FTC Amends Appliance Labeling Rule to Ease Burdens on Businesses

As part of an ongoing, thorough review of its Appliance Labeling Rule, the Federal Trade Commission is streamlining the reporting and testing provisions of the Rule, which requires energy efficiency labels for major household appliances and other consumer products.  The amendments also improve the availability of online energy information for consumers.  The agency also is […]

FTC Approves Final Order Restoring Competition in Market for Magnesium Plates for Photoengraving

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order restoring competition in the market for magnesium plates for photoengraving.  According to the FTC’s complaint, Magnesium Elektron’s 2007 acquisition of Revere Graphics Worldwide was anticompetitive and resulted in the combination of the only two makers and sellers of magnesium plates for […]

FTC Issues Dodd-Frank Report to Congress, Focused on Debit Card Transactions

The Federal Trade Commission issued a report to Congress explaining steps the agency has taken in connection with new rules on debit card transactions that were put in place last year by the Federal Reserve Board as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.    The FTC shares authority to investigate […]

FTC Releases Follow-Up Study Detailing Promotional Activities, Expenditures, and Nutritional Profiles of Food Marketed to Children and Adolescents

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the results of a comprehensive study of food and beverage industry marketing expenditures and activities directed to children and teens. The study, A Review of Food Marketing to Children and Adolescents: Follow-Up Report gauges the progress industry has made since first launching self-regulatory efforts to promote healthier food choices […]

FTC Concludes Regulatory Review of Cooling Off Rule; Proposes Increase in Threshold Amount for Coverage by the Rule from $25 to $130 Worth of Consumer Goods or Services

As part of its systematic regulatory review process, and following public comment, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is retaining the Cooling Off Rule and proposed increasing its $25 exclusionary limit to $130 to account for inflation. Currently, the Cooling Off Rule provides that it is unfair and deceptive for sellers engaged in “door-to-door” […]

FTC Settlement with IDEXX Restores Competition in the Market for Diagnostic Testing Products Used by Pet Veterinarians

The largest U.S. supplier of diagnostic testing products used by small animal veterinarians, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., has agreed to drop its exclusive-dealing arrangements with a top distributor, resolving FTC charges that it was using the exclusive arrangements to stifle competition. IDEXX has agreed to a settlement order that prohibits concurrent exclusive distribution arrangements with the […]

FTC Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed Settlement Order Concerning Robert Bosch GmbH through January 9, 2013

At the request of several members of the public, the Federal Trade Commission has extended the time to submit comments on the proposed settlement order concerning Robert Bosch GmbH through January 9, 2013.  The comment period originally was scheduled to end on December 26, 2012. The proposed order settles charges that Bosch’s acquisition of SPX […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Cornings Proposed Acquisition of Discovery Labware, Inc. Would Have Been Anticompetitive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Corning, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Becton, Dickinson and Company’s Discovery Labware Division would have been anticompetitive in the North American markets for tissue culture treated (TCT) multi-well plates, dishes, and flasks used in cell culture applications. Under the […]

FTC Strengthens Kids’ Privacy, Gives Parents Greater Control Over Their Information By Amending Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule

The Federal Trade Commission adopted final amendments to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule that strengthen kids’ privacy protections and give parents greater control over the personal information that websites and online services may collect from children under 13.  The FTC initiated a review in 2010 to ensure that the COPPA Rule keeps up with […]

FTC to Study Data Broker Industry’s Collection and Use of Consumer Data

The Federal Trade Commission issued orders requiring nine data brokerage companies to provide the agency with information about how they collect and use data about consumers.  The agency will use the information to study privacy practices in the data broker industry. Data brokers are companies that collect personal information about consumers from a variety of […]