Federal Trade Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') plans to host a public workshop on May 23, 2023, to examine ``recyclable'' advertising claims. The workshop is a component of the Commission's recently announced regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis of Proposed Consent Order 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 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requests that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend for three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance for information collection requirements contained in the FTC's portion of the information collection requirements contained in the FTC's Consumer Product Warranty Rule (Warranty Rule or Rule). The current clearance expires on February 28, 2023.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') extends the comment period for its Regulatory Review Notice regarding its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (``Green Guides'' or ``Guides'').

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of Federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The attached Analysis of Proposed Consent Order 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 Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'' or ``FTC'') is amending the Hart-Scott-Rodino (``HSR'') Premerger Notification Rules (``Rules'') that require the parties to certain mergers and acquisitions to file reports with the FTC and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (``the Assistant Attorney General'') (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 conform to the new filing fee tiers enacted by the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 (``2022 Amendments''), contained within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

The Federal Trade Commission announces the revised thresholds for the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 required by the 2000 amendment of section 7A of the Clayton Act.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is extending the deadline for filing comments on its advance notice of proposed rulemaking (``ANPR'') concerning its trade regulation rule entitled the ``Business Opportunity Rule''.

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

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

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requests that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend for three years the current Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance for information collection requirements contained in the Antitrust Improvements Act Rules (HSR Rules) and corresponding Notification and Report Form for Certain Mergers and Acquisitions (Notification and Report Form). That clearance expires on January 31, 2023.

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

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is implementing adjustments to the civil penalty amounts within its jurisdiction to account for inflation, as required by law.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) is seeking public comment on its proposal to extend an additional three years the Office of Management and Budget clearance for information collection requirements of its the FTC's Rule Governing Pre-Sale Availability of Written Warranty Terms. The current clearance expires on May 31, 2023.

The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') published a document in the Federal Register of October 12, 2022, concerning the Energy Labeling Rule. After publication, Commission staff learned that the document contained incorrect numbers in water heater tables, refrigerator tables, and regarding propane in certain appendices. Staff also learned that certain language in the Energy Labeling Rule regarding water heater size and type categories requires replacement to reflect accurate categories for water heaters under the Department of Energy conservation standards. The Commission is issuing this correction to reflect the corrected information.

Pursuant to its decennial regulatory review schedule, the Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') requests public comment on its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (``Green Guides'' or ``Guides''). The Commission is soliciting comments about the efficiency, costs, benefits, and regulatory impact of the Guides to determine whether to retain, modify, or rescind them. All interested persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the Guides.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is seeking public comment on its proposal to extend for an additional three years the Office of Management and Budget clearance for information collection requirements of its Affiliate Marketing Rule, which applies to certain motor vehicle dealers, and its shared enforcement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (``CFPB'') of the provisions (subpart C) of the CFPB's Regulation V regarding other entities (``CFPB Rule''). The current clearance expires on February 28, 2023.

Please take notice that the Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') received a petition for rulemaking from the Center for Digital Democracy, Fairplay, Accountable Tech, American Academy of Pediatrics, Becca Schmill Foundation, Inc., Berkeley Media Studies Group, C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth, Center for Humane Technology, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Eating Disorders Coalition, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), LookUp.live, Lynn's Warriors, Network for Public Education, Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, ParentsTogether, Protect Young Eyes, Public Citizen, Together for Girls, UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (collectively, ``Petitioners''), and has published that petition online at https://www.regulations.gov. This petition asks the Commission to promulgate a rule prohibiting the use of certain types of engagement-optimizing design practices on individuals under the age of 18 (``minors'') in connection with internet services. The Commission invites written comments concerning the petition. Publication of this petition is pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and does not affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') is requesting public comment on its ``Business Opportunity Rule'' (``Rule''), the trade regulation rule governing the sale of certain business opportunities. The Commission is soliciting comments about the efficiency, costs, benefits, and regulatory impact of the Rule, as part of its ten-year regulatory review plan. The Commission is also soliciting comments to inform its consideration of whether the Rule should be extended to include business opportunities and other money-making opportunity programs not currently covered by the Rule, including business coaching and work-from-home programs, investment coaching programs, and e-commerce opportunities. All interested persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the Rule.

The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') published a document in the Federal Register of October 12, 2022, concerning the Energy Labeling Rule. Soon after publication, Commission staff learned that the document contained an incorrect number. The Commission is issuing this correction to reflect the corrected number.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 recognizes a self-regulatory nonprofit organization, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which is charged with developing proposed rules on a variety of subjects. Those proposed rules and proposed rule modifications take effect only if approved by the Federal Trade Commission. The proposed rules and rule modifications must be published in the Federal Register for public comment. Thereafter, the Commission has 60 days from the date of publication to approve or disapprove the proposed rule or rule modification. The Authority submitted to the Commission a proposed rule modification on Assessment Methodology on October 20, 2022. The Office of the Secretary of the Commission determined that the proposal complied with the Commission's rule governing such submissions. This document publicizes the Authority's proposed rule modification's text and explanation, and it seeks public comment on whether the Commission should approve or disapprove the proposed rule modification.

The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') proposes to commence a rulemaking proceeding to address certain deceptive or unfair uses of reviews and endorsements. The Commission is soliciting written comment, data, and arguments concerning the need for such a rulemaking to prevent unfair or deceptive marketing utilizing reviews and endorsements. In addition, the Commission solicits comment on how the Commission can ensure the broadest participation by affected interests in the rulemaking process.

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

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