The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a Made in the USA Labeling Rule that's designed to strengthen the FTC's enforcement program and make it easier for businesses to comply with the law.
 
The FTC is accepting public comment on the Proposed Rule until August 21.

If enacted, marketers would be prohibited from including unqualified Made in USA claims on labels unless:

• Final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the US;
• All significant processing that goes into the product occurs in the US; and
• All or virtually all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the US.

According to Owen Caine, VP-government relations & public policy, the Household & Commercial Products Association (HPCA)  is encouraged that the FTC is considering changes to the way it explains and enforces the regulations governing Made in USA.

“For years, confusion and enforcement difficulties have diluted the claim, while doing little to discourage unscrupulous actors from deceiving American consumers,” observed Caine. “Made in USA claims hold great value for both consumers and manufacturers, and HCPA and its members look forward to seeing improvements that will strengthen the claim for manufacturers and brands that make these claims for their products.”
 
The Proposed Rule covers labels making unqualified Made in USA claims appearing in mail order catalogs and mail order promotional material, de ned as “any materials, used in the direct sale or direct offering for sale of any product or service, that are disseminated in print or by electronic means, and that solicit the purchase of such product or service by mail, telephone, electronic mail, or some other method without examining the actual product purchased.”

If enacted, the Proposed Rule would significantly broaden the scope of what is covered, according to lawyers familiar with the issue. However, the Proposed Rule will not change or affect any other existing federal or state law or regulation relating to country-of-origin labels, except to the extent a state country-of-origin labeling statute or regulation is inconsistent with the Proposed Rule.

The FTC’s current Made in USA enforcement program involves compliance monitoring, counseling, and targeted enforcement by the FTC’s staff, who, under the authority of Section 5 of the FTC Act, primarily work collaboratively with companies to ensure compliance and before sending closing letters, avoiding litigation altogether.

Under the Proposed Rule, the FTC could pursue orders against those who violate the new labeling rule, which may not only include injunctive relief, but also the possibility of a civil action pursued in order to obtain civil penalties in the first instance of up to $43,280 per violation.