Zim Textile Corporation Agrees to Settle Charges of Violating Textile Fiber Products Identification Act

Zim Textile Corporation has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (TFPIA) by failing to attach required labels to the sheets and pillowcases the company manufactured and distributed. The TFPIA requires most textile products to have a label disclosing the fiber content, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer or dealer responsible for marketing the product. The company, based in Morganville, New Jersey, is a manufacturer and distributor of household textile products, including sheets and pillowcases. The proposed settlement would prohibit the company from violating the TFPIA in the future. In addition, the proposed settlement would require the company to maintain records demonstrating its compliance with the terms of the settlement.

An announcement regarding the proposed consent agreement will be published in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, until June 26, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. Comments should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The commission vote to place the proposed settlement on the public record for comment was 5-0.

NOTE: A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $11,000. This matter was brought to the attention of the Commission by the American Textile Manufacturers Institute, a trade association for U.S. textile producers. ATMI routinely monitors textile products sold in the U.S. to ensure that they are properly labeled.

Copies of the complaint, proposed settlement agreement, and an analysis of the agreement to aid public comment, 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; toll-free: 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.

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(FTC File No.: 002-3082)