Announced Actions for April 14, 1999

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.

• Royal Ahold NV - The Commission vote to make final the consent order was 4-0. (See news release dated October 20, 1998; FTC File No. 9810254; Staff contact is James A. Fishkin, 202-326-2663.)

• American Honda Motor Company, Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc., Kubota Tractor Corporation, Rand International Leisure Products, Ltd., USDrives Corporation - The Commission vote to make final each of the consent orders was 4-0. (See news release dated January 19, 1999; FTC File Nos. American Honda: 9823600; Johnson: 9923019; Kubota: 9823591; Rand: 9923006; USDrives: 9823587. Staff contacts are Elaine Kolish, 202-326-3042, or Laura Koss, 202-326-2890.)

Regulatory Review:

• As part of its ongoing review of Commission Rules and Regulations, the FTC will publish shortly a Federal Register notice seeking comment on the overall costs and benefits and the continuing need for its Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles, 16 CFR Part 259. The deadline for comments will be 60 days after publication of the notice. Comments should be mailed to: Secretary, FTC, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.
  
  Mailed comments should be identified as "Fuel Guide, 16 CFR Part 259 - Comment." Comments sent by email will be accepted and should be sent to <FuelGuide@ftc.gov> and should include a postal address to which an acknowledgment can be sent. The Commission vote to publish the notice was 4-0. (FTC File No. P997701; Staff contact is: Willie L. Greene, 216-236-3406.)
  
  The Commission has conducted a review of its warranty-related rules and guides and voted to retain them. A notice of the final action in the review of the Interpretations and Rules of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 16 CFR Parts 700-703, and the Guides for the Advertising of Warranties and Guarantees, 16 CFR Part 239, will be published shortly in the Federal Register. The Commission vote to publish the notice was 4-0. (FTC File Nos. P964403; P974408; Staff contact is Carole I. Danielson, 202-326-3115.)

• Comments Filed with North Carolina and Illinois Legislatures about Wine/Spirits Distribution:
  
  The FTC's Atlanta Regional Office filed a comment on March 19, 1999, with the North Carolina Legislature about its proposal to amend the wine franchise law to provide for exclusive territories. According to the staff comment, the proposal would "make 'airtight' exclusive territorial arrangements between wineries and wholesalers in the wine industry and thus create an exemption to antitrust laws." The staff also stated, "We believe that the Bill and the current statute may provide an unnecessary exemption to the antitrust laws that might cause adverse consequences to competition and consumers in North Carolina." The Commission vote to file the staff comment was 4-0. The comments represent the views of the staff of the FTC's Altanta Regional Office and are not necessarily the views of the Commission itself. (FTC File No. V990003; Staff contact is Harold Kirtz, 404-656-1357.)
  
  The FTC's Chicago Regional Office filed a comment on March 31, 1999, with the Illinois Legislature about the "Illinois Wine and Spirits Industry Fair Dealing Act of 1999." In its comment, the staff noted that "S.B. 15 would shield the business of liquor distribution from market forces. Distributors know that if they attempt to charge more than the competitive price, suppliers can move their business to new distributors that are willing to charge lower wholesale prices. S.B. 15 would eliminate this competitive pressure by requiring suppliers to retain their current distributors. The likely result of such a static distribution system will be increased consumer prices." The Commission vote to file the staff comment was 4-0. The comments represent the views of the FTC's Chicago Regional Office and are not necessarily the views of the Commission itself. (FTC File No. V990005; Staff contact is C. Steven Baker, 312-960-5633.)

Amended Complaints:

• The Commission has voted to dismiss American Family Consultants, Inc. and Reunion Management Partners, Inc. as defendants in FTC v. Dayton Family Productions, Inc. et al (CV-S-97-750-PMP (LRL)). The original complaint was filed in U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, in Las Vegas on September 29, 1998. The Commission vote to dismiss the defendants was 4-0. (See news release dated October 6, 1998; FTC File No. X970058; Staff contact is Jerry Steiner, 415-356-5282.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this FYI are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. Consent agreements subject to public comment also are available by calling 202-326-3627. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.