US Marking Requirements for Wearing Apparel

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently issued an informed compliance publication (ICP) entitled "What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Marking Requirements for Wearing Apparel". The ICP provides guidance and useful information on the marking requirements for textile and apparel articles imported into the US. 

All wearing apparel items must be marked with the name of the country of origin by means of a fabric label. In the case of garments that cover the upper torso such as shirts, blouses, coats, sweaters, dresses and similar apparel, country of origin marking must be placed on the “inside center of the neck midway between the shoulder seams or in that immediate area”.  

Trousers, slacks, jeans, shorts, skirts and similar wearing apparel must be marked by means of a permanent label affixed in a conspicuous location on the garment, such as the inside of the waistband. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing the Trade Regulation Rule Concerning the Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel, which requires a permanent label that provides care instructions on all wearing apparel, unless there is an exemption (e.g. gloves).  

Gloves 

Customs has held that bulk packages of work gloves (usually 1 dz. pairs to a poly bag), which are given to employees, may be excepted from individual marking provided that the gloves in outside containers (poly bags) properly marked with the origin of the gloves. Gloves that are not contained in a poly bag but are fastened only by a paper band which may easily become detached or ripped from the gloves, may not be excepted from individual marking. However, Customs has held that cloth work or garden gloves may be marked to indicate the country of origin by means of a heavy paper folder which securely fastens the gloves together. Gloves may be marked with a hang tag instead of sewn-in labels or ink stamps. 

Textile Fiber Identification Act  

Textile and apparel articles imported into the United States are required to be marked or labeled pursuant to the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. These acts are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The following are some of the information to be included in English:  

•  Fiber content, by percentage in descending order by weight, using generic fiber names

•  The name of the country of origin of the product

•  The name of the importer, distributor, retailer, or foreign manufacturer

• The responsible firm may be identified by its trademark name, provided that the trademark name has been registered with the U.S. Patent Office and a copy of the trademark registration has been furnished to the FTC prior to its use.

For details, please browse the following web :

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/

 

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