
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC68b]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
   CHAPTER 2--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; PROMOTION OF EXPORT TRADE AND 
               PREVENTION OF UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION
 
                SUBCHAPTER III--LABELING OF WOOL PRODUCTS
 
Sec. 68b. Misbranded wool products


(a) False identification; affixation of label, etc., contents

    A wool product shall be misbranded--
        (1) If it is falsely or deceptively stamped, tagged, labeled, or 
    otherwise identified.
        (2) If a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification, or 
    substitute therefor under section 68c of this title, is not on or 
    affixed to the wool product and does not show--
            (A) the percentage of the total fiber weight of the wool 
        product, exclusive of ornamentation not exceeding 5 per centum 
        of said total fiber weight, of (1) wool; (2) recycled wool; (3) 
        each fiber other than wool if said percentage by weight of such 
        fiber is 5 per centum or more; and (4) the aggregate of all 
        other fibers: Provided, That deviation of the fiber contents of 
        the wool product from percentages stated on the stamp, tag, 
        label, or other means of identification, shall not be 
        misbranding under this section if the person charged with 
        misbranding proves such deviation resulted from unavoidable 
        variations in manufacture and despite the exercise of due care 
        to make accurate the statements on such stamp, tag, label, or 
        other means of identification.
            (B) the maximum percentage of the total weight of the wool 
        product, of any nonfibrous loading, filling, or adulterating 
        matter.
            (C) the name of the manufacturer of the wool product and/or 
        the name of one or more persons subject to section 68a of this 
        title with respect to such wool product.
            (D) the name of the country where processed or manufactured.

        (3) In the case of a wool product containing a fiber other than 
    wool, if the percentages by weight of the wool contents thereof are 
    not shown in words and figures plainly legible.
        (4) In the case of a wool product represented as wool, if the 
    percentages by weight of the wool content thereof are not shown in 
    words and figures plainly legible, or if the total fiber weight of 
    such wool product if not 100 per centum wool exclusive of 
    ornamentation not exceeding 5 per centum of such total fiber weight.

(b) Additional information

    In addition to information required in this section, the stamp, tag, 
label, or other means of identification, or substitute therefor under 
section 68c of this title, may contain other information not violating 
the provisions of this subchapter or the rules and regulations of the 
Commission.

(c) Substitute identification

    If any person subject to section 68a of this title with respect to a 
wool product finds or has reasonable cause to believe its stamp, tag, 
label, or other means of identification, or substitute therefor under 
section 68c of this title, does not contain the information required by 
this subchapter, he may replace same with a substitute containing the 
information so required.

(d) Designations on linings, paddings, etc.

    This section shall not be construed as requiring designation on 
garments or articles of apparel of fiber content of any linings, 
paddings, stiffening, trimmings, or facings, except those concerning 
which express or implied representations of fiber content are 
customarily made, nor as requiring designation of fiber content of 
products which have an insignificant or inconsequential textile content: 
Provided, That if any such article or product purports to contain or in 
any manner is represented as containing wool, this section shall be 
applicable thereto and the information required shall be separately set 
forth and segregated.
    The Commission, after giving due notice and opportunity to be heard 
to interested persons, may determine and publicly announce the classes 
of such articles concerning which express or implied representations of 
fiber content are customarily made, and those products which have an 
insignificant or inconsequential textile content.

(e) False or deceptive advertising in mail order promotions

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

(f) Location of label, etc.

    For purposes of this subchapter, any wool 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.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, Sec. 4, 54 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 96-242, Sec. 2, 
May 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 344; Pub. L. 98-417, title III, Secs. 304, 305, 
Sept. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 1604.)


                               Amendments

    1984--Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 98-417, Sec. 304, added subpar. 
(D).
    Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 98-417, Sec. 305, added subsecs. (e) and 
(f).
    1980--Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 96-242 substituted ``recycled 
wool'' for ``reprocessed wool'' as cl. (2), struck out cl. (3) ``reused 
wool'', and redesignated existing cls. (4) and (5) as (3) and (4), 
respectively.


                    Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

    Section 307 of title III of Pub. L. 98-417 provided that: ``The 
amendments made by this title [amending this section and sections 68c 
and 70b of this title] shall be effective ninety days after the date of 
enactment of this Act [Sept. 24, 1984].''


                    Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-242 effective with respect to wool products 
manufactured on or after the date sixty days after May 5, 1980, see 
section 3 of Pub. L. 96-242, set out as a note under section 68 of this 
title.

                          Transfer of Functions

    For transfer of functions of Federal Trade Commission, with certain 
exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 
1950, Sec. 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out 
under section 41 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 68c of this title.
