Care labelling will remain mandatory
for apparel and certain textile goods sold in the US.
The FTC said the Care Labeling Rule ensures American
consumers continue to get accurate information on how to take care of their
fabrics and extend the life of their clothes.
It added it would continue to consider ways to improve
the Rule to the benefit of families and businesses.
The Care Labeling Rule has been in effect since 1971 and requires
manufacturers and importers to attach labels with care instructions for
garments and certain piece goods, providing instructions for dry cleaning or
washing, bleaching, drying and ironing clothing. Public comments solicited by
the FTC over the past decade show the Care Labeling Rule continues to provide
valuable guidance and serve as an important tool for consumers, manufacturers,
retailers, designers and dry cleaners alike.
In July 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, the
Commission voted 3-2 to propose repealing this consumer protection altogether,
the FTC said. Following that action, the FTC received more than 200 comments,
with an overwhelming majority opposed to the repeal of the rule.
“The Federal Trade Commission first promulgated the
Care Labeling Rule in 1971, with the goal of ensuring buyers were provided
clear and accurate information on how to take care of their fabrics. Since
then, the agency periodically has reviewed the rule, seeking public comments to
ensure the rule is keeping pace with new developments and still providing
buyers with relevant information,” said FTC chair Lina Khan in the open
Commission meeting. “After careful consideration, I believe the record supports
retaining the Care Labeling Rule and that it should not be rescinded.”
Submissions to the most recent public comment period
led the Commission to conclude that repealing the rule would not be in the
public interest. Many individuals and small businesses opposed the repeal,
emphasising that buyers rely on labels to help extend the life of their
clothes, it noted.
Other comments the FTC received from the apparel
manufacturing and cleaning industries indicated that removing the labels would
increase the likelihood that their customers’ items might be damaged in the
wash and, as a result, expose their businesses to unnecessary liability.
The Commission voted 5-0 to issue a statement to notify the public that it will
not repeal the Care Labeling Rule, as previously proposed.
By Just Style