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On June 28, 2017, the Commission proposed amending the Textile Rules (Rules and Regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act) to delete the requirement that an owner of a registered word trademark furnish the FTC with a copy of the mark’s registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) before using the mark on labels, and to no longer restrict the use of such trademarks to only those also employed as house marks. Eliminating these requirements is expected to reduce compliance costs while increasing firms’ flexibility. 82 FR 29251. The comment period closed on July 31, 2017. Staff anticipates submitting a recommendation to the Commission by January 2018.

On September 15, 2017, the Commission announced the streamlining of requirements under the Fur, Textile and Wool Labeling Rules as part of the regulatory reform agenda. 83 FR 43690 (Sept. 19, 2017). Effective October 19, 2017, the Fur, Textile and Wool Rules were updated to require the public to submit via the FTC’s Web site any requests to obtain, update, or cancel registered identification numbers (RN) used on fur, textile and wool product labels. Use of the web-based RN system streamlines the application process for participating businesses and greatly increases the agency’s efficiency in delivering RN services to the public. Under the prior rules, most clothing and textile and fur products were required to have a label that identified the manufacturer or other business responsible for marketing or handling the item. The updated RN system makes it easier for companies to obtain an RN and avoid having to put long company names on labels.

The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (Textile Act) requires wearing apparel and other covered household textile articles to be marked with: (1) The generic names and percentages by weight of the constituent fibers present in the textile fiber product; (2) the name under which the manufacturer or another responsible U.S. company does business, or in lieu thereof, the registered identification number (RN) of such a company; and (3) the name of the country where the textile product was processed or manufactured. Pursuant to section 7(c) of the Textile Act, "The Commission is authorized and directed to make such rules and regulations, including the establishment of generic names of manufactured fibers, under and in pursuance of the terms of this Act as may be necessary and proper for administration and enforcement." These implementing rules are set forth at 16 CFR 303.