Announced Action(s) for May 30, 1997

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions.

Commission action regarding applications for approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has ruled on an application for approval of a transaction from the following entity:

• The FTC has approved the application of Hoechst AG, a German firm, to divest the "Mesalamine" assets of Copley Pharmaceutical Inc., a company in which Hoechst holds a majority interest, to Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., of Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Teva is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., a pharmaceutical company based in Israel. Divestiture of this and two other drugs is required under a December 1995 consent order designed to restore competition following the Hoechst Corporation's acquisition of Marion Merrell Dow, Inc. (See Sept. 18, 1995 news release regarding the consent order; Docket No. C-3629; Commission vote to approve the divestiture was 5-0.) Staff contact is Daniel Ducore, 202-326-2526.

Petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in, or termination of, an FTC order. The FTC is seeking public comments on the newly-received petition for 30 days, until June 30.

• Commemorative Brands, Inc. (formerly Class Rings, Inc.), of Austin, Texas, and Castle Harlan Partners II, L.P., of New York City, have petitioned the FTC to modify a December 1996 order to set aside the provision barring the petitioners, for one year, from employing or seeking to employ any person who is or was employed during 1996 by Gold Lance, Inc. or Town & Country Corporation. According to the petition, Jostens Inc. recently purchased Gold Lance from Town & Country, and Town & Country plans to cease its Houston operations by July 31, 1997, leaving many or all Gold Lance employees without jobs. The requested change would allow Gold Lance employees to seek employment with Commemorative. (See Sept. 24, 1996 news release regarding the consent order in this matter, which settled charges that the merger of the class ring divisions of Town & Country and CJC Holdings, Inc. would have substantially reduced competition; Docket No. C-3699). Staff contact is Roberta Baruch, 202-326-2861.

Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final a consent agreement with the following entity. The Commission action makes the consent order binding on the respondent.

• The consent order with Gerber Products Company to resolve charges that it made false and unsubstantiated "doctor recommended" claims for Gerber baby food. The consent order bars Gerber from making any claims, without competent and reliable scientific substantiation, about the extent to which doctors or other health, nutrition, child care or medical professionals recommend, approve of, or endorse baby or toddler food; and from misrepresenting the results or existence of any survey, test or research. (See March 12, 1997 news release for more details regarding this case; Docket No. C-3744; Commission vote on May 27 to issue the order as final was 5-0.) Staff contact is Anne Maher, 202-326-2987.

Comments on the petition should be addressed to FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20580. Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, at the above address; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.