FOR RELEASE: AUGUST 16, 1993
FTC PROPOSES TO REQUIRE LABELS TO INCLUDE
METRIC MEASUREMENT
Labels and packaging for many common consumer products would
state the contents in both the customary inch/pound measurement
system and the metric system, under proposed amendments to
Federal Trade Commission regulations announced today. The FTC
seeks comments on the proposed amendments, which implement recent
amendments to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA).
Enacted in 1967, the FPLA was designed to prevent unfair or
deceptive packaging and labeling of most household consumer
products. The FPLA requires that the label disclose the identity
of the commodity; the name and place of business of the manu-
facturer, packer, or distributor; and the net quantity of con-
tents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count. As
originally enacted, the FPLA specified that the net quantity of
contents disclosures be expressed in the traditional American
inch/pound system of measurement. The FPLA grants enforcement
authority to the FTC for certain products and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for others. Shortly after the enactment of
the FPLA, the FTC published regulations that provided detailed
guidance to industry on how to comply with the act. As mandated
by the FPLA, these regulations required that net quantity of
contents be expressed in terms of the traditional inch/pound
system, but permitted an additional expression of net quantity in
terms of the metric system of measurement.
Congress amended the FPLA in 1992 to require that the
quantity disclosure on labels of consumer commodities be
expressed in both the metric system and the customary inch/pound
system of measurement. The proposed FTC amendments would imple-
ment this requirement.
The Commission is seeking comments on its proposals, which
would require that all labels printed after Feb. 14, 1994 for
consumer commodities contain both the customary inch/pound system
of measure and the metric system.
- more -
Amendment to FPLA--08/16/93)
In addition, as part of its oversight responsibilities, the
FTC periodically reviews its rules and guides to identify any
that should be modified or rescinded. The Commission is also
seeking comment on a number of questions pertaining to the costs
and benefits of its FPLA regulations, including:
-- whether there is a continuing need for the regulations
as currently promulgated;
-- the costs and benefits of the regulations on entities
subject to their requirements;
-- what changes should be made to the regulations to
minimize the economic effect on such entities;
-- whether the regulations overlap or conflict with any
local, state or other federal laws or regulations; and
-- whether technology or economic conditions have changed
since these rules were issued and, if so, what effect
the changes have on the rules.
The proposed regulations and questions for commenters will
be published in the Aug. 17 Federal Register. Comments will be
accepted for 60 days, until Oct. 18, and should be addressed to
the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Comments should be
identified as "16 CFR Part 500 -- Comment."
Copies of the Federal Register notice are available from the
FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, same address as above;
202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Brenda A. Mack, Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2182
STAFF CONTACT: Robert E. Easton, Bureau of Consumer
Protection, 202-326-3029
or
Bret S. Smart, Los Angeles Regional Office
11000 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 13209
Los Angeles, California 90024
310-575-7890
(FTC Matter No. P938402)
(FPLA)