For Years Brown Led Senate Colleagues in Calling for FTC’s New Rule Enforcing ‘Made In USA’ Label Standards to Protect Ohio Manufacturers and Enable Civil Penalties for Fraud
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today hosted a news conference call to applaud the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule that will strengthen its made in the USA label enforcement by cracking down on marketers that falsely claim products are “Made in the USA.” For years, Brown led Senate efforts calling for action from the FTC.
The new FTC rule will take effect next month and will protect Ohio’s small businesses that manufacture in America and create American jobs.
“Ohioans look for that ‘Made in the USA’ label, because they want their dollars to support our economy, and they know it means a quality product, made by American workers,” said Brown. “Ohio manufacturers should not be forced to compete with fraudulent foreign competitors who cheat. This new rule we’ve called for will protect Ohio businesses and Ohio workers, and the integrity of the ‘Made in the USA’ brand.”
Brown was joined on the call by Zach Green, founder of LumAware, a Cincinnati-based company that partners with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to manufacture self-glowing exit signs and glow-in-the-dark materials for firefighter gear.
Green said as a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and former volunteer firefighter, being able to say his products are made in the USA means everything.
“I’m grateful Senator Brown fought for this rule,” said Green. “It ensures that when you buy a product like mine that’s made in the USA, it means you know you’re not only buying a quality product, but consumers can now be sure that they’re spending on their money supporting good environmental policy and good minimum wages.”
The new rule, outlines a number of provisions, including defining what the “all or virtually all” standard means. The rule states that any company that advertises a product as being “Made in the USA” is able to prove all or virtually all of it was made in America. The rule also establishes actions the FTC can take, for the first time, against those who falsely use a “Made in USA” label. The FTC can now seek civil penalties of up to $43,280 per violation.
For more information on the rule, please visit the FTC website HERE.