacturers that make a cost or life-
related claim on the package based on an electricity cost figure or 
usage rate other than that required on the Lighting Facts label have to 
include an equally clear and conspicuous disclosure of the same 
information using the electricity cost figure and usage assumption on 
the Lighting Facts label.
    Product Labeling (section 305.15(b)): The proposed amendments 
require manufacturers to print the lumen output and, where applicable, 
mercury information on the product.
    Catalog Requirements (section 305.20): Catalog sellers (including 
websites) have to provide, for each bulb, the same information required 
on the Lighting Facts label.

[[Page 57962]]

    Substantiating Required Disclosures (section 305.5): Effective 
January 1, 2012, the proposed amendments require manufacturers to 
follow DOE test procedures if such procedures are applicable to their 
products to substantiate claims required by the rule. For lamp types or 
information not covered by the DOE test procedure but required by the 
rule, manufacturers would have to possess and rely upon competent and 
reliable scientific tests to substantiate their representations on the 
label.
    Testing, Reporting, and Sampling Requirements (section 305.5, 
305.6, and 305.8): Beginning in 2012, manufacturers would have to 
submit data for their labeled lamps based on applicable DOE test 
procedures. The amendments also contain a minor change to the terms 
used in the sampling requirements.

IX. Request for Comment

    The Commission invites interested persons to submit written 
comments on any issue of fact, law, or policy that may bear upon the 
Commission's lamp labeling requirements. These issues include the 
overall effectiveness of existing disclosures on lamp labels, 
alternative labeling disclosures, and the labeling of lamp types not 
currently covered by the rule. Please provide explanations for your 
answers and supporting evidence where appropriate.
    All comments should be filed as prescribed below, and must be 
received on or before December 28, 2009. In addition to the questions 
and requests for comment found throughout this Notice, the Commission 
also asks that commenters address the following questions: What costs 
or burdens, and any other impacts, would the proposed requirements 
impose, and on whom? What regulatory alternatives to the proposed 
requirements are available that would reduce the burdens and/or 
increase the benefits of the proposed requirements?
    Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
electronically or in paper form. Comments should refer to ``Proposed 
Lamp Labeling Amendments, P084206'' to facilitate the organization of 
comments. Please note that your comment - including your name and your 
state - will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, 
including on the publicly accessible FTC website, at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm).
    Because comments will be made public, they should not include any 
sensitive personal information, such as any individual's Social 
Security Number; date of birth; driver's license number or other state 
identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number; 
financial account number; or credit or debit card number. Comments also 
should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical 
records or other individually identifiable health information. In 
addition, comments should not include ``[t]rade secret or any 
commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person 
and which is privileged or confidential'' as provided in Section 6(f) 
of the Federal Trade Commission Act (``FTC Act''), 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and 
FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing matter for 
which confidential treatment is requested must be filed in paper form, 
must be clearly labeled ``Confidential,'' and must comply with FTC Rule 
4.9(c).\88\
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    \88\ The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for 
confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for 
the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment 
to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted 
or denied by the Commission's General Counsel, consistent with 
applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 
Sec.  4.9.(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because paper mail addressed to the FTC is subject to delay due to 
heightened security screening, please consider submitting your comments 
in electronic form. Comments filed in electronic form should be 
submitted using the following weblink: (https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/lampamendmentsNPRM) (and following the 
instructions on the web-based form). To ensure that the Commission 
considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the web-based form 
at the weblink (https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/lampamendmentsNPRM). If this Notice appears at (http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home), you may also file an 
electronic comment through that website. The Commission will consider 
all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it. You may also visit 
the FTC Website at (http://www.ftc.gov) to read the Notice and the news 
release describing it.
    A comment filed in paper form should include the ``Proposed Lamp 
Labeling Amendments, P084206'' reference both in the text and on the 
envelope, and should be mailed or delivered to the following address: 
Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex 
N), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is 
requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or 
overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the 
Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to 
heightened security precautions.
    Comments on any proposed filing, recordkeeping, or disclosure 
requirements that are subject to the paperwork burden review under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act should additionally be submitted to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(``OMB''), Attention: Desk Officer for Federal Trade Commission. 
Comments should submitted via facsimile to (202) 395-5167 because U.S. 
postal mail at the OMB is subject to delays due to heightened security 
precautions.
    The FTC Act and other laws that the Commission administers permit 
the collection of public comments to consider and use in this 
proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and 
responsive public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or 
electronic form. Comments received will be available to the public on 
the FTC website, to the extent practicable, at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of discretion, the FTC makes every 
effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the 
public comments it receives before placing those comments on the FTC 
website. More information, including routine uses permitted by the 
Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's privacy policy, at (http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.htm).
    Because written comments appear adequate to present the views of 
all interested parties, the Commission has not scheduled an oral 
hearing regarding these proposed amendments. Interested parties may 
request an opportunity to present views orally. If such a request is 
made, the Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register 
stating the time and place for such oral presentation(s) and describing 
the procedures that will be followed. Interested parties who wish to 
present oral views must submit a hearing request, on or before November 
30, 2009, in the form of a written comment that describes the issues on 
which the party wishes to speak. If there is no oral hearing, the 
Commission will base its decision on the written rulemaking record.

X. Communications by Outside Parties to the Commissioners or Their 
Advisors

    Written communications and summaries or transcripts of oral 
communications respecting the merits of this proceeding, from any 
outside party to any Commissioner or Commissioner's advisor, will be 
placed

[[Page 57963]]

on the public record. See 16 CFR 1.26(b)(5).

XI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule contains disclosure requirements that constitute 
``information collection requirements'' as defined by 5 CFR Sec.  
1320.7(c), the regulation that implements the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(``PRA'').\89\ OMB has approved the rule's existing information 
collection requirements through May 31, 2011 (OMB Control No. 3084-
0069). The proposed amendments make changes in the current rule's 
labeling requirements.\90\ Accordingly, the Commission has submitted 
this proposed rule and a Supporting Statement to OMB for review under 
the PRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \89\ 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
    \90\ Although the current reporting requirements in the rule for 
these products is currently stayed (as discussed in section IV.D. of 
this notice), the existing PRA clearance for the rule's information 
collection requirements includes burdens associated with those 
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Burden estimates for the proposed rule are based on data previously 
submitted by manufacturers to the FTC under the Rule's existing 
requirements and on the staff's general knowledge of manufacturing 
practices.
    Package and Product Labeling: The proposed rule requires 
manufacturers to change their light bulb packages and light bulbs to 
include new disclosures. The new requirements would require a one-time 
change for manufacturers. The Commission estimates that this one-time 
change will take 80 hours per manufacturer. Annualized for a single 
year reflective of a prospective 3-year clearance, this averages to 
26.67 hours per year. Therefore, the label design change will result in 
cumulative burden of 1,334 hours (50 manufacturers x 26.67 hours). In 
estimating the associated labor cost, the Commission assumes that the 
label design change will be implemented by graphic designers at an 
hourly wage rate of $22.70 per hour based on Bureau of Labor Statistics 
information.\91\ Thus, the Commission estimates labor cost for this new 
label design change will total $30,282 (1,334 hours x $22.70 per hour).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ See (http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ncswage2008.htm#Wage_Tables) 
(National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United 
States 2008, U.S. Department of Labor (August 2009), Bulletin 
272004, Table 3 (``Full-time civilian workers,'' mean and median 
hourly wages), at 3-12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Color Temperature: The proposed rule may require additional testing 
for correlated color temperature, if such testing has not already been 
conducted in the normal course of business. Although the Commission 
expects that many manufacturers conduct such testing for other purposes 
(e.g., ENERGY STAR criteria), the Commission assumes, based on past 
estimates of basic models, that manufacturers will have to test 2,100 
basic models at 0.5 hours for each model for a total of 1,050 hours. In 
calculating the associated labor cost estimate, the Commission assumes 
that the label design change will be implemented by electrical 
engineers at an hourly wage rate of $39.79 per hour based on Bureau of 
Labor Statistics information (see footnote 90). Thus, the Commission 
estimates that the new label design change will result in associated 
labor cost of approximately $41,780 (1,050 hours x $39.79 per hour).
    Accordingly, the estimated total burden of the proposed amendments 
is 2,384 hours (1,334 hours for packaging and labeling + 1,050 hours 
for additional testing for correlated color temperature).
    The Commission invites comments that will enable it to: (1) 
evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
evaluate the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collections 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 collections of information on those who must comply, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

XII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA''), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, 
requires that the Commission provide an Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (``IRFA'') with a proposed rule and a Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (``FRFA''), if any, with the final rule, unless 
the Commission certifies that the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. See 5 U.S.C. 
603-605.
    The Commission does not anticipate that the proposed rule will have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The Commission recognizes that some of the affected 
manufacturers may qualify as small businesses under the relevant 
thresholds. However, the Commission does not expect that the economic 
impact of the proposed amendments will be significant. In any event, to 
minimize any burden, the Commission plans to provide manufacturers with 
ample time to implement the proposed changes.
    The Commission estimates that these new requirements will apply to 
about 50 product manufacturers and an additional 150 online and paper 
catalog sellers of covered products. The Commission expects that 
approximately 150 qualify as small businesses.
    Accordingly, this document serves as notice to the Small Business 
Administration of the FTC's certification of no effect. To ensure the 
accuracy of this certification, however, the Commission requests 
comment on whether the proposed rule will have a significant impact on 
a substantial number of small entities, including specific information 
on the number of entities that would be covered by the proposed rule, 
the number of these companies that are ``small entities,'' and the 
average annual burden for each entity. Although the Commission 
certifies under the RFA that the rule proposed in this notice would 
not, if promulgated, have a significant impact on a substantial number 
of small entities, the Commission has determined, nonetheless, that it 
is appropriate to publish an IRFA in order to inquire into the impact 
of the proposed rule on small entities. Therefore, the Commission has 
prepared the following analysis:

A. Description of the Reasons That Action by the Agency Is Being Taken

    Section 321(b) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 
(Pub. L. 110-140) requires the Commission to conduct a rulemaking to 
consider the effectiveness of the lamp labeling and to consider 
alternative labeling approaches.

B. Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, the Proposed 
Rule

    The objective of the proposed rule is to improve the effectiveness 
of the current lamp labeling program. EISA directs the Commission to 
consider whether alternative labeling approaches would help consumers 
better understand new high-efficiency lamp products and help them 
choose lamps that meet their needs. In particular, the law directs the 
Commission to consider labeling disclosures that address consumer needs 
for information about lighting level, light quality, lamp lifetime, and 
total lifecycle cost. The

[[Page 57964]]

Commission must complete this effort by June of 2010.\92\
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    \92\ Section 321(b) of EISA (42 U.S.C. 6294(a)(2)(D)) also gives 
the Commission the discretion to ``consider reopening the rulemaking 
not later than 180 days before the [statutorily mandated] effective 
dates of the standards for general service incandescent lamps 
established under section 325(i)(1)(A) [and implemented by DOE], if 
the Commission determines that further labeling changes are needed 
to help consumers understand lamp alternatives.''
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C. Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rule Will Apply

    Under the Small Business Size Standards issued by the Small 
Business Administration, lamp manufacturers qualify as small businesses 
if they have fewer than 1,000 employees (for other household appliances 
the figure is 500 employees). Lamp catalog sellers qualify as small 
businesses if their sales are less than $8.0 million annually. The 
Commission estimates that there are approximately 150 entities subject 
to the proposed rule's requirements qualify as small businesses. The 
Commission seeks comment and information with regard to the estimated 
number or nature of small business entities for which the proposed rule 
would have a significant economic impact

D. Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements

    The Commission recognizes that the proposed labeling rule will 
involve some increased drafting costs and reporting requirements for 
appliance manufacturers. As discussed in this notice, the increase 
reporting burden should be de minimis. The transition to the use of a 
new label design should represent a one-time cost that will not be 
substantial. The Commission does not expect that the labeling 
requirements will impose significant additional costs on catalog 
sellers. All of these burdens are discussed in Section XI of this 
notice and there should be no difference in that burden as applied to 
small businesses. The Commission invites comment and information on 
these issues.

E. Duplicative, Overlapping, or Conflicting Federal Rules

    The Commission has not identified any other federal statutes, 
rules, or policies that would duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed rule. The Commission invites comment and information on this 
issue.

F. Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Rule

    The Commission seeks comment and information on the need, if any, 
for alternative compliance methods that, consistent with the statutory 
requirements, would reduce the economic impact of the rule on small 
entities. As one alternative to reduce the burden, the Commission could 
delay the rule's effective date to provide additional time for small 
business compliance. The Commission could also consider further 
reductions in the amount of information catalog sellers must provide. 
If the comments filed in response to this notice identify small 
entities that are affected by the rule, as well as alternative methods 
of compliance that would reduce the economic impact of the rule on such 
entities, the Commission will consider the feasibility of such 
alternatives and determine whether they should be incorporated into the 
final rule.

XIII. Proposed Rule Language

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 305

    Advertising, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Labeling, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    For the reasons set out above, the Commission proposes the 
following amendments to 16 CFR Part 305:

PART 305--RULE CONCERNING DISCLOSURES REGARDING ENERGY CONSUMPTION 
AND WATER USE OF CERTAIN HOME APPLIANCES AND OTHER PRODUCTS 
REQUIRED UNDER THE ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT (``APPLIANCE 
LABELING RULE'')

    1. The authority citation for Part 305 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6294.

    2. In Sec.  305.3, paragraphs (l) and (m) are revised, paragraphs 
(n), (o), (p), (q), (r), (s), and (t) are redesignated as (r), (s), 
(t), (u), (v), (w), and (x) respectively, and new paragraphs (n), (o), 
(p), and (q) are added to read as follows:


Sec.  305.3  Description of covered products.

* * * * *
    (l) General service lamp means:
    (1) A lamp that is:
    (i) A general service incandescent lamp;
    (ii) A medium base compact fluorescent lamp;
    (iii) A general service light-emitting diode (LED or OLED) lamp; or
    (iv) Any other lamp that the Secretary of Energy determines is used 
to satisfy lighting applications traditionally served by general 
service incandescent lamps.
    (2) Exclusions. The term general service lamp does not include--
    (i) Any lighting application or bulb shape described in paragraphs 
(n)(3)(A) through (T) of this section; and(ii) any general service 
fluorescent lamp.
    (m) Medium base compact fluorescent lamp means an integrally 
ballasted fluorescent lamp with a medium screw base, a rated input 
voltage range of 115 to 130 volts and which is designed as direct 
replacement for a general service incandescent lamp; however, the term 
does not include--
    (1) Any lamp that is--
    (i) Specifically designed to be used for special purpose 
applications; and
    (ii) Unlikely to be used in general purpose applications, such as 
the applications described in the definition of ``General Service 
Incandescent Lamp'' in this paragraph (n)(3)(ii) of this section; or
    (2) Any lamp not described in the definition of ``General Service 
Incandescent Lamp'' in this section that is excluded by the Department 
of Energy, by rule, because the lamp is--
    (i) Designed for special applications; and
    (ii) Unlikely to be used in general purpose applications.
    (n) Incandescent lamp: (1) Means a lamp in which light is produced 
by a filament heated to incandescence by an electric current, including 
only the following:
    (i) Any lamp (commonly referred to as lower wattage nonreflector 
general service lamps, including any tungsten-halogen lamp) that has a 
rated wattage between 30 and 199 watts, has an E26 medium screw base, 
has a rated voltage or voltage range that lies at least partially 
within 115 and 130 volts, and is not a reflector lamp;
    (ii) Any lamp (commonly referred to as a reflector lamp) which is 
not colored or designed for rough or vibration service applications, 
that contains an inner reflective coating on the outer bulb to direct 
the light, an R, PAR, or similar bulb shapes (excluding ER or BR) with 
E26 medium screw bases, a rated voltage or voltage range that lies at 
least partially within 115 and 130 volts, a diameter which exceeds 2.75 
inches, and is either--
    (A) A low(er) wattage reflector lamp which has a rated wattage 
between 40 and 205 watts; or
    (B) A high(er) wattage reflector lamp which has a rated wattage 
above 205 watts;
    (iii) Any general service incandescent lamp (commonly referred to 
as a high- or higher-wattage lamp) that has a rated wattage above 199 
watts (above 205 watts for a high wattage reflector lamp); but
    (2) Incandescent lamp does not mean any lamp excluded by the 
Secretary of Energy, by rule, as a result of a

[[Page 57965]]

determination that standards for such lamp would not result in 
significant energy savings because such lamp is designed for special 
applications or has special characteristics not available in reasonably 
substitutable lamp types; and
    (3) General service incandescent lamp means
    (i) In general, a standard incandescent or halogen type or 
reflector lamp that--
    (A) Is intended for general service applications;
    (B) Has a medium screw base;
    (C) Has a lumen range of not less than 310 lumens and not more than 
2,600 lumens; and
    (D) Is capable of being operated at a voltage range at least 
partially within 110 and 130 volts.
    (ii) Exclusions.--The term `general service incandescent lamp' does 
not include the following incandescent lamps:
    (A) An appliance lamp as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6291(30);
    (B) A black light lamp;
    (C) A bug lamp;
    (D) A colored lamp as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6291(30);
    (E) An infrared lamp;
    (F) A left-hand thread lamp;
    (G) A marine lamp;
    (H) A marine signal service lamp;
    (I) A mine service lamp;
    (J) A plant light lamp;
    (K) A rough service lamp as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6291(30));
    (L) A shatter-resistant lamp (including a shatter-proof lamp and a 
shatter-protected lamp);
    (M) A sign service lamp;
    (N) A silver bowl lamp;
    (O) A showcase lamp;
    (P) A traffic signal lamp;
    (Q) A vibration service lamp as defined at 42 U.S.C. 6291(30);
    (R) A G shape lamp (as defined in ANSI C78.20-2003 and C79.1-2002) 
with a diameter of 5 inches or more;
    (S) A T shape lamp (as defined in ANSI C78.20-2003 and C79.1-2002) 
and that uses not more than 40 watts or has a length of more than 10 
inches; or
    (T) A B, BA, CA, F, G16-1/2, G-25, G30, S, or M-14 lamp (as defined 
in ANSI C79.1-2002 and ANSI C78.20-2003) of 40 watts or less.
    (4) Incandescent reflector lamp means a lamp described in paragraph 
(n)(1)(ii) of this section; and
    (5) Tungsten-halogen lamp means a gas-filled tungsten filament 
incandescent lamp containing a certain proportion of halogens in an 
inert gas.
    (o) Light-emitting diode (LED) means a p-n junction solid state 
device the radiated output of which is a function of the physical 
construction, material used, and exciting current of the device. The 
output of a light-emitting diode may be in--
    (1) The infrared region;
    (2) The visible region; or
    (3) The ultraviolet region.
    (p) Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) means a thin-film light-
emitting device that typically consists of a series of organic layers 
between 2 electrical contacts (electrodes).
    (q) General service light-emitting diode (LED or OLED) lamps means 
any light-emitting diode (LED or OLED) lamp that:
    (1) Is intended for general service applications;
    (2) Has a medium screw base;
    (3) Has a lumen range of not less than 310 lumens and not more than 
2,600 lumens; and
    (4) Is capable of being operated at a voltage range at least 
partially within 110 and 130 volts.
    3. In Sec.  305.5, paragraphs (a)(12), (13), and (14) are added and 
paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:

Testing


Sec.  305.5  Determinations of estimated annual energy consumption, 
estimated annual operating cost, and energy efficiency rating, and of 
water use rate.

    (a) * * *
    (12) General Service Incandescent Lamps - Sec.  420.23(r) 
(Beginning Jan. 1, 2012).
    (13) General Service Fluorescent Lamps - Sec.  420.23(r) (Beginning 
Jan. 1, 2012).
    (14) Medium Base Compact Fluorescent Lamps - Sec.  420.23(w) 
(Beginning Jan. 1, 2012).
    (b) Unless otherwise provided in paragraph (a), manufacturers and 
private labelers of any covered product that is a general service 
fluorescent lamp, general service lamp, or metal halide lamp fixture, 
must, for any representation required by this Part including but not 
limited to of the design voltage, wattage, energy cost, light output, 
life, correlated color temperature, or color rendering index of such 
lamp or for any representation made by the encircled ``E'' that such a 
lamp is in compliance with an applicable standard established by 
section 325 of the Act, possess and rely upon a reasonable basis 
consisting of competent and reliable scientific tests substantiating 
the representation. For representations of the light output and life 
ratings of any covered product that is a general service lamp, unless 
otherwise provided by paragraph (a), the Commission will accept as a 
reasonable basis scientific tests conducted according to the following 
applicable IES test protocols that substantiate the representations:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   For measuring light output (in
              lumens):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Fluorescent          IES LM 9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Fluorescent                  IES LM 66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Incandescent (Other  IES LM 45
 than Reflector Lamps)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Incandescent         IES LM 20
 (Reflector Lamps)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For measuring laboratory life (in    IES LM 40
 hours): General Service
 Fluorescent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Fluorescent                  IES LM 65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Incandescent (Other  IES LM 49
 than Reflector Lamps)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Incandescent         IES LM 49
 (Reflector Lamps)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    4. Section 305.6 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  305.6  Sampling.

    (a) For any covered product (except general service fluorescent 
lamps or general service lamps), any representation with respect to or 
based upon a measure or measures of energy consumption incorporated 
into Sec. 305.5 shall be based upon the sampling procedures set forth 
in Sec. 430.24 of 10 CFR part 430, subpart B.
    (b) For any covered product that is a general service lamp, any 
representation required by Sec.  305.15 and, for any covered product 
that is a general service fluorescent lamp or incandescent reflector 
lamp, any representation made by the encircled ``E'' that such lamp is 
in compliance with an applicable standard established by section 325 of 
the Act, shall be based upon tests using a competent and reliable 
scientific sampling procedure. The Commission will accept ``Military 
Standard 105--Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by 
Attributes'' as such a sampling procedure.
    5. Section 305.8 is amended as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a)(1), remove the phrase ``medium base compact 
fluorescent lamps or general service incandescent lamps including, 
incandescent reflector lamps'' wherever

[[Page 57966]]

it appears and add in its place ``and general service lamps;''
    b. In paragraph (a)(3), remove the phrase ``medium base compact 
fluorescent lamp, or general service incandescent lamp (including an 
incandescent reflector lamp)'' wherever it appears and add in its place 
``and general service lamps.''
    c. Revise paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  305.8  Submission of data.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) All data required by Sec. 305.8(a) except serial numbers 
shall be submitted to the Commission annually, on or before the 
following dates:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Product category               Deadline for data submission
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refrigerators                          Aug. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refrigerators-freezers                 Aug. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freezers                               Aug. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central air conditioners               July 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat pumps                             July 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dishwashers                            June 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water heaters                          May 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Room air conditioners                  May 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furnaces                               May 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pool heaters                           May 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clothes washers                        Oct. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluorescent lamp ballasts              Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Showerheads                            Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faucets                                Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water closets                          Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceiling fans                           Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urinals                                Mar. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metal halide lamp fixtures             Sept. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Fluorescent lamps      Mar. 1 (beginning 2012)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Base Compact Fluorescent Lamps  Mar. 1 (beginning 2012)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Service Incandescent Lamps     Mar. 1 (beginning 2012)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    6. Section 305.15 is amended as follows:
    a. Paragraph (c) is redesignated as paragraph (e).
    b. Paragraphs (b) is revised and paragraphs (c) and (d) are added 
to read as follows:


Sec.  305.15  Labeling for lighting products.

* * * * *
    (b) General Service Lamps -- (1) Principal Display Panel Content: 
Any covered product that is a general service lamp shall be labeled 
clearly and conspicuously on the product's principal display panel with 
the following information:
    (i) The light output of each lamp included in the package, 
expressed as ``Brightness'' in average initial lumens; and
    (ii) The estimated annual energy cost of the lamp, expressed as 
``Estimated Energy Cost'' in dollars and based on usage of 3 hours per 
day and 11.4 cents ($0.114) per kWh.
    (2) Principal Panel Format: The light output (brightness) and 
energy cost of any covered product that is a general service lamp shall 
appear in that order and with equal clarity and conspicuousness on the 
product's principal display panel. The format, terms, specifications, 
and minimum sizes shall follow the specifications and minimum sizes 
displayed in Prototype Label 5 to Appendix L.
    (3) Lighting Facts Label Content: Any covered product that is a 
general service lamp shall be labeled clearly and conspicuously on the 
product's side or rear display panel with a Lighting Facts label that 
contains the following information in the following order:
    (i) The light output of each lamp included in the package, 
expressed as ``Brightness'' in average initial lumens.
    (ii) The estimated annual energy cost of the lamp based on the 
average initial wattage, a usage rate of 3 hours per day and 11.4 cents 
($0.114) per kWh and explanatory text as illustrated in Prototype 
Labels 6 and 7 to Appendix L.
    (iii) The life, as defined in Sec.  305.2(w), of each lamp included 
in the package, expressed in years (based on 3 hours operation per 
day).
    (iv) The correlated color temperature, as measured in degrees 
Kelvin and expressed as ``Color Appearance'' and by a number and a 
marker in the form of a scale as illustrated in Prototype Labels 6 and 
7 to Appendix L placed proportionately on the scale where the left end 
equals 2,600 K and the right end equals 6,600 K;
    (v) The wattage, as defined in Sec.  305.2(hh), for each lamp 
included in the package, expressed as energy used in average initial 
wattage;
    (vi) The ENERGY STAR logo as illustrated in Prototype Label 7 to 
Appendix L for qualified products, if desired by the manufacturer. Only 
manufacturers that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the 
Department of Energy or the Environmental Protection Agency may add the 
ENERGY STAR logo to labels on qualifying covered products; such 
manufacturers may add the ENERGY STAR logo to labels only on those 
products that are covered by the Memorandum of Understanding.
    (vii) The design voltage of each lamp included in the package, if 
other than 120 volts.
    (viii) For any general service lamp containing mercury, the 
following statement: Contains Mercury ``Hg [Encircled]: Manage in 
accordance with local, state, and federal disposal laws. For 
information: epa.gov/bulbrecycling or 1-800-XXX-XXXX.''
    (ix) No marks or information other than that specified in this part 
shall appear on the Lighting Facts label.
    (4) Lighting Facts Label Format: Information specified in 
subsection (b)(3) shall be presented on covered lamp packages in the 
format, terms, explanatory text, specifications, and minimum sizes as 
shown in Prototype Labels 6 and 7 to Appendix L. The text and lines 
shall be all black or one color type, printed on a white or other 
neutral contrasting background whenever practical.
    (i) The Lighting Facts information shall be set off in a box by use 
of hairlines and shall be all black or one color type, printed on a 
white or other neutral contrasting background whenever practical.
    (ii) All information within the Lighting Facts label shall utilize:
    (A) Arial or an equivalent type style,
    (B) Upper and lower case letters,
    (C) Leading as indicated in Prototype Labels 6 and 7 to Appendix L,
    (D) Letters should never touch,
    (E) The box and hairlines separating information as illustrated in 
Prototype Labels 6 and 7 to Appendix L.
    (F) The minimum font sizes and line thicknesses as illustrated in 
Prototype Labels 6 and 7 to Appendix L. No information on the Lighting 
Facts label shall be in type smaller than 6 point.
    (5) Product Labeling: Any general service lamp shall be labeled 
legibly on the product itself with the following information:
    (i) The lamp's average initial lumens, expressed as a number 
followed by the word ``lumens''; and
    (ii) For general service lamps containing mercury, the following 
statement: ``Contains Mercury. See epa.gov/bulbrecycling or 1-800-XXX-
XXXX.''

[[Page 57967]]

    (c)(1) The required disclosures of any covered product that is a 
general service lamp shall be measured at 120 volts, regardless of the 
lamp's design voltage. If a lamp's design voltage is 125 volts or 130 
volts, the disclosures of the wattage, light output and life ratings 
shall in each instance be:
    (i) At 120 volts and followed by the phrase ``at 120 volts.'' In 
such case, the labels for such lamps also may disclose the lamp's 
wattage, light output and life at the design voltage (e.g., ``Light 
Output 1710 Lumens at 125 volts''); or
    (ii) At the design voltage and followed by the phrase ``at (125 
volts/130 volts)'' if the ratings at 120 volts are disclosed clearly 
and conspicuously on another panel of the package, and if all panels of 
the package that contain a claimed light output, wattage or life 
clearly and conspicuously identify the lamp as ``(125 volt/130 volt),'' 
and if the principal display panel clearly and conspicuously discloses 
the following statement:
    This product is designed for (125/130) volts. When used on the 
normal line voltage of 120 volts, the light output and energy 
efficiency are noticeably reduced. See (side/back) panel for 120 volt 
ratings.
    (2) For any covered product that is an incandescent reflector lamp, 
the required disclosures of light output shall be given for the lamp's 
total forward lumens.
    (3) For any covered product that is a compact fluorescent lamp, the 
required light output disclosure shall be measured at a base-up 
position; but, if the manufacturer or private labeler has reason to 
believe that the light output at a base-down position would be more 
than 5% different, the label also shall disclose the light output at 
the base-down position or, if no test data for the base-down position 
exist, the fact that at a base-down position the light output might be 
more than 5% less.
    (4) For any covered product that is a general service incandescent 
lamp and operates with multiple filaments, the light output, energy 
cost, and wattage disclosures required by Sec.  305.15(b) must be 
provided at each of the lamp's levels of light output and the lamp's 
life provided on the basis of the filament that fails first. The 
multiple numbers shall be separated by a ``/'' (e.g., 800/1600/2500 
lumens).
    (5) A manufacturer or private labeler who distributes general 
service fluorescent lamps, or general service lamps without labels 
attached to the lamps or without labels on individual retail-sale 
packaging for one or more lamps may meet the package disclosure 
requirements of this section by making the required disclosures, in the 
manner and form required by those paragraphs, on the bulk shipping 
cartons that are to be used to display the lamps for retail sale.
    (6) Any manufacturer or private labeler who makes any 
representation, other than those required by this section, on a package 
of any covered product that is a general service fluorescent lamp or 
general service lamp regarding the cost of operation or life of such 
lamp shall clearly and conspicuously disclose in close proximity to 
such representation the assumptions upon which it is based, including, 
e.g., purchase price, unit cost of electricity, hours of use, patterns 
of use. If those assumptions differ for those required for cost and 
life information on the Lighting Facts label (11.4 cents per kWh and 3 
hours per day), the manufacturer or private labeler must also disclose, 
with equal clarity and conspicuousness, the same representation based 
on those required on the Lighting Facts label.
    (d)(1) Any covered product that is a general service fluorescent 
lamp or an incandescent reflector lamp shall be labeled clearly and 
conspicuously with a capital letter ``E'' printed within a circle and 
followed by an asterisk. The label shall also clearly and conspicuously 
disclose, either in close proximity to that asterisk or elsewhere on 
the label, the following statement:
    *[The encircled ``E''] means this bulb meets Federal minimum 
efficiency standards.
    (A) If the statement is not disclosed on the principal display 
panel, the asterisk shall be followed by the following statement:
    See [Back, Top, Side] panel for details.
    (B) For purposes of this paragraph, the encircled capital letter 
``E'' shall be clearly and conspicuously disclosed in color-contrasting 
ink on the label of any covered product that is a general service 
fluorescent lamp and will be deemed ``conspicuous,'' in terms of size, 
if it appears in typeface at least as large as either the 
manufacturer's name or logo or another logo disclosed on the label, 
such as the ``UL'' or ``ETL'' logos, whichever is larger.
    (2) Instead of labeling any covered product that is a general 
service fluorescent lamp with the encircled ``E'' and with the 
statement described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, a manufacturer 
or private labeler who would not otherwise put a label on such a lamp 
may meet the disclosure requirements of that paragraph by permanently 
marking the lamp clearly and conspicuously with the encircled ``E''.
    (3) Any cartons in which any covered products that are general 
service fluorescent lamps and general service lamps are shipped within 
the United States or imported into the United States shall disclose 
clearly and conspicuously the following statement:
    These lamps comply with Federal energy efficiency labeling 
requirements.
* * * * *


Sec.  305.19  [Amended]

    7. In Sec.  305.19, remove the phrase ``medium base compact 
fluorescent lamps, or general service incandescent lamps including 
incandescent reflector lamps'' and add in its place ``general service 
lamps'' wherever it appears.
    8. Section 305.20 is amended as follows:
    a. In paragraph (a)(1), remove the phrase ``medium base compact 
fluorescent lamps, general service incandescent lamps including 
incandescent reflector lamps'' and add in its place ``general service 
lamps'' wherever it appears;
    b. In paragraph (a)(3), remove the phrase ``medium base compact 
fluorescent lamp, or general service incandescent lamp (including an 
incandescent reflector lamp)'' and add in its place ``general service 
lamps'' wherever it appears.
    c. Revise paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  305.20  Paper catalogs and websites.

* * * * *
    (c)(1) Any manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or private labeler 
who advertises in a catalog a covered product that is a general service 
fluorescent lamp or general service lamp shall disclose clearly and 
conspicuously in such catalog:
    (i) On each page listing any covered product that is a general 
service lamp, all the information concerning that lamp required by 
Sec.  305.15 of this part to be disclosed on the lamp's label either in 
the form of the manufacturer's Lighting Facts label prepared pursuant 
to Sec.  305.15 or otherwise in a clear and conspicuous manner; and
    (ii) On each page listing a covered product that is a general 
service fluorescent lamp or an incandescent reflector lamp, all the 
information required by Sec.  305.15 of this part to be disclosed on 
the lamp's label according to the following format:
    (A) The encircled ``E'' shall appear with each lamp entry; and

[[Page 57968]]

    (B) The accompanying statement described in Sec.  305.15(d)(1) 
shall appear at least once on the page.
* * * * *


Sec.  305.21  [Amended]

    9. In Sec.  305.21, add the term ``correlated color temperature,'' 
after the term ``energy usage.''
    10. In Appendix L:
    a. Add Prototype Labels 5 through 7; and
    b. Remove all sections labeled Lamp Packaging Disclosures
    The Additions read as follows:

Appendix L to Part 305

Sample Labels

* * * * *
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.072

PROTOTYPE LABEL 5

FRONT PACKAGE DISCLOSURE FOR GENERAL SERVICE LAMPS

[[Page 57969]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.073

PROTOTYPE LABEL 6

LIGHTING FACTS LABEL FOR GENERAL SERVICE LAMPS NOT CONTAINING MERCURY

[[Page 57970]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10NO09.074

PROTOTYPE LABEL 7

LIGHTING FACTS LABEL FOR GENERAL SERVICE LAMP CONTAINING MERCURY

    By direction of the Commission.

Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-27036 Filed 11-9-09; 2:25 pm]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-S