The Care Labeling Rule - Overview
The Care Labeling Rule
The Care Labeling Rule of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a federal law designed to provide consumers with care instructions for "textile wearing apparel," i.e., clothes, and certain piece goods, i.e., pieces of fabric sold at retail. The Rule is applicable to manufacturers and importers of such products. Updates to the Rule became effective in September 2000.
Overview of the Rule
With some exceptions, the Rule requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and piece goods:
(1) to attach care labels to the products, including warnings and instructions on how to safely clean the products; and
(2) to have a reasonable basis for the care instructions on the labels.
Violations of the Rule
The FTC may file an enforcement action against any person or entity that violates the Rule. Violators of the Rule may be subject to penalties of up to $ 11,000 for each violation. Since 1990, the FTC has brought 16 enforcement actions, one of which was litigated and 15 of which were resolved by settlements. Penalties have ranged as high as $ 300,000.
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