[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR12.2]

[Page 130-131]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
PART 12--FAIR PACKAGING AND LABELING--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 12.2  Undue proliferation.

    (a) Information as to possible undue proliferation. Any person or 
group, including a State or local governmental entity, is invited to 
communicate information to the Secretary concerning the possible 
existence of undue proliferation. Such communications should be in 
writing and include supporting information and explanations.
    (b) Initiation of inquiry as to undue proliferation. Upon receipt of 
information regarding the possible existence of undue proliferation, the 
Secretary will determine whether there has been a showing of good cause 
warranting an inquiry. If the Secretary determines that good cause 
exists, he shall initiate an inquiry for the purpose of finding facts 
concerning the existence of undue proliferation.
    (c) Procedures for inquiry--(1) Cooperation with State and local 
officials. Any inquiry initiated under paragraph (b) of this section may 
be conducted in cooperation with State and local weights and measures 
officials.
    (2) Participation by interested persons. The Secretary may, during 
the course of the inquiry, afford interested persons or groups an 
opportunity to submit in writing comments, data, arguments, views, or 
other information relevant to the inquiry.
    (d) Proposed determination as to existence of undue proliferation. 
(1) If, after consideration of all relevant information, the Secretary 
concludes that undue proliferation appears to exist, he shall publish a 
proposed determination to this effect. The proposed determination shall 
identify the particular consumer commodity or commodities involved and 
shall be accompanied by a concise statement of the facts upon which it 
is based.
    (2) Within 60 days after publication of the proposed determination, 
any interested party may submit in writing

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comments, data, arguments, views, or other information relevant to the 
proposed determination. All written submissions shall be made a part of 
the public record.
    (3) Within 30 days after the proposed determination has been 
published, any interested party may request in writing an oral hearing 
to present his views. The granting of such a hearing shall be at the 
discretion of the Secretary. Any such hearing shall be public and notice 
thereof shall be published at least 15 days in advance. A transcript of 
the hearing shall be made part of the public record.
    (e) Final determination as to undue proliferation. As soon as 
practicable following the conclusion of the proceedings described in 
paragraph (d) of this section, the Secretary shall either publish a 
final determination of undue proliferation, or he shall publish a notice 
withdrawing his proposed determination of undue proliferation. In no 
event shall the withdrawal of a proposed determination operate to 
preclude the initiation of another inquiry regarding the same or similar 
subject matter under paragraph (b) of this section.