[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR423.8]

[Page 419-420]
 
                     TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
 
                   CHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
 
PART 423_CARE LABELING OF TEXTILE WEARING APPAREL AND CERTAIN PIECE 
GOODS AS AMENDED--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 423.8  Exemptions.

    (a) Any item of textile wearing apparel, without pockets, that is 
totally reversible (i.e., the product is designed to be used with either 
side as the outer part or face) is exempt from the care label 
requirement.
    (b) Manufacturers or importers can ask for an exemption from the 
care label requirement for any other textile wearing apparel product or 
product line, if the label would harm the appearance or usefulness of 
the product. The request must be made in writing to the Secretary of the 
Commission. The request must be accompanied by a labeled sample of the 
product and a full statement explaining why the request should be 
granted.
    (c) If an item is exempt from care labeling under paragraph (a) or 
(b), of this section the consumers still must be given the required care 
information for the product. However, the care information can be put on 
a hang tag, on the package, or in some other conspicuous place, so that 
consumers will be able to see the care information before buying the 
product.
    (d) Manufacturers and importers of products covered by Sec. 423.5 
are exempt from the requirement for a permanent care label if the 
product can be cleaned safely under the harshest procedures. This 
exemption is available only if there is reliable proof that all of the 
following washing and drycleaning procedures can safely be used on a 
product:
    (1) Machine washing in hot water;
    (2) Machine drying at a high setting;
    (3) Ironing at a hot setting;
    (4) Bleaching with all commercially available bleaches;
    (5) Drycleaning with all commercially available solvents. In such 
case, the statement ``wash or dry clean, any normal method'' must appear 
on a hang tag, on the package, or in some other conspicuous place, so 
that consumers will be able to see the statement before buying the 
product.

If a product meets the requirements outlined above, it is automatically 
exempt from the care label requirement. It is not necessary to file a 
request for this exemption.
    (e) Manufacturers and importers need not provide care information 
with products sold to institutional buyers for commercial use.
    (f) All exemption granted under Sec. 423.1(c) (1) or (2) or the 
Care Labeling Rule issued on December 9, 1971, will continue to be in 
effect if the product still meets the standards on which the original 
exemption was based. Otherwise, the exemption is automatically revoked.
    (g) The symbol system developed by the American Society for Testing 
and Materials (ASTM) and designated as ASTM Standard D5489-96c Guide to 
Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Consumer Textile Products may be 
used on care labels or care instructions in lieu of terms so long as the 
symbols fulfill the requirements of this part. In addition, symbols from 
the symbol system designated as ASTM Standard D5489-96c may be combined 
with terms so long as the symbols and terms used fulfill the 
requirements of this part. Provided, however, that for the 18-month 
period beginning on July 1, 1997, such symbols may be used on care 
labels in lieu of terms only if an explanation of the meaning of the 
symbols used on the care label in terms is attached to, or provided 
with, the item of textile wearing apparel. This incorporation by 
reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of ASTM 
Standard D5489-96c Guide to Care Symbols for Care Instructions on 
Textile Products may be obtained from the American Society for Testing 
and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, or 
may be inspected at the Federal Trade Commission, room 130, 600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, or at the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://
www.archives.gov/federal--register/

[[Page 420]]

code--of--federal--regulations/ibr--locations.html.

(15 U.S.C. 41-58)

[48 FR 22743, May 20, 1983; 48 FR 24869, June 3, 1983; 62 FR 29008, May 
29, 1997; 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004]