15 U.S.C. § 70b — Misbranded and falsely advertised textile fiber products

submitted 68 years ago by Pub. L. 85-897 to r/title-15-COMMERCE-AND-TRADE · 1,657 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

A textile fiber product is misbranded if its label falsely states, or omits, required fiber content information. The label must name each fiber, give its weight percentage, and show the manufacturer and country of origin. Ads, packages, and mail-order listings must give the same fiber information.

(a) A textile fiber product is misbranded if its stamp, tag, label, invoice, or advertisement falsely or deceptively states the name or amount of the fibers inside it. (b) Unless section 70c allows a substitute, every textile fiber product needs a stamp, tag, label, or other identification, plainly legible in words and figures, showing: (1) Each fiber in the product, listed by its generic name, in order from most to least by weight — as long as a fiber makes up 5% or more of the total weight. Each fiber must get equal prominence. A brand name can appear alongside the generic name, but not replace it. If a fiber or group of fibers is 5% or less of the weight (not counting allowed decoration), it must be called "other fiber" or "other fibers" — not named or branded specifically. But a fiber can still be named at that low amount if it serves a clear, definite function in the product. (2) The percentage of each fiber, by weight, of the total fiber content (not counting decoration up to 5% of the weight). The same "5% or less" rule from (1) applies here too. A product is not considered misbranded just because the actual fiber content deviates slightly from what the label says — as long as the deviation stays within reasonable tolerances that the Commission sets. And even a deviation beyond those tolerances is not misbranding if the person charged proves it came from unavoidable manufacturing variation, despite taking care to make the label accurate. (3) The name, or the Commission-registered identification, of the manufacturer or another person responsible for the product under section 70a. (4) If the product was imported, the country where it was processed or manufactured. (5) If the product was processed or manufactured in the United States, a statement saying so. (c) A written advertisement can also make a product "falsely or deceptively advertised." This happens if the ad discloses or implies anything about fiber content, and the ad is used to help sell the product, unless the ad includes the same fiber-name and percentage information the label must carry under (b)(1) and (2) — though the ad does not have to state the percentages. (d) The label, tag, or advertisement can include extra information beyond what this section requires, as long as that extra information does not otherwise violate this subchapter. (e) A package of textile fiber products meant for sale to the ultimate consumer is misbranded unless: the package itself carries a label with the (b) information for what's inside; or the package is transparent enough that the product's own label can be clearly read through it. For hosiery, each individual item inside a package does not need its own label if: (1) the hosiery is meant to be sold to the ultimate consumer in that package; (2) the package itself has a label with the (b) information; and (3) that label's information applies equally to every hosiery item in the package. (f) A retailer does not have to separately label a piece of fabric cut from a properly labeled bolt, piece, or roll — as long as the bolt was labeled correctly under this section when it was cut. But if the seller claims the cut piece has different fiber percentages than what the bolt's label says, this section applies fully, and the fiber information must be shown separately for that piece. (g) Using the name or symbol of a fur-bearing animal in an ad makes the textile fiber product falsely or deceptively advertised — unless the product, or the relevant part of it, actually is a fur or fur product under the Fur Products Labeling Act. There's an exception: if the textile product genuinely contains the hair or fiber of that animal, the ad can use the animal's name together with the word "fiber," "hair," or "blend." (h) A textile fiber product is misbranded if it is used as stuffing in an upholstered item, mattress, or cushion after already being used as stuffing somewhere else — unless the finished item carries a Commission-approved stamp, tag, or label plainly stating that it contains reused stuffing. (i) A textile fiber product is falsely or deceptively advertised in a mail-order catalog or promotional material used to sell it directly, unless the product description clearly and plainly states that it is processed or manufactured in the United States, imported, or both. (j) A textile fiber product is misbranded if its label is not placed correctly. The label must be on or affixed to the inside center of the neck, midway between the shoulder seams. If the product has no neck, the label must go in the most visible spot on the inner side — unless it is instead placed on the outer side. For hosiery, the label goes on the outer side of the product or its package. (k) Certain socks — those classified under specific tariff subheadings as they existed on September 1, 2003 — must be marked with the English name of their country of origin. This mark must be as permanent and legible as the product or its packaging allows, placed on the front of the package next to the size label, and easy for the consumer to see and read. This marking rule does not apply to a package that mixes several different kinds of goods, including those socks.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a) False or deceptive identification

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be misbranded if it is falsely or deceptively stamped, tagged, labeled, invoiced, advertised, or otherwise identified as to the name or amount of constituent fibers contained therein.

(b) Stamp, tag, label or other means of identification; contents

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be misbranded if a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification, or substitute therefor authorized by section 70c of this title, is not on or affixed to the product showing in words and figures plainly legible, the following:

(1)

The constituent fiber or combination of fibers in the textile fiber product, designating with equal prominence each natural or manufactured fiber in the textile fiber product by its generic name in the order of predominance by the weight thereof if the weight of such fiber is 5 per centum or more of the total fiber weight of the product, but nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a nondeceptive trademark in conjunction with a designated generic name: Provided, That exclusive of permissible ornamentation, any fiber or group of fibers present in an amount of 5 per centum or less by weight of the total fiber content shall not be designated by the generic name or the trademark of such fiber or fibers, but shall be designated only as “other fiber” or “other fibers” as the case may be, but nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of any fiber present in a textile fiber product which has a clearly established and definite functional significance where present in the amount contained in such product.

(2)

The percentage of each fiber present, by weight, in the total fiber content of the textile fiber product, exclusive of ornamentation not exceeding 5 per centum by weight of the total fiber content: Provided, That, exclusive of permissible ornamentation, any fiber or group of fibers present in an amount of 5 per centum or less by weight of the total fiber content shall not be designated by the generic name or trademark of such fiber or fibers, but shall be designated only as “other fiber” or “other fibers” as the case may be but nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of any fiber present in a textile fiber product which has a clearly established and definite functional significance where present in the amount stated: Provided further, That in the case of a textile fiber product which contains more than one kind of fiber, deviation in the fiber content of any fiber in such product, from the amount stated on the stamp, tag, label, or other identification shall not be a misbranding under this section unless such deviation is in excess of reasonable tolerances which shall be established by the Commission: And provided further, That any such deviation which exceeds said tolerances shall not be a misbranding if the person charged proves that the deviation resulted from unavoidable variations in manufacture and despite due care to make accurate the statements on the tag, stamp, label, or other identification.

(3)

The name, or other identification issued and registered by the Commission, of the manufacturer of the product or one or more persons subject to section 70a of this title with respect to such product.

(4)

If it is an imported textile fiber product the name of the country where processed or manufactured.

(5)

If it is a textile fiber product processed or manufactured in the United States, it be so identified.

For the purposes of this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be considered to be falsely or deceptively advertised if any disclosure or implication of fiber content is made in any written advertisement which is used to aid, promote, or assist directly or indirectly in the sale or offering for sale of such textile fiber product, unless the same information as that required to be shown on the stamp, tag, label, or other identification under subsection (b)(1) and (2) is contained in the heading, body, or other part of such written advertisement, except that the percentages of the fiber present in the textile fiber product need not be stated.

(d) Additional information allowed

In addition to the information required in this section, the stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification, or advertisement may contain other information not violating the provisions of this subchapter.

(e) Labelling of packages

For purposes of this subchapter, in addition to the textile fiber products contained therein, a package of textile fiber products intended for sale to the ultimate consumer shall be misbranded unless such package has affixed to it a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification bearing the information required by subsection (b), with respect to such contained textile fiber products, or is transparent to the extent it allows for the clear reading of the stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification on the textile fiber product, or in the case of hosiery items, this section shall not be construed as requiring the affixing of a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification to each hosiery product contained in a package if (1) such hosiery products are intended for sale to the ultimate consumer in such package, (2) such package has affixed to it a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification bearing, with respect to the hosiery products contained therein, the information required by subsection (b), and (3) the information on the stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification affixed to such package is equally applicable with respect to each textile fiber product contained therein.

(f) Fabric severed from bolts, pieces or rolls of fabric

This section shall not be construed as requiring designation of the fiber content of any portion of fabric, when sold at retail, which is severed from bolts, pieces, or rolls of fabric labeled in accordance with the provisions of this section at the time of such sale: Provided, That if any portion of fabric severed from a bolt, piece, or roll of fabric is in any manner represented as containing percentages of natural or manufactured fibers, other than that which is set forth on the labeled bolt, piece, or roll, this section shall be applicable thereto, and the information required shall be separately set forth and segregated as required by this section.

(g) Advertisement of textile product by use of name or symbol of fur-bearing animal

For the purposes of this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be considered to be falsely or deceptively advertised if the name or symbol of any fur-bearing animal is used in the advertisement of such product unless such product, or the part thereof in connection with which the name or symbol of a fur-bearing animal is used, is a fur or fur product within the meaning of the Fur Products Labeling Act [15 U.S.C. 69 et seq.]: Provided, however, That where a textile fiber product contains the hair or fiber of a fur-bearing animal, the name of such animal, in conjunction with the word “fiber”, “hair”, or “blend”, may be used.

(h) Reused stuffing

For the purposes of this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be misbranded if it is used as stuffing in any upholstered product, mattress, or cushion after having been previously used as stuffing in any other upholstered product, mattress, or cushion, unless the upholstered product, mattress, or cushion containing such textile fiber product bears a stamp, tag, or label approved by the Commission indicating in words plainly legible that it contains reused stuffing.

(i) Mail order catalog or promotional material

For the purposes of this subchapter, a textile fiber product shall be considered to be falsely or deceptively advertised in any mail order catalog or mail order promotional material which is used in the direct sale or direct offering for sale of such textile fiber product, unless such textile fiber product description states in a clear and conspicuous manner that such textile fiber product is processed or manufactured in the United States of America, or imported, or both.

(j) Location of stamp, tag, label, or other identification

For purposes of this subchapter, any textile fiber product shall be misbranded if a stamp, tag, label, or other identification conforming to the requirements of this section is not on or affixed to the inside center of the neck midway between the shoulder seams or, if such product does not contain a neck, in the most conspicuous place on the inner side of such product, unless it is on or affixed on the outer side of such product, or in the case of hosiery items on the outer side of such product or package.

(k) Marking of certain sock products

(1)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, socks provided for in subheading 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 6115.99.18, 6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, or 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on September 1, 2003, shall be marked as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the article or package will permit in such a manner as to indicate to the ultimate consumer in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article. The marking required by this subsection shall be on the front of the package, adjacent to the size designation of the product, and shall be set forth in such a manner as to be clearly legible, conspicuous, and readily accessible to the ultimate consumer.

(2)Exceptions.—

Any package that contains several different types of goods and includes socks classified under subheading 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 6115.99.18, 6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, or 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, as in effect on September 1, 2003, shall not be subject to the requirements of paragraph (1).

Source credit: (Pub. L. 85–897, § 4, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1719; Pub. L. 89–35, §§ 1, 2, June 5, 1965, 79 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 98–417, title III, §§ 301–303, Sept. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 1603, 1604; Pub. L. 108–429, title II, § 2004(h)(1), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2594.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1958Enacted · Pub. L. 85-897 · 72 Stat. 1719
1965Amended · Pub. L. 89-35 · 79 Stat. 124
1984Amended · Pub. L. 98-417 · 98 Stat. 1603, 1604
2004Amended · Pub. L. 108-429 · 118 Stat. 2594

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 85-897 on 1958-09-02.

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