INTERNATIONAL
FABRICARE
INSTITUTE
BULLETIN
CARE SYMBOLS
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has allowed a “conditional exemption” to the Care Labeling Rule to allow the use
of care symbols on the care label. The symbol system that has
been sanctioned by the FTC is the ASTM Care Symbol System. Care symbols were first proposed so the United States
would be in harmony with both Canada and Mexico under
the North American Fair Trade Agreement (NAFTA); however, it is believed that the use of care symbols will benefit
global marketing in general. The complete ASTM care symbol system is printed on the reverse side of this bulletin.
WHEN DOES THIS
CHANGE BECOME EFFECTIVE?
The conditional exemption becomes effective July 1, 1997.
ARE WRITTEN
INSTRUCTIONS STILL REQUIRED?
For the first 18 months, a manufacturer must provide written instructions, or “explanatory language,” in addition to
the care symbol. The written instructions do not have to be
included on the permanently-attached care label, but they
must accompany the garment. This can be accomplished
through the use of a hang tag, package insert, or package
labeling. After the 18-month period, manufacturers will not
be required to provide supplemental written instructions.
CAN WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
BE USED ON THE CARE LABEL?
Manufacturers can choose to still provide only written care
instructions on the care label. Care symbols are only being
proposed as an option.
WHAT IS THE ASTM?
ASTM, or the American Society for Testing and Materials,
is a voluntary standards development organization. ASTM
is composed of producers, users, consumers, government representatives, and other interested parties. The standards are
formed by consensus. IFI is an active participant in ASTM
and took part in the development of the care symbol system.
DO OTHER CARE SYMBOL SYSTEMS EXIST?
Yes. Canada, Mexico, and Japan all have their own national
care symbol systems. A number of European countries use
HOW DO THE SYMBOL SYSTEMS DIFFER?
All of the various care symbol systems are relatively similar.
Individuals who are familiar with one system should be able
to easily decipher any of the major points of the other systems. The symbol systems only differ in details.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS OF THE
PROPOSED CARE SYMBOL SYSTEM?
The system does not depend on the use of color. Only the
Canadian system incorporates the use of the traffic light colors of red, yellow, and green into its symbol system. The size
of the symbols has not been dictated. Like the written
instructions, the FTC has mandated that the symbols be legible for the life of the garment.
The “reasonable basis” requirement has not changed.
Changes to the reasonable basis requirement are currently
under review in a separate FTC action. As you might expect,
IFI has advocated the strengthening of this requirement.
WHY ARE EIGHT DRYCLEANING
SYMBOLS BEING USED?
Our industry has long been of the opinion that the manufacturer is the most qualified to determine if, when, and by what
means the drycleaning process needs to be altered so that a
garment can be processed without damage. The Care Label
Rule requires that if manufacturers specify a garment is labeled
as “Professionally Dry Clean Only,” they must also specify
what modifications to the routine process are required, such as
short cycle, reduced moisture, low heat, no steam, etc.
HOW ARE CONSUMERS BEING MADE
AWARE OF THE NEW CARE SYMBOLS?
The FTC realizes that a major consumer education program
must accompany this change. The FTC has enlisted the help
of soap and detergent manufacturers and appliance manufacturers, as well as retailers and apparel manufacturers, to
take part in this educational process. IFI has also offered its
members as a resource. In an effort to help with the educational effort, IFI will be addressing the issue to retailers, professional consumers, home extension agents, consumer
protection agencies, and home economic organizations
through its monthly consumer newsletter, Clothes Care
Gazette. IFI also recently revised its care symbol hang tags to
reflect the new care symbols, which IFI members can use as a
tool to educate their customers. ❒
NO. 16
DOES THIS CHANGE AFFECT ANY OTHER
ASPECTS OF THE CARE LABEL RULE?
No. Manufacturers are still required to abide by the 1983
Care Label Rule, as amended. The basic requirement of the
Rule is that the manufacturer must provide instructions for
one acceptable method of care.
the Ginetex Care Symbol System, which is a trademarked
symbol system. Countries that use this system must pay a royalty to do so.
IFI BULLETIN — LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY: OVERVIEW
Regulatory
&Legislative
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY (Continued)
Written by Mary Scalco, Director of Government Relations.
© International Fabricare Institute, 1997. Printed in the United States. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or
by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems with out permission from the publisher.