1. U.S. Code
  2. title 15
  3. chapter 2
  4. subchapter III
  5. § 68b

Collapse to view only § 68b. Misbranded wool products

§ 68. Definitions
As used in this subchapter—
(a) The term “person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other form of business enterprise, plural or singular, as the case demands.
(b) The term “wool” means the fiber from the fleece of the sheep or lamb or hair of the Angora or Cashmere goat (and may include the so-called specialty fibers from the hair of the camel, alpaca, llama, and vicuna) which has never been reclaimed from any woven or felted wool product.
(c) The term “recycled wool” means (1) the resulting fiber when wool has been woven or felted into a wool product which, without ever having been utilized in any way by the ultimate consumer, subsequently has been made into a fibrous state, or (2) the resulting fiber when wool or reprocessed wool has been spun, woven, knitted, or felted into a wool product which, after having been used in any way by the ultimate consumer, subsequently has been made into a fibrous state.
(d) The term “wool product” means any product, or any portion of a product, which contains, purports to contain, or in any way is represented as containing wool or recycled wool.
(e) The term “Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission.
(f) The term “Federal Trade Commission Act” means the Act of Congress entitled “An Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes”, approved September 26, 1914, as amended, and the Federal Trade Commission Act approved March 21, 1938.
(g) The term “commerce” means commerce among the several States or with foreign nations, or in any Territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or between any such Territory and another, or between any such Territory and any State or foreign nation, or between the District of Columbia and any State or Territory or foreign nation.
(h) The term “Territory” includes the insular possessions of the United States and also any Territory of the United States.
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 2, 54 Stat. 1128; Pub. L. 96–242, § 1, May 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 344.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68

§ 68a. Misbranding declared unlawful

The introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into commerce, or the sale, transportation, or distribution, in commerce, of any wool product which is misbranded within the meaning of this subchapter or the rules and regulations hereunder, is unlawful and shall be an unfair method of competition, and an unfair and deceptive act or practice, in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act; and any person who shall manufacture or deliver for shipment or ship or sell or offer for sale in commerce, any such wool product which is misbranded within the meaning of this subchapter and the rules and regulations hereunder is guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair and deceptive act or practice, in commerce within the meaning of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

This section shall not apply—

(a) To any common carrier or contract carrier in respect to a wool product shipped or delivered for shipment in commerce in the ordinary course of its business; or

(b) To any person manufacturing, delivering for shipment, shipping, selling, or offering for sale, for exportation from the United States to any foreign country a wool product branded in accordance with the specifications of the purchaser and in accordance with the laws of such country.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 3, 54 Stat. 1129.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68a

§ 68b. Misbranded wool products
(a) False identification; affixation of label, etc., contentsA wool product shall be misbranded—
(1) If it is falsely or deceptively stamped, tagged, labeled, or otherwise identified.
(2) If a stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification, or substitute therefor under section 68c of this title, is not on or affixed to the wool product and does not show—
(A) the percentage of the total fiber weight of the wool product, exclusive of ornamentation not exceeding 5 per centum of said total fiber weight, of (1) wool; (2) recycled wool; (3) each fiber other than wool if said percentage by weight of such fiber is 5 per centum or more; and (4) the aggregate of all other fibers: Provided, That deviation of the fiber contents of the wool product from percentages stated on the stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification, shall not be misbranding under this section if the person charged with misbranding proves such deviation resulted from unavoidable variations in manufacture and despite the exercise of due care to make accurate the statements on such stamp, tag, label, or other means of identification.
(B) the maximum percentage of the total weight of the wool product, of any nonfibrous loading, filling, or adulterating matter.
(C) the name of the manufacturer of the wool product and/or the name of one or more persons subject to section 68a of this title with respect to such wool product.
(D) the name of the country where processed or manufactured.
(3) In the case of a wool product containing a fiber other than wool, if the percentages by weight of the wool contents thereof are not shown in words and figures plainly legible.
(4) In the case of a wool product represented as wool, if the percentages by weight of the wool span thereof are not shown in words and figures plainly legible, or if the total fiber weight of such wool product if not 100 per centum wool exclusive of ornamentation not exceeding 5 per centum of such total fiber weight.
(5) In the case of a wool product stamped, tagged, labeled, or otherwise identified as—
(A) “Super 80’s” or “80’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 19.75 microns or finer;
(B) “Super 90’s” or “90’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 19.25 microns or finer;
(C) “Super 100’s” or “100’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 18.75 microns or finer;
(D) “Super 110’s” or “110’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 18.25 microns or finer;
(E) “Super 120’s” or “120’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 17.75 microns or finer;
(F) “Super 130’s” or “130’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 17.25 microns or finer;
(G) “Super 140’s” or “140’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 16.75 microns or finer;
(H) “Super 150’s” or “150’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 16.25 microns or finer;
(I) “Super 160’s” or “160’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 15.75 microns or finer;
(J) “Super 170’s” or “170’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 15.25 microns or finer;
(K) “Super 180’s” or “180’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 14.75 microns or finer;
(L) “Super 190’s” or “190’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 14.25 microns or finer;
(M) “Super 200’s” or “200’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 13.75 microns or finer;
(N) “Super 210’s” or “210’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 13.25 microns or finer;
(O) “Super 220’s” or “220’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 12.75 microns or finer;
(P) “Super 230’s” or “230’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 12.25 microns or finer;
(Q) “Super 240’s” or “240’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 11.75 microns or finer; and
(R) “Super 250’s” or “250’s”, if the average diameter of wool fiber of such wool product does not average 11.25 microns or finer.
In each such case, the average fiber diameter of such wool product may be subject to such standards or deviations as adopted by regulation by the Commission.
(6) In the case of a wool product stamped, tagged, labeled, or otherwise identified as cashmere, if—
(A) such wool product is not the fine (dehaired) undercoat fibers produced by a cashmere goat (capra hircus laniger);
(B) the average diameter of the fiber of such wool product exceeds 19 microns; or
(C) such wool product contains more than 3 percent (by weight) of cashmere fibers with average diameters that exceed 30 microns.
The average fiber diameter may be subject to a coefficient of variation around the mean that shall not exceed 24 percent.
(b) Additional information
(c) Substitute identification
(d) Designations on linings, paddings, etc.
(e) False or deceptive advertising in mail order promotions
(f) Location of label, etc.
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 4, 54 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 96–242, § 2, May 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 344; Pub. L. 98–417, title III, §§ 304, 305, Sept. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 1604; Pub. L. 109–428, § 2(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2913.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68b

§ 68c. Stamp, tag, label, or other identification
(a) Affixing; retention until sale
(b) Removal or mutilation
(c) Packages of wool products
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 5, 54 Stat. 1130; Pub. L. 98–417, title III, § 306, Sept. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 1605.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68c

§ 68d. Enforcement of subchapter
(a) Authority of Commission
(b) Maintenance of records by wool manufacturers
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 6, 54 Stat. 1131.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68d

§ 68e. Condemnation and injunction proceedings
(a) Grounds for condemnation; disposition of merchandise
(b) Grounds for temporary injunction or restraining order; issuance without bond
Whenever the Commission has reason to believe that—
(1) Any person is violating, or is about to violate, sections 68a, 68c, 68f, or 68g of this title, and that
(2) It would be to the public interest to enjoin such violation until complaint is issued by the Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act and such complaint dismissed by the Commission or set aside by the court on review, or until order to cease and desist made thereon by the Commission has become final within the meaning of the Federal Trade Commission Act,
the Commission may bring suit in the district court of the United States or in the United States court of any Territory, for the district or Territory in which such person resides or transacts business, to enjoin such violation, and upon proper showing a temporary injunction or restraining order shall be granted without bond.
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 7, 54 Stat. 1131.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68e

§ 68f. Exclusion of misbranded wool products

All wool products imported into the United States, except those made more than twenty years prior to such importation, shall be stamped, tagged, labeled, or otherwise identified in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter and all invoices of such wool products required under the Act of June 17, 1930 (c. 497, title IV, 46 Stat. 719), shall set forth, in addition to the matter therein specified, the information with respect to said wool products required under the provisions of this subchapter, which information shall be in the invoices prior to their certification under said Act of June 17, 1930.

The falsification of, or failure to set forth, said information in said invoices, or the falsification or perjury of the consignee’s declaration provided for in said Act of June 17, 1930, insofar as it relates to said information, shall be an unfair method of competition, and an unfair and deceptive act, or practice, in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act; and any person who falsifies, or fails to set forth, said information in said invoices, or who falsifies or perjures said consignee’s declaration insofar as it relates to said information, may thenceforth be prohibited by the Commission from importing, or participating in the importation of, any wool products into the United States except upon filing bond with the Secretary of the Treasury in a sum double the value of said wool products and any duty thereon, conditioned upon compliance with the provisions of this subchapter.

A verified statement from the manufacturer or producer of such wool products showing their fiber span as required under the provisions of this subchapter may be required under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 8, 54 Stat. 1132.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68f

§ 68g. Guaranty
(a) Avoidance of liability; requirements
(b) Furnishing false guaranty
(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 9, 54 Stat. 1132.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68g

§ 68h. Criminal penalty

Any person who willfully violates sections 68a, 68c, 68f, or 68g(b) of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $5,000, or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both, in the discretion of the court: Provided, That nothing herein shall limit other provisions of this subchapter.

Whenever the Commission has reason to believe any person is guilty of a misdemeanor under this section, it shall certify all pertinent facts to the Attorney General, whose duty it shall be to cause appropriate proceedings to be brought for the enforcement of the provisions of this section against such person.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 10, 54 Stat. 1133.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68h

§ 68i. Application of other laws

The provision of this subchapter shall be held to be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the provisions of any other Act of the United States.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 11, 54 Stat. 1133.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68i

§ 68j. Exceptions from subchapter

None of the provisions of this subchapter shall be construed to apply to the manufacture, delivery for shipment, shipment, sale, or offering for sale any carpets, rugs, mats, or upholsteries, nor to any person manufacturing, delivering for shipment, shipping, selling, or offering for sale any carpets, rugs, mats, or upholsteries.

(Oct. 14, 1940, ch. 871, § 14, 54 Stat. 1133.)

CITE AS: 15 USC 68j