Announced Actions for March 15, 1999

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

• The Asociacion de Farmacias Region de Arecibo (AFRA). The Commission vote to approve the final order was 4-0. (See news release dated December 14, 1998; Docket No. C-3855; Staff contact is Richard A. Feinstein, 202-326-3688.)

• Columbia River Pilots. The Commission vote to approve the final order was 4-0. (See news release dated December 14, 1998; FTC File No. 941-0047; Staff contact is Charles A. Harwood, 206-220-4480.)

• New Vision International, Inc., Jason P. Boreyko, Benson K. Boreyko; Max F. James. The Commission vote to approve each of the final orders was 4-0. (See news release dated December 8, 1998; FTC File No, 962-3270; Staff contacts are Matthew Gold or Sylvia Kundig, 415-356-5270.)

New Business Alert

In-FUR-Mation Alert: How to Comply with the Fur Products Labeling Act has been published by the Commission for the manufacturers, importers and sellers of fur garments. The new, free brochure addresses the labeling requirements under the Fur Products Labeling Act (FPLA), including animal identification, country of origin, the mechanics of labeling, invoices and advertising, exemptions, record keeping, and enforcement of the act. Copies of the alert are available from the FTC's website: http://www.ftc.gov or from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357).

Congressional Testimony

• The Commission testified before the House Committee on Government Reform on Wednesday, March 10, about the agency's investigation and settlement with theAmerican College for the Advancement of Medicine. The Commission vote to approve the testimony was 4-0. (The full text of the testimony is available on the FTC's website: http://www.ftc.gov. See news releases dated March 5, 1999; December 8, 1998; FTC File No. 962 3147; Staff contact is Richard Cleland, 202-326-3088.)

Federal Register Notices:

As part of the Commission's systematic review of all current regulations and guides, notices will appear shortly in the Federal Register about the Commission's request for comment about the overall costs and benefits and the continuing need for its Guides for the Law Book Industry andGuides for the Dog and Cat Food Industry. The Commission vote to publish each request for comment was 4-0.

Staff contact for Guides for the Law Book Industry is Edwin Rodriguez, 202-326-3147; Comments should be sent to: Secretary, FTC, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580 and should be identified as "Law Book Guides, 16 CFR Part 256 - Comment." Comments may also be submitted by email to: < lawbooks@ftc.gov>.

Staff contact for Guides for the Dog and Cat Food Industry is Jock K. Chung, 202-326-2984; Comments should be sent to: Secretary, FTC, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580 and should be identified as "Dog and Cat Food Guides, 16 CFR Part 241 - Comment." Comments may also be submitted by email to: <petfood@ftc.gov>.

Amended complaints:

Ellen Stewart has been added as a defendant in FTC v. Clarendon House, Inc. et al. The Commission vote to file the amended complaint was 4-0. The amended complaint was filed on December 31, 1998, in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. (See news release dated November 20, 1998; FTC File No. X990010; Staff contacts are C. Steven Baker and Russell W. Damtoft, 312-960-5634.)

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. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.