Federal Trade Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FTC plans to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for information collection requirements contained in the Mail, internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (MITOR). That clearance expires on May 31, 2019.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is requesting public comment on its Trade Regulation Rule entitled ``Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising'' (``Franchise Rule'' or ``Rule''). The Rule makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice for franchisors to fail to give prospective franchisees a Franchise Disclosure Document providing specified information about the franchisor, the franchise business, and the terms of the franchise agreement. The Rule also prohibits related misrepresentations by franchise sellers. The Commission is soliciting comments about the efficiency, costs, benefits, and regulatory impact of the Rule as part of its systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides. All interested persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the Rule.

The Federal Trade Commission announces the revised thresholds for interlocking directorates required by the 1990 amendment of Section 8 of the Clayton Act. Section 8 prohibits, with certain exceptions, one person from serving as a director or officer of two competing corporations if two thresholds are met. Competitor corporations are covered by Section 8 if each one has capital, surplus, and undivided profits aggregating more than $10,000,000, with the exception that no corporation is covered if the competitive sales of either corporation are less than $1,000,000. Section 8(a)(5) requires the Federal Trade Commission to revise those thresholds annually, based on the change in gross national product. The new thresholds, which take effect immediately, are $36,564,000 for Section 8(a)(1), and $3,656,400 for Section 8(a)(2)(A).

The FTC requests that the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for the information collection requirements in its Alternative Fuels Rule (``Rule''). That clearance expires on May 31, 2019.

The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The FTC seeks public comment on its proposal to extend, for three years, the current PRA clearance for information collection requirements contained in the Health Breach Notification Rule. That clearance expires on March 31, 2019.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') requests public comment on its Identity Theft Rules. The Commission is soliciting comment as part of the FTC's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the FTC is seeking public comments on its request to OMB to extend for three years the current PRA clearances for information collection requirements contained in the agency's shared enforcement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (``CFPB'') of subpart N of the CFPB's Regulation V (``Rule''). That clearance expires on November 30, 2018.

The FTC intends to ask the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') to extend for an additional three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA'') clearance for the information collection requirements in the FTC Red Flags, Card Issuers, and Address Discrepancies Rules \1\ (``Rules''). That clearance expires on November 30, 2018.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent orders embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') has completed its regulatory review of the Test Procedures and Labeling Standards for Recycled Oil (``Recycled Oil Rule'' or ``Rule''), as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides. The Commission now updates the Rule's reference to American Petroleum Institute Publication 1509 to reflect the most recent version of that document. Otherwise, the Commission retains the Rule in its current form.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent order embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

Notice is hereby given of the appointment of members to the FTC Performance Review Board.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') will meet on Thursday, October 11, 2018, in Room 532 of the Federal Trade Commission Building for an Oral Argument in In the Matter of Impax Laboratories, Inc. The public is invited to attend and observe the open portion of the meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to the public.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') adopts revised Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries (``Jewelry Guides'' or ``Guides''). This document summarizes the Commission's revisions to the previous Guides and includes the final Guides as revised. Readers can find the Commission's complete analysis in the Statement of Basis and Purpose (``SBP'') on the FTC's website at https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/2018/07/statement- basis-purpose-final-revisions-jewelry-guides.

The FTC is publishing in final form a modification to all FTC Privacy Act system of records notices (SORNs) by amending and bifurcating an existing global routine use relating to assistance in data breach responses, to conform with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance to federal agencies, OMB Memorandum 17-12.

The Federal Trade Commission seeks comment in connection with a forthcoming series of public hearings in the fall and winter 2018 to examine whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection law, enforcement priorities, and policy. These hearings will cover a range of issues listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The Commission seeks the views of consumers, business representatives, economists, lawyers, academics, information technology professionals, and other interested parties. Commenters are invited to address one or more of the following topics generally, or with respect to a specific industry.

The Commission is amending the Hart-Scott-Rodino (``HSR'') Premerger Notification Rules (the ``Rules'') that require the parties to certain mergers and acquisitions to file reports with the Federal Trade Commission (``the Commission'' or ``FTC'') and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (``the Assistant Attorney General'' or ``DOJ'') (together the ``Antitrust Agencies'' or ``Agencies'') and to wait a specified period of time before consummating such transactions. The Commission is amending the Rules to make them clearer and easier to apply. The Commission is also amending the Rules to allow for the use of email in certain circumstances. Finally, the Commission is adding updated Instructions to the Premerger Notification and Report Form which include amendments for clarity and to make several non-substantive changes.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent orders embodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.