As part of the systematic review of all Commission rules, on July 13, 2011, the Commission initiated its periodic review of the Care Labeling Rule (or the Rule on Care Labeling of Textile Apparel and Certain Piece Goods as Amended) by publishing a notice seeking public comments on the effectiveness and impact of the rule (76 FR 41148). The comment period closed on September 6, 2011, and staff reviewed the comments.

On September 11, 2012, the Commission announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Based on a review of comments, the Commission concluded that the rule continues to benefit consumers and will be retained. The NPRM sought comments on potential updates to the rule, including changes that would: allow manufacturers and importers, if they so choose, to include professional instructions for wet-cleaning—an environmentally friendly alternative to dry cleaning—on labels if the garment can be professionally wet-cleaned; permit manufacturers to use updated ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) or ISO (International Organization for Standardization) symbols on labels in lieu of written terms providing care instructions; clarify what constitutes a reasonable basis for care instructions; and update and expand the definition of "dry-clean" to reflect current practices and account for the advent of new solvents. The comment period closed on November 16, 2012. On July 24, 2013, the Commission announced that it would host a public roundtable on October 1, 2013, to analyze proposed changes to the rule (78 FR 45901). On March 28, 2014, the Commission hosted a public roundtable in Washington, DC, that analyzed proposed changes to the rule. Staff anticipates the Commission will issue a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the summer of 2018.

The Care Labeling Rule makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice for manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel and certain piece goods to sell these items without attaching care labels stating "what regular care is needed for the ordinary use of the product." The rule also requires that the manufacturer or importer possess, prior to sale, a reasonable basis for the care instructions, and allows the use of approved care symbols in lieu of words to disclose care instructions.