Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule
- Table of Contents
- Introduction. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Care Labeling Rule which requires manufacturers and importers to attach care instructions to garments.
- Complying with the Rule. ...
- Writing Care Instructions. ...
- FAQs. ...
- Care Symbols. ...
- Labeling Piece Goods. ...
What is the care labeling rule (CLR)?
The Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods to attach labels to their products disclosing the care needed for the ordinary use of the product. [ 1]
Who enforces the care labeling rule for textiles?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Care Labeling Rule which requires manufacturers and importers to attach care instructions to garments. The FTC has information about other Rules relating to labeling textile products for fiber content, country of origin and manufacturer identity.
What is a care label?
(a) Care label means a permanent label or tag, containing regular care information and instructions, that is attached or affixed in such a manner that it will not become separated from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.
Should care labeling instructions for all garments be mandatory?
Moreover, mandatory care labeling instructions for all garments may impose unnecessary compliance costs on manufacturers. With mandatory instructions, manufacturers bear the cost of providing instructions on all garments. However, there is no indication that every type of garment needs instructions to ensure proper cleaning.
What is CARE Labelling?
423.1 Definitions. (a) Care label means a permanent label or tag, containing regular care information and instructions, that is attached or affixed in such a manner that it will not become separated from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.
Why is the Care Labeling Rule necessary?
Care labels are essential when making the decision to purchase items, especially clothing. Without the guidance of an accurate care or content label; it would not be known how to properly care for a particular garment which in the long run could ruin the fabric.
What are the 5 basic care labels?
The new standard is harmonized with the American and international standards for care labeling using five basic symbols which must appear in the sequence: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional textile care.
What did the Care Labeling Rule of 1972 require?
The Care Labeling Rule, which requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and goods; provides regular instructions to purchasers through care labels or other methods; prohibits deceptive acts or practices that fail to disclose instructions to regular care; requires appropriate terminology and ...
What are the advantages of care labeling?
Wearing the material labels can help to take care of your clothes before they become damaged. When clothes look new for a longer period of time, it is not a hard to wear them for more than a couple of years. Care labels for clothing are a way to keep your garments looking new for longer periods.
Do you have to say where clothes are made?
The FTC requires that all clothing labels disclose the country where the clothing was created. A textile product can only be labeled "Made in USA" if it was manufactured in the USA and it is made from materials that were manufactured in the United States.
What does P mean on a care label?
petroleum solvents onlyThe letters A, F or P inside a circle on your garment's care tag indicates that the item should be dry cleaned and instructs the dry cleaner what type of cleaner to use. An A means they can use any solvent, an F means any solvent except Trichloroethylene, and a P directs them to use petroleum solvents only.
What are the basic care symbols?
There are five basic categories of symbols:Washing: a trapezoid-shaped tub with squiggly lines representing water.Bleaching: a triangle.Drying: a square.Ironing: an iron.Professional Textile Care: a circle.
How many types of care labels are there?
There are five care labelling systems which are generally used on care labels.
What items do not need a care label?
The following items do not need any care instructions:Products sold to institutional buyers for commercial use. ... Garments custom-made of material provided by the consumer.Products granted exemptions under Section (c)(2) of the original rule because they were completely washable and sold at retail for $3 or less.
When did care labels become mandatory?
The U.S. Care Labelling Rule has been in effect since 1971 and requires manufacturers and importers to attach labels to garments and certain textile goods providing clear and accurate care instructions, including dry cleaning or washing, bleaching, drying and ironing.
Are care labels a legal requirement?
Care Labels While you're not legally required to add a wash care label to a garment, if the consumer damages that garment by washing it in the wrong way, you could be liable for the costs of repair or replacement.
Why do we need to look for the labels when buying ready to wear garments?
Labels communicate to the customer what types of materials have been used in making the garment. They communicate how to care for the garment and other special instructions about it. They communicate the size of the garment. They communicate the name of the manufacturer.
What change was made in the Care labeling Rule in 1997?
In July 1997, the FTC permitted clothing manufacturers to start using specified care symbols, in place of written instructions, on permanent labels inside garments to indicate a method for properly cleaning them.
Which rule requires care labels on garments and textiles to provide information on the appropriate cleaning methods?
The Care Labeling Rule was issued by the Federal Trade Commission in 1971 to help consumers with clothing care. The rule states that manufacturers must tag their clothing with at least one safe cleaning method. Beginning July 1, 1997, manufacturers may use certain care symbols in place of words on labels.
What do the washing labels mean?
A square with a circle inside means that the item can be safely tumble dried, while the number of dots inside the tumble dry symbol indicates what temperature setting to use: one dot stands for low heat, two dots for medium, and three for high heat setting. No dot means that you can tumble dry your clothes on any heat.
Who enforces apparel labeling laws?
The CBP and the FTC combine forces to enforce apparel labeling laws in the U.S. The Care Labeling Rule mandates imported apparel products in the U.S. must be labeled with the following information:
Where do you put labels on a shirt?
Shirts with a neck must have labels affixed to the inside center of the neck midway between the shoulder seams. Other clothes require labels on either the inside or outside of the product.
Why does the FTC deny clothing?
The FTC will deny the apparel if it finds the clothing labels are deceptive, misbranded, incorrect or falsely advertised. That’s why it’s important to:
Who can oversee the import process for apparel?
Keep in mind that Licensed Customs Brokers can oversee the apparel import process for you. Now that you know how to handle the Care Labeling Rule, working with a Customs Broker is the best way to make sure your apparel passes all of its inspection paperwork and import process hurdles.
Do imported clothes need tags?
It’s important to make sure your imported clothes and apparel have the proper tags mandated by the Care Labeling Rule.
Do you need labels for imported clothing?
Apparel coming into the U.S. is inspected. A lot. That’s why it’s important to make sure your imported clothes and apparel have the proper tags and labels. Labels and tags must be attached to all apparel entering the U.S. Here’s another important label reminder for U.S. apparel imports we will bold for you: All labels must be written in English.
423.3 What this regulation does
This regulation requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods, in or affecting commerce, as "commerce'' is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, to provide regular care instructions at the time such products are sold to purchasers through the use of care labels or other methods described in this rule..
423.4 Who is covered
Manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods are covered by this regulation. This includes any person or organization that directs or controls the manufacture or importation of covered products.
423.9 Conflict with flammability standards
If there is a conflict between this regulation and any regulations issued under the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Flammable Fabics regulation govern over this one.
423.10 Stayed or invalid parts
If any part of this regulation is stayed or held invalid, the rest of it will stay in force.
16 CFR Part 423, Appendix A
a. "Machine wash" - a process by which soil may be removed from products or specimens through the use of water, detergent or soap, agitation, and a machine designed for this purpose. When no temperature is given, e.g., "warm" or "cold," hot water up to 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) can be regularly used.
What is care labeling?
The Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods to attach labels to their products disclosing the care needed for the ordinary use of the product. [ 1] The Rule also requires manufacturers or importers to possess a reasonable basis for care instructions, [ 2] and allows the use of approved care symbols in lieu of words to disclose those instructions. [ 3]
When did the Commission clarify what constitutes a reasonable basis for care instructions?
In 2000, the Commission clarified what constitutes a reasonable basis for care instructions and revised the Rule's definitions of “cold,” “warm,” and “hot” water. [ 7] In 2000, the Commission also rejected two proposed amendments.
When did the ASTM and ISO change their care labeling system?
ASTM most recently updated its care labeling system in 2018, while ISO updated its system in 2012. Several commenters expressed concern that the ASTM and ISO symbol systems have not adequately addressed drycleaning solvents other than perc and petroleum. [ 70]
Who proposed the instruction “Leather Clean and Refinish by Professional Leather Cleaner Only”?
Commenters also disagreed on the need to amend the Rule's Appendix on leather care instructions. Dart Poach of the Professional Leather Cleaners Association (“PLCA”) urged the Commission to amend this provision so the instruction addresses professional refinishing. [ 92] Specifically, PLCA proposed the instruction “Leather Clean and Refinish by Professional Leather Cleaner Only” because many textile products with leather components need professional leather refinishing as well as professional leather cleaning. In addition, several commenters urged the Commission to amend the Rule's reasonable basis provision to address leather care. [ 93]
How many employees are required to be a small business?
Under the Small Business Size Standards issued by the Small Business Administration, textile apparel and some fabric manufacturers qualify as small businesses if they have 500 or fewer employees. Clothing and piece good wholesalers qualify as small businesses if they have 100 or fewer employees. Commission staff has estimated that approximately 10,744 manufacturers or importers of textile apparel are covered by the Rule's disclosure requirements. [ 111] A substantial number of these entities likely qualify as small businesses. The proposed repeal would not impose any new requirements on small businesses, and it would eliminate the information collection burdens associated with the Rule.
What is table of contents?
This table of contents is a navigational tool, processed from the headings within the legal text of Federal Register documents. This repetition of headings to form internal navigation links has no substantive legal effect.
Why is the existing rule no longer necessary?
Specifically, the record suggests that the existing Rule may no longer be necessary because manufacturers, in the absence of the Rule, are likely to provide accurate care information to consumers as a matter of course. [ 99] . Additionally, the Rule may have failed to keep up with a dynamic marketplace.
