FTC Enforces Origin Rule for Online Catalogs

October 2001

On October 11, 2001, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with FanBuzz, Inc. arising from FanBuzz's failure to provide country of origin information in its online apparel catalog. The FTC stated that FanBuzz had violated provisions of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the FTC's own regulations. According to the FTC's Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, "This action should send a strong message about textile retailers' need to comply with country-of-origin disclosure requirements for the products they sell online."

The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act requires that mail order catalogs and mail order promotional material used in the direct sale or offering for sale of textile products state whether the products were processed or manufactured in the United States, imported or both. The FTC treats online shopping sites as catalogs or promotional material.