9723159 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In the Matter of PFIZER INC., a corporation. DOCKET NO. C-3841 DECISION AND ORDER The Federal Trade Commission having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of the respondent named in the caption hereof, and the respondent having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of complaint which the San Francisco Regional Office proposed to present to the Commission for its consideration and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge respondent with violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act; and The respondent, its attorney, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondent of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondent that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, or that the facts as alleged in such complaint, other than jurisdictional facts, are true and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission's Rules; and The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it had reason to believe that the respondent has violated the said Act, and that a complaint should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of sixty (60) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in § 2.34 of its Rules, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following jurisdictional findings and enters the following order:
ORDER DEFINITIONS For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply:
I. IT IS ORDERED that respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of RID Lice Killing Shampoo, or any Substantially Similar Product, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, that such product cures a lice infestation in a single application unless the representation is true and, at the time it is made, respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation. II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of two (2) years from the date of service of this order, respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of RID Lice Killing Shampoo or any other Substantially Similar Product, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, in print advertisements or promotional materials about the efficacy of such product in the removal or elimination of lice or the treatment of lice infestations (“triggering representation”), unless it makes the following disclosure, clearly and prominently, in such advertisements or promotional materials containing the triggering representation:
Provided, however, that the above disclosure shall not be required if respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence demonstrating that the product is effective for the complete elimination of all lice and lice eggs in a single application. Provided, further, that the above disclosure shall not be required in a particular piece of promotional material if such promotional material constitutes “labeling of a pediculicide drug product” subject to the labeling requirements of the Food and Drug Administration’s Final Monograph on OTC Pediculicide Drug Products, 21 C.F.R. §358.650. III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of two (2) years from the date of service of this order, respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of RID Lice Killing Shampoo or any other Substantially Similar Product, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, in advertisements communicated through an electronic medium, about the efficacy of such product in the removal or elimination of lice or the treatment of lice infestations (“triggering representation”), unless it makes the following disclosure, clearly and prominently, in the video portion of such advertisements (or in the audio portion if the advertisement is audio only) containing the triggering representation:
Provided, however, that if the respondent makes any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, about directions for use of such product in advertisements communicated through an electronic medium utilizing both video and audio, the disclosure shall be presented in both the video and the audio portions of such advertisements. Provided, further, that the above disclosure shall not be required if respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence demonstrating that the product is effective for the complete elimination of all lice and lice eggs in a single application. IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any drug or device for the treatment of lice in humans, or any pesticide for treatment of lice in or affecting commerce, shall not misrepresent, in any manner, expressly or by implication, the existence, contents, validity, results, conclusions, or interpretations of any test, study, or research. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any drug or device for the treatment of lice in humans, or any pesticide for treatment of lice in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, regarding the efficacy of such product, unless, at the time the representation is made, respondent possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence, that substantiates the representation. VI. Nothing in this order shall prohibit respondent from making any representation for any drug that is permitted in the labeling for such drug under any tentative final or final standard promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration, or under any new drug application approved by the Food and Drug Administration. VII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Pfizer Inc., and its successors and assigns shall, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying:
VIII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Pfizer Inc., and its successors and assigns shall deliver a copy of this order to each of its principals, officers, managers, employees, agents, and representatives engaged in the preparation, review or placement of advertising or other materials covered by this order. Respondent shall deliver this order to current personnel within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this order, and, for a period of five (5) years from the date of issuance of this order, to future personnel within thirty (30) days after the person assumes such position or responsibilities. IX. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Pfizer Inc., and its successors and assigns shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in the corporation(s) that may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including but not limited to a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that would result in the emergence of a successor corporation; the creation or dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order; the proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition; or a change in the corporate name or address. Provided, however, that, with respect to any proposed change in the corporation about which respondent learns less than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take place, respondent shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after obtaining such knowledge. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. X. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Pfizer Inc., and its successors and assigns shall, within sixty (60) days after the date of service of this order, and at such other times as the Federal Trade Commission may require, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which it has complied with this order. XI. This order will terminate on December 14, 2018, or twenty (20) years from the most recent date that the United States or the Federal Trade Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of:
Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order will terminate according to this Part as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal. By the Commission. Donald S. Clark ISSUED: December 14, 1998 |