Announced Action(s) for July 13, 1999

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions.

Federal Register Notices:

Extension of Comment Period: Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries
On June 8, the Commission published a Federal Register Notice requesting public comments on proposed revisions to the Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries to provide for the disclosure of laser-drilling of diamonds to consumers. Comments were to be accepted until July 8. In response to a request from an industry group, the Commission has voted to extend the public comment period until August 31, 1999. The Commission vote to grant an extension of the comment period 4-0. (FTC File No. G711001; Staff Contact: Robin Rosen Spector, Division of Enforcement, 202-326-3740.) Comments about these proposed changes should be identified as:

"Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals and Pewter Industries -- 16 CFR Part 23 -- Comment"

and should be directed to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room H-159, Washington, DC 20580. e-mail comments to: <jewelry@ftc.gov>

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:

The FTC has approved an application from BP Amoco p.l.c. (which was created by the merger of British Petroleum Company, p.l.c. and Amoco Corporation) to divest retail gasoline station assets in eight markets, where both firms operated retail stations, to Tosco Corporation. The divestitures are required under the terms of a consent order made final by the FTC on April 19, 1999. The Commission vote approving the application to divest was 4-0. (See news releases dated April 21, 1999, and December 30, 1998; FTC File No. 9810345; FTC Docket No. C-3868; Staff contact is Daniel Ducore, 202-326-2526.)  

The FTC also has granted a request from BP Amoco p.l.c. for an extension of time in which to comply with Paragraph V of the Commission's April 19, 1999 Order. Paragraph V requires BP Amoco to cease selling gasoline to its jobber in Youngstown and Toledo, Ohio, by June 30, 1999. The Ohio jobber has found another supplier of gasoline, but will not complete "rebranding" all of its stations until September 1, 1999. BP Amoco has asked that it be given until then to continue supplying gasoline to the Ohio jobber. The Commission vote granting the extension of time was 4-0.

Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final consent agreements with the following entities. The Commission's action makes the consent orders binding on the respondents.

Design Zone, Inc.; Docket No. C-3881. The Commission vote to approve the order as final was 4-0. (See news release dated March 16, 1999. Staff contacts are: Carol Jennings, 202-326-3010 or Eleanor Durham, 206-220-4476.)  

American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM); Docket No. C-3882. The Commission vote to approve the order as final was 4-0. (See news release dated December 8, 1998. Staff contacts are: Richard Cleland, 202-326-3088 or Walter Gross, 202-326-3319.)

Other Matters:

The FTC has referred a petition from the National Association of State Fire Marshals requesting that the agency initiate a trade regulation rule proceeding to require manufacturers and retailers of upholstered furniture containing polyurethane foam to affix flammability warning labels to such furniture, to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC has direct authority under the Flammable Fabrics Act to issue flammability standards or require labeling for upholstered furniture, and the FTC believes that CPSC is the most appropriate agency at this time to address the issues raised in the petition.

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.