Announced Action for August 22, 2003

Publication of Federal Register notice: The Commission has approved publication of a Federal Register notice announcing it will initiate a review of the Tire Advertising and Labeling Guides (Tire Guides) under the agency’s Regulatory Review Program. The Tire Guides, which have remained essentially unchanged since 1968 (with slight revisions in 1994 to address retreaded tires), are designed to guide industry and the public on how to comply with and understand relevant advertising and labeling regulations and requirements enforced by the FTC. The Guides cover tires for use on “passenger automobiles, station wagons, or similar vehicles,” and address, among other things, performance claims; deceptive pricing claims and guarantee advertising; point-of-sale disclosures regarding use, care, and safety; and disclosures relating to used, retreaded tires, and snow tires. Through the Federal Register notice, the Commission is seeking public comments on whether, and how, the Guides should be revised at this time.

The Commission vote approving publication of the Federal Register notice was 4-0-1, with Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour not participating. It will be published shortly and is currently available on the FTC’s Web site as a link to this press release. Comments on the Federal Register notice must be submitted by October 24, 2003. (File No. P037702; staff contact is David Plottner, FTC East Central Region, Cleveland, 216-263-3409.)

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, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.