[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations]
[Federal Trade Commission Regulatory Plan]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC)

Statement of Regulatory Priorities
Regulatory Priorities
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency charged with 
protecting consumers and businesses from unfair, deceptive, and 
anticompetitive practices.
Although the agency pursues its mandate primarily through case-by-case 
enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission Act and other statutes, 
regulation is an important complement to this law enforcement effort, 
particularly with respect to consumer protection matters. Commission 
regulations generally are intended to ensure that consumers receive the 
information necessary to evaluate competing products and make informed 
purchasing decisions.
The Commission's regulatory efforts for 1995 encompassed a 
consideration of new regulations, modification of existing regulations, 
and elimination of unneeded regulations. With respect to new 
regulations, the Commission implemented a new rule pursuant to the 
Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. The Act 
directed the Commission to issue a rule prohibiting deceptive and 
abusive telemarketing acts and practices within 365 days from the date 
of enactment of the Act. On August 16, 1995, the Commission issued a 
final rule that prohibits telemarketers from misrepresenting the cost, 
quantity, and other aspects of offered goods or services and allows the 
FTC to target deceptive and abusive practices. This proceeding 
generated considerable interest because of the large number of 
companies that conduct business by means of telemarketing and because 
of the Rule's potential effect on their methods of doing business. The 
Rule becomes effective on December 31, 1995.
In the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPA 92), Congress directed the 
Commission to establish uniform labeling requirements, if practicable, 
for alternative fuels (i.e., automotive fuels other than gasoline and 
diesel, such as compressed natural gas and electricity) and for 
vehicles that use alternative fuels. The Commission issued a final rule 
on May 19, 1995 (60 FR 26926) that requires disclosure of 
``appropriate'' cost and benefit information for nonliquid alternative 
fuels and alternative-fueled vehicles to enable consumers to make 
reasonable purchasing choices and comparisons. The labeling 
requirements for nonliquid alternative fuels became effective on August 
21, 1995, and the labeling requirements for alternative-fueled vehicles 
become effective on November 20, 1995.
With respect to rule modifications, the Commission sought comment 
regarding possible amendments to its Care Labeling Rule (59 FR 30733 
June 15, 1994). The rule requires manufacturers and importers of 
textile wearing apparel to attach care labels to garments (for example, 
``dry clean only''). The rule currently requires the instructions to be 
in words, but allows symbols to be used in addition to words. The FTC 
sought comment on the desirability of using symbols in lieu of words. 
Symbols could make care instructions more understandable to non-
English-speaking consumers, and thus not only better serve a 
significant minority of American consumers, but also foster trade with 
Mexico and Canada, consistent with the goals of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement. The comment period expired on October 15, 1994, and 
staff's recommendation to the Commission is expected in the fall of 
1995.
The FTC is also committed to eliminating unnecessary rules and 
regulations. To this end, the Commission is seeking information 
regarding the costs and benefits of various trade regulation rules and 
voluntary industry guides. (See 60 FR 6463, February 2, 1995). This 
assessment is part of the Commission's ongoing program to review all of 
its rules and guides at least once every 10 years to determine their 
effectiveness, impact, and cost, and to assess whether they should be 
retained, modified, or repealed. As part of this ongoing program, the 
Commission has issued advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPRMs) 
proposing to rescind: the Sleeping Bag Rule, Part 400; the Binocular 
Rule, Part 402; the Tablecloth Rule, Part 404; the Glass Fiber Curtain 
Rule, Part 413; the Frosted Cocktail Glass Rule, Part 417; and the 
Extension Ladder Rule, Part 418. See 60 FR 27240-27245 (May 21, 1995). 
In connection with these rules, the Commission approved notices of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) and gave advance notice of the NPRMs to 
Congress as required by Section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. 
The Commission also approved an ANPRM to commence a proceeding to 
rescind the Leather Belt Rule, Part 405, and forwarded it to Congress 
as well.
In the past year, the FTC also repealed six voluntary industry guides. 
See 60 FR 37334 (July 20, 1995), announcing repeal of the Mill Guides; 
60 FR 40262-40265 (August 8, 1995), announcing repeal of the Mail Order 
Insurance, Debt Collection Deception, and Free Film Guides; 60 FR 40267 
(August 8, 1995), announcing repeal of the Beauty/Barber Equipment 
Guides; and 60 FR 40453 (August 9, 1995), announcing repeal of the Wig 
Guides. The Commission voted to repeal the Shoe, Ladies' Handbag, and 
Luggage Guides, and to propose a consolidated guide to cover these 
items as well as leather belts. The Commission also revised one 
interpretation and repealed various other interpretations published in 
16 CFR Part 14. See 60 FR 40231 (August 15, 1995).
With regard to both content and process, the FTC's ongoing and proposed 
regulatory actions are compatible with the President's priorities. 
Substantively, the actions under consideration inform and protect 
consumers and reduce the regulatory burdens on business. In addition, 
the Commission's effort under EPA 92 serves to promote environmental 
protection and conservation of energy resources. The Commission's 10-
year program for reviewing its existing regulations and guides is also 
consistent with President Clinton's National Regulatory Reinvention 
Initiative, which, among other things, urges agencies to eliminate 
obsolete or unnecessary regulations. The Commission's review program 
corresponds as well to section 5(a) of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 
51735, September 30, 1993), which directs Executive branch agencies to 
develop a plan to reevaluate periodically all of their significant, 
existing regulations.
Procedurally, the Commission also continues to focus substantial 
attention on aspects of the regulatory process that Executive Order 
12866 seeks to promote: identifying and weighing the costs and benefits 
of proposed actions and possible alternative actions, and receiving the 
broadest practicable array of comments from affected consumers, 
businesses, and the public at large. In sum, therefore, the Federal 
Trade Commission's regulatory actions are aimed at efficiently and 
fairly promoting the ability of ``private markets to protect or improve 
the health and safety of the public, the environment, or the well-being 
of the American people.'' (Executive Order 12866, sec. I.)
Regulatory Actions
The Commission has no actions that constitute ``significant regulatory 
actions'' under the definition in Executive Order 12866. Two of the 
three actions in Part II of the 1994 Regulatory Plan have concluded and 
are referenced in the Commission's October 1995 entry in the Unified 
Agenda of Federal Regulations. The third action, expected to conclude 
in 1995, is also referenced in the October Agenda.
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BILLING CODE 6750-01-F