16 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter B - GUIDES AND TRADE PRACTICE RULES

In a November 28, 2014, Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“SNPRM”), the FTC proposed further amendments to the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule (“Rule” or “Used Car Rule”) following a review of public comments concerning its December 2012 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”). In response to a December 31, 2014, request, the Commission is extending the comment period announced in the November 2014 SNPRM from January 30, 2015, to March 17, 2015.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) in the Federal Register on November 19, 2014, concerning recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). The NPR invited the public to submit written comments by February 2, 2015. In response to two requests for an extension, the Commission is extending the comment period.

The Federal Trade Commission amends the Rule Concerning Cooling-Off Period for Sales Made at Homes or at Certain Other Locations (“Cooling-Off Rule” or “Rule”). The final Rule adopts with modifications the Commission's proposal to increase the exclusionary limit for all door-to-door sales. Under the final Rule, the revised definition of “door-to-door sale” distinguishes between sales at a buyer's residence and those at other locations. First, the revised definition retains coverage for sales made at a buyer's residence that have a purchase price of $25 or more. Second, the revised definition covers sales at other locations that have a purchase price of $130 or more.

Section 108 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), requires the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) to convene a Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) to study the effects on children's health of all phthalates and phthalate alternatives as used in children's toys and child care articles and to provide recommendations to the Commission regarding whether any phthalates or phthalate alternatives other than those already permanently prohibited should be prohibited. The CPSIA requires the Commission to promulgate a final rule after receiving the final CHAP report. The Commission is proposing this rule pursuant to section 108(b) of the CPSIA.

Consistent with proposed amendments published in a June 18, 2014 Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM), the Commission updates its label requirements for heating and cooling equipment and removes information from furnace labels about regional conservation standards.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission) announces that there will be an opportunity for interested persons to present oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) the Commission issued proposing a standard to reduce the risk of injury associated with recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). Any oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

The FTC is proposing further amendments to the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule (“Rule” or “Used Car Rule”) that would require dealers to indicate on the Buyers Guide whether they obtained a vehicle history report, and, if so, to provide a copy of the report to consumers who request it; revise the Buyers Guide statement describing the meaning of an “As Is” sale in which a dealer offers a vehicle for sale without a warranty; and move boxes to the front of the Buyers Guide for dealers to indicate whether non-dealer warranties apply to a vehicle. Based on the FTC's review of the public comments, the Commission proposes these amendments to promote consumer access to vehicle history information, to clarify the meaning of “As Is” in the sale of used vehicles without warranties, and to make disclosures concerning non-dealer warranties more prominent. The FTC is not adopting any final amendments to the Used Car Rule at this time. It continues to consider comments submitted in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) published in December 2012 and seeks additional comments in this SNPRM.

This document announces the Commission's decision to extend the conditional stay of enforcement of special packaging requirements for over-the-counter and prescription products containing the equivalent of 0.08 milligrams or more of a specified imidazoline (tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, oxymetazoline, or xylometazoline) in a single package. Firms that meet the conditions of the stay have until June 10, 2015 to comply with the special packaging requirements.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has determined preliminarily that there may be an unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). To address these risks, the Commission proposes a rule that includes: lateral stability and vehicle handling requirements that specify a minimum level of rollover resistance for ROVs and require that ROVs exhibit sublimit understeer characteristics; occupant retention requirements that would limit the maximum speed of an ROV to no more than 15 miles per hour (mph), unless the seat belts of both the driver and front passengers, if any, are fastened, and would require ROVs to have a passive means, such as a barrier or structure, to limit further the ejection of a belted occupant in the event of a rollover; and information requirements.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) is proposing a rule to specify that seasonal and decorative lighting products that do not contain one or more of three readily observable characteristics (minimum wire size, sufficient strain relief, or overcurrent protection) constitute a substantial product hazard under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

In an August 11, 2014, Federal Register Notice, as part of its systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides, the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) sought public comment on the efficacy, costs, and benefits of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”), and whether the Commission should retain, modify, or rescind it. The Notice stated that comments must be received on or before October 14, 2014. In response to a request received on September 29, 2014, the Commission has decided to extend the comment period, which will now close on November 13, 2014.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission, or we) is issuing a rule establishing requirements for magnet sets and individual magnets that are intended or marketed to be used with or as magnet sets. As defined in the rule, magnet sets are aggregations of separable magnetic objects that are marketed or commonly used as a manipulative or construction item for entertainment, such as puzzle working, sculpture building, mental stimulation, or stress relief. Under the rule, if a magnet set contains a magnet that fits within the CPSC's small parts cylinder, each magnet in the magnet set must have a flux index of 50 kG 2 mm 2 or less. An individual magnet that is marketed or intended for use as part of a magnet set also must meet these requirements. The flux index is determined by the method described in ASTM F963-11, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety.

The Federal Trade Commission (“the Commission”) previously published in the Federal Register a request for public comments on the overall costs and benefits of and the continuing need for its Guides for Advertising Allowances and Other Merchandising Payments and Services (“the Guides”). The Commission issued this request as part of its program for periodic review of its rules and guides to ensure they are up-to-date, effective, and not overly burdensome.

The Commission adopts final amendments to its Trade Regulation Rule previously entitled “Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise,” including revising its name to “Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise” (the “Rule”). The final Rule is based upon the comments received in response to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPR”), a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), a Staff Report, and other information. This document contains the text of the final Rule and the Rule's Statement of Basis and Purpose (“SBP”), including a Regulatory Analysis.

The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register of August 12, 2014, which amends the Energy Labeling Rule by updating comparability ranges for certain heating and cooling products and making conforming changes to the Rule's sample labels.

The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) amends its Energy Labeling Rule (“Rule”) by publishing new ranges of comparability for required labels on central air conditioners, heat pumps, and weatherized furnaces.

The Commission requests public comment on its Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR” or “Rule”). The Commission is soliciting comments as part of the FTC's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides.

The Federal Trade Commission has completed its regulatory review of the Trade Regulation Rule Concerning Use of Prenotification Negative Option Plans as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides, and has determined to retain the Rule in its current form.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission, or we) staff is holding a workshop on aspects of the Commission's proposed rule on Certificates of Compliance (certificates), which the Commission published on May 13, 2013. Among other things, the Commission proposed to require electronic filing of certificates for regulated imported consumer products with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the time of filing the CBP entry or the time of filing the entry and entry summary, if both are filed together. The workshop will focus on this aspect of the proposed rule. We invite interested parties to participate in, or attend the workshop, and to submit written comments.

As part of its regulatory review of the Energy Labeling Rule, the Federal Trade Commission proposes to expand coverage of the Lighting Facts label, change the current label categories for refrigerators, revise the ceiling fan label design, and require room air conditioner labels on packaging instead of the units themselves.

The Commission amends its rules and regulations under the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 (“Wool Rules” or “Rules”) to conform to the requirements of the Wool Suit Fabric Labeling Fairness and International Standards Conforming Act, which revised the labeling requirements for cashmere and certain other wool products, and align with the amended rules and regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (“Textile Rules”).

In an April 4, 2014 Federal Register Notice, the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) proposed amending its Fuel Rating Rule to provide revised rating, certification, and labeling requirements for blends of gasoline and more than 10 percent ethanol (“ethanol blends”) and an additional octane rating method for gasoline. The NPRM requested comments on the proposed amendments, and stated that comments must be received on or before June 2, 2014. In response to a request to extend the comment period received on May 20, 2014, the Commission is extending the comment period from June 2, 2014 to July 2, 2014.

The Federal Trade Commission amends its Regulations under the Fur Products Labeling Act to update the Fur Products Name Guide, provide more labeling flexibility, incorporate Truth in Fur Labeling Act provisions, and conform the guaranty provisions to those governing textiles. The Commission does not change the required name for nyctereutes procyonoides fur products. Labels will continue to describe this animal as “Asiatic Raccoon.”

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) resumes its regulatory review of the Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles (“Fuel Economy Guide” or “Guide”). The Commission seeks comments on potential amendments to update the Guide to reflect changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's (“EPA”) fuel economy labeling rules, address advertising for alternative fueled vehicles, and consider other advertising claims prevalent in the market.

The Commission is amending the Hart-Scott-Rodino (“HSR”) Premerger Notification Rules (the “Rules”), and the Premerger Notification and Report Form and associated Instructions (“Form and Instructions”) to reflect the new address of the Commission's Premerger Notification Office (the “PNO”).

The Commission issues conforming amendments to the Energy Labeling Rule (“Rule”) to require a new Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for televisions and establish data reporting requirements for those products.

The Federal Trade Commission is updating its regulations regarding fees for the provision of services in disseminating information and records to the public. The updates reflect changes in, and additions to, the types of services that the Federal Trade Commission provides, and account for changes in the costs of providing such services.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) is increasing certain civil penalty amounts within its jurisdiction, as required by law. These adjustments reflect inflation since the penalty amounts were last adjusted.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission, CPSC, or we) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) to update the regulation that interprets section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). In 1983, the Commission issued a regulation interpreting the provisions of section 6(b) of the CPSA, and we are proposing to modernize that regulation to account for the significant improvements in information technology that have occurred since the regulation's adoption. We are also proposing to streamline the regulation to be as closely aligned with section 6(b) as possible, while maintaining our compliance with the statutory requirements and the protections of section 6(b)(5) for information filed in accordance with the requirements of section 15(b) of the CPSA. This NPR seeks comments on the proposed changes to the regulation.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or “Commission”) is holding a public roundtable relating to its September 20, 2012 proposed changes to the Care Labeling Rule. The roundtable will explore issues relating to professional wetcleaning, care symbols, the Rule's reasonable basis requirements, and other issues raised in comments received in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”). The roundtable originally scheduled on October 1, 2013 was cancelled due to the government shutdown.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) amends it regulations to revise the supplemental definition of “strong sensitizer” under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). The revised definition of “strong sensitizer” eliminates redundancy, removes certain subjective factors, incorporates new and anticipated technology, places the criteria for classification of strong sensitizers in the order of importance, defines criteria for “severity of reaction,” and provides for the use of a weight-of-evidence approach to determine whether a substance is a strong sensitizer.