[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65327-65328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30833]



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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Announcement of Dates for Public Workshop Regarding ``Made in 
USA'' Claims in Product Advertising and Labeling and Procedure for 
Requesting to Participate

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of dates for public workshop on the use of ``Made 
in USA'' claims in product advertising and labeling and procedures for 
requesting to participate.

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SUMMARY: On October 18, 1995 the Federal Trade Commission (Commissioner 
Roscoe B. Starek, III dissenting) published a Federal Register Notice 
seeking public comments through January 16, 1996 in connection with its 
comprehensive review of consumers' perceptions of ``Made in USA'' 
claims in product advertising and labeling. As part of this review, the 
Commission announced that it would invite representatives of consumers, 
industry, government agencies, and other groups to attend a public 
workshop to exchange views on the issues, including those raised by the 
comments received. Among other things, in its review the Commission 
will be considering (i) whether it should alter its legal standard 
regarding the use of unqualified ``Made in USA'' claims, and (ii) how 
domestic content should be measured under any future standard.
    The Commission has scheduled the workshop for March 26-27, 1996 at 
its headquarters at Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., 
Washington, D.C. If necessary to accommodate the number of issues 
raised by the comments, the workshop may be continued through March 28. 
Today's Federal Register Notice discusses, among other matters, the 
procedure to be followed by those who wish to participate in the 
workshop. The Commission also announces that it will hold the record of 
this proceeding open for approximately one month (until April 30, 1996) 
for workshop participants and other interested parties to submit 
clarifying or rebuttal comments on the issues discussed at the 
workshop.

DATES: Requests to participate in the workshop must be submitted on or 
before January 16, 1996.

[[Page 65328]]

ADDRESSES: Six paper copies of each request to participate should be 
submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 
Room 159, Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20580. Requests should include the requester's telephone number and a 
FAX number if available. Requests should be captioned: ``Made in USA 
Workshop--Request to Participate,'' FTC File No. P894219. You may 
include this request with your comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Easton, Special Assistant, 
Division of Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 
20580, telephone 202-326-2823.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The October 18, 1995 Federal Register Notice (60 FR 53922, 
hereafter referred to as the ``first Notice'') announced the public 
workshop and requested comment on a number of specific questions 
relating to advertising and labeling claims of ``Made in USA.'' The 
first Notice described in detail the substance of the issues to be 
discussed at the workshop and the issues on which written comments were 
requested. The first Notice, however, left open the specific dates and 
location for the workshop. This second Notice addresses these matters, 
as well as the procedure for requesting the opportunity to participate.
    As stated in the first Notice, the intent of the workshop will not 
be to achieve a consensus among participants, or between participants 
and Commission staff, with regard to any issue raised in this 
proceeding. However, the Commission will consider the views and 
suggestions made during the workshop, in addition to any written 
comments, in formulating its future policy regarding ``Made in USA'' 
claims.

B. The Workshop

    The Commission expects the workshop to be conducted over two days, 
with separate morning and afternoon panels on each day. A third day of 
the workshop will be held if there is a need to do so. The subjects to 
be discussed at each of the panels will be determined after reviewing 
the substantive comments received pursuant to the first Notice. An 
agenda for each panel will be announced as soon as practical. The 
workshop will be open to the public.
    As mentioned in the first Notice, the Commission is currently 
conducting a consumer research project regarding consumer perception of 
``Made in USA'' claims. Results of the project will be made available 
to participants and the public before the workshop. Participants who 
wish to discuss the consumer perception study at the workshop will be 
asked to submit an outline or short statement of their views prior to 
the workshop for the purpose of arranging the workshop's agenda. Others 
who wish to submit comments on the study are welcome to do so.
    The record of the proceeding will be open for a month after the 
workshop is concluded for the receipt of any additional comments on the 
study or other issues discussed at the workshop. This will allow 
workshop participants and others to clarify any views expressed at the 
workshop or to rebut the comments and views of others in the event that 
there is insufficient time to fully address all pertinent issues.
    A neutral, third-party facilitator may be retained for the public 
workshop. The discussion during the workshop will be transcribed and 
the transcript will be placed on the public record.

C. Selection of Workshop Participants

    If the number of parties who request to participate in the workshop 
is so large that including all requesters would inhibit effective 
discussion among the participants, Commission staff will select as 
participants a limited number of parties to represent the interests of 
those who submit written comments. Selection will be based on the 
following criteria:
    1. The party must have submitted a substantive written comment by 
January 16, 1996 in response to the first Federal Register notice (60 
FR 53922, Oct. 18, 1995).
    2. The party must have submitted a request to participate pursuant 
to this Federal Register notice by January 16, 1996.
    3. The party's attendance would promote the representation of a 
balance of interests at the conference.
    4. The party's attendance would promote the consideration and 
discussion of the issues presented in the workshop.
    5. The party has expertise in issues raised in the workshop.
    6. The party adequately reflects the views of the affected 
interest(s) which it purports to represent.
    7. The party has been designated by one or more interested parties 
(who timely file requests to participate and written comments) as a 
party who shares group interests with the designator(s).
    8. The number of parties selected will not be so large as to 
inhibit effective discussion among them.
    If it is necessary to limit the number of participants, those not 
selected to participate, but who submit both requests to participate 
and written comments, will be afforded an opportunity, if at all 
possible, at the end of one or more sessions to present statements 
during a limited time period. The time allotted for these statements 
will be based on the amount of time necessary for discussion of the 
issues by the selected parties, and on the number of persons who wish 
to make statements.
    Requesters will be notified as soon as possible after January 16, 
1996 if they have been selected to participate. To assist in making 
this notification, please include in your request to participate a 
telephone number and a FAX number if available.

D. Date, Time and Location of Workshop

    The workshop is scheduled to be held in room 432 of the FTC 
headquarters building, Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. on March 26 and 27, 1996, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. 
Depending on the number of issues raised by the comments, the workshop 
may be extended through an additional day, March 28, 1996. The workshop 
is open to the public.

E. Procedure for Requesting Opportunity to Participate in Workshop

    To be eligible to participate at the workshop, you must:
    1. File a written substantive comment by January 16, 1996 pursuant 
to the first Federal Register notice.
    2. File a written request to participate by January 16, 1996 
pursuant to this Federal Register notice.
    You may combine the written substantive comment and the written 
request to participate in one document.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.
    By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Starek dissenting.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-30833 Filed 12-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P