16 CFR 0.8 - The Chairman.

The Federal Trade Commission published a final rule on February 28, 2013 revising its Rules of Practice governing access to agency records. In one of its amendatory instructions, the final rule mentioned a paragraph that was not being affected. This document makes a technical correction to the amendatory instruction so that it accurately reflects the amendments carried out.

The Federal Trade Commission is revising its Rules of Practice governing access to agency records. The Commission is adding one new category of public record materials; inserting additional contact information for the filing of initial Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests; clarifying agency procedures for acknowledging the receipt of a request, the proper filing of a request, and the “cut-off” date for searches; and allowing an extension in unusual circumstances of the time period for a FOIA requester to file an administrative appeal.

On August 14, 2008, Congress enacted the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Public Law 110-314. Section 108 of the CPSIA, as amended by Public Law 112-28, provides that the prohibition on specified products containing phthalates does not apply to any component part of children's toys or child care articles that is not accessible to a child through normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse of such product. In this document, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) issues guidance on inaccessible component parts in children's toys or child care articles subject to section 108 of the CPSIA.

The Commission issues final amendments for disclosures to help consumers, distributors, contractors, and installers easily determine whether a specific furnace or central air conditioner meets applicable Department of Energy regional efficiency standards.

The Commission amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA Rule” or “Rule”), consistent with the requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, to clarify the scope of the Rule and strengthen its protections for children's personal information, in light of changes in online technology since the Rule went into effect in April 2000. The final amended Rule includes modifications to the definitions of operator, personal information, and Web site or online service directed to children. The amended Rule also updates the requirements set forth in the notice, parental consent, confidentiality and security, and safe harbor provisions, and adds a new provision addressing data retention and deletion.

As part of its ongoing regulatory review of the Appliance Labeling Rule (“Rule”), the Commission amends the Rule by streamlining data reporting requirements for manufacturers, clarifying testing requirements and enforcement provisions, improving online energy label disclosures, and making several minor technical changes and corrections. The Commission continues to consider other issues related to this regulatory review and may seek comment on additional proposals in the future.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) will hold a public roundtable on June 19, 2013 to examine possible modifications to the FTC's Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (“Jewelry Guides” or “Guides”). This Notice describes the issues the roundtable will examine and invites comments regarding the questions to be addressed.

The FTC announces the publication of the Staff Report on the Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (“MTOR” or “Rule”). The Staff Report sets forth the staff's recommendations to the Commission on the various proposed amendments to the MTOR.

The Commission amends the Alternative Fuels Rule (“Labeling Requirements for Alternative Fuels and Alternative Fueled Vehicles”) to consolidate the FTC's alternative fueled vehicle (AFV) labels with new fuel economy labels required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The amendments also eliminate labeling requirements for used AFV labels.

The Commission is reopening the comment period of its January 9, 2013 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) until April 1, 2013.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission, or we) is announcing its intent to hold a meeting on upholstered furniture fire safety technologies. The meeting will be held at the CPSC's laboratory in Rockville, MD, on April 25, 2013. We invite interested parties to participate in or attend the meeting. We also invite interested parties to submit comments related to the meeting or the possible change in regulatory approach discussed in this notice.

The Federal Trade Commission published a final rule on February 28, 2013 revising its Rules of Practice governing access to agency records. In one of its amendatory instructions, the final rule mentioned a paragraph that was not being affected. This document makes a technical correction to the amendatory instruction so that it accurately reflects the amendments carried out.

The Commission issues final amendments for disclosures to help consumers, distributors, contractors, and installers easily determine whether a specific furnace or central air conditioner meets applicable Department of Energy regional efficiency standards.

As part of its ongoing regulatory review of the Appliance Labeling Rule (“Rule”), the Commission amends the Rule by streamlining data reporting requirements for manufacturers, clarifying testing requirements and enforcement provisions, improving online energy label disclosures, and making several minor technical changes and corrections. The Commission continues to consider other issues related to this regulatory review and may seek comment on additional proposals in the future.

The Commission proposes to amend the Appliance Labeling Rule (“Rule”) by updating ranges of comparability and unit energy cost figures for many EnergyGuide labels. The Commission also seeks comment on a proposed exemption request by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to help consumers compare the labels on refrigerators and clothes washers after the implementation of upcoming changes to the Department of Energy test procedures for those products.