Concerning Trade Regulation Rule on Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods; Conditional Exemption From Terminology Section of the Care Labeling Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (the ``Commission'') has reviewed the public comments on a proposed conditional exemption to its Trade Regulation Rule on Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods (``the Care Labeling Rule'' or ``the Rule'') and has decided to adopt the conditional exemption. The conditional exemption will permit the use of the system of care symbols developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (``ASTM'') and designated as ASTM Standard D5489-96c Guide to Care Symbols for Care Instructions on Consumer Textile Products, in lieu of words on the permanently attached care label, as long as explanatory information is provided to consumers for the first 18-month period after the effective date of the conditional exemption. The Commission seeks comments on the minor changes made in ASTM D5489 since the Commission last sought comment in November 1995.