Light Bulb Rule

The Federal Trade Commission has extended until Aug. 7, 1995 the date through which it will accept comments from the public on the usefulness and effectiveness of its Light Bulb Rule. The rule requires packages of ordinary household light bulbs to disclose the wattage, lumens and life of the bulbs, and requires the bulbs themselves to state the wattage and design voltage. It also specifies the factors to be used in computing energy savings, requires that certain data be disclosed in comparative claims, and defines how wattage, lumens and life ratings are to be determined.

The rule review is part of the FTC's ongoing review of rules and guides. The FTC is extending the comment period in response to a petition from the Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), which said it needed additional time to develop consensus recommendations from its members regarding the differences between the Light Bulb Rule and recently-proposed amendments to additional lamp-labeling regulations under the FTC's Appliance Labeling Rule.

The Commission vote to extend the comment period was 5-0. Comments should be identified "16 CFR Part 409 -- Comment," and addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, Room H-159, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

Copies of the rule, the Federal Register notice announcing that the Commission was seeking comments on the rule and the notice extending the comment period, the NEMA petition, and the proposed amendments to the lamp-labeling regulations in the Appliance Labeling Rule are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, same address as above.

(FTC Matter No. P954209)