Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission adopted a new
Made In USA Labeling Rule, which codifies the standards set
forth in the FTC's 1997
Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims.
Under the new rule, marketers are prohibited from labeling any
product as being made in the United States unless:
- The final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the
United States;
- All significant processing that goes into the product occurs in
the United States; and
- All or virtually all ingredients or components are made or
sourced in the United States.
The new rule applies not only to product labeling, but to any
"mail order catalog" or "mail order promotional
material" that includes a seal, mark, tag, or stamp that
labels a product as having been made in the United States.
The FTC defines mail order catalogs and promotional material
as "any materials, used in the direct sale or direct offering
for sale of any product or service, that are
