Announced Actions for April 7, 2000

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions:

Modification of a Commission order and approval of final consent agreement:

• The Federal Trade Commission has approved the modification of an order in the following matter and approved the final issuance of the consent agreement: J. Sainsbury (Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. et al.). This approval results in the modification of Paragraph III of the order to divest the Schedule D assets (the supermarket identified in Schedule D of the order), the elimination of Paragraph IV, approval of the application to divest the Schedule D assets to Stop & Shop, and approval of the final issuance of the consent agreement.
  
  The Commission vote to modify the order was 4-0, with Commissioner Thomas B. Leary not participating. (FTC File No. 991-0075; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526; see press release dated June 28, 1999.)

Publication of Federal Register notices:

• The Federal Trade Commission has published a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on proposed consumer surveys that will be used to gather information for its study of the marketing of violent entertainment to children. The information solicited will be used by the FTC and the Department of Justice to produce a study, requested by the President on June 1, 1999, on whether and to what extent the entertainment industry markets violent material to children.
  
  The request for public comment, which is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act and was published in the Federal Register on April 4, provides a description of the information to be collected and its proposed use, the estimated range of the surveys (including the number of children to be contacted and their ages), the survey methodology, and the estimated time and cost burdens that will be imposed on the participants.  
  
  Written comments on the proposed surveys should be sent to Edward Clark, Senior Economist, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202, Washington, D.C., 20503 and to Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580, or by e-mail to entstudy@ftc.gov. The submissions should include the submitter's name, address, telephone number, and, if available, fax number and e-mail address. All submissions should be captioned "Entertainment Industry Study" - FTC File No. P994511. Comments must be submitted on or before May 4, 2000.  
  
  (For the initial Federal Register notice regarding this study, see press release dated August 24, 1999. Staff contact at the FTC is Sally Pitofsky, 202-326-3318.)

• The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on a request for an exemption from the Care Labeling Rule. Under the Rule, it is considered an unfair or deceptive act or practice for manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel to sell these items without attaching care labels stating "what regular care is needed for the ordinary use of the product." The Rule also provides the definition of "care label." Section 423.8(b) of the Rule provides, however, that manufacturers or importers can request an exemption from the requirement of attaching a permanent care label for such a product if the label would harm the appearance or usefulness of the product. In this matter, the petitioner, Esprit de Corp has petitioned the Commission for this exemption for three specific styles of apron camisoles under this provision of the Rule.
  
  Written comments will be accepted until 30 days following publication of the Federal Register notice. At the conclusion of the comment period, staff will review any comments and forward a recommendation to the Commission concerning whether the exemption should be granted. Comments should be directed to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Comments should be identified as "Petition for Exemption, 16 CFR Part 423 -- Comment."  
  The Commission vote to publish the Federal Register notice was 5-0. (FTC File No. R511915; staff contact is Constance M. Vecellio, 202-326-2966.)

• In a Federal Register notice published on April 6, 2000, the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission announced that the public workshop on alternative dispute resolution for online consumer transactions has been set for June 6-7, 2000. It will be held in the Department of Commerce Main Auditorium, and the deadline for receipt of comments has been extended to April 19, 2000.
  
  The Commission vote to publish the Federal Register notice was 5-0. (FTC File No. P004309; staff contact is Maneesha Mithal, 202-326-2771; see news release dated February 9, 2000.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release 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; 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD 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.