The Federal Trade Commission has accepted an agreement, subject to final approval, to a proposed consent order from respondent A&S Pharmaceutical Corporation ("A&S").

The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for reception of comments by interested persons. Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the agreement and the comments received and will decide whether it should withdraw from the agreement and take other appropriate action or make final the agreement's proposed order.

This matter concerns "Made in U.S.A." claims on packaging and labeling for A&S's aspirin tablets sold at retail bearing private brand names. The Commission's complaint alleges that respondent misrepresented on packaging and labeling that certain of these products, manufactured for customers such as Food Lion, Price Chopper, and BJ's Wholesale Club, are all or virtually all made in the United States. According to the complaint, these products are actually made with significant foreign content. The products' active ingredient, bulk aspirin compound, that respondent processed into aspirin tablets is or was made outside the United States. The imported bulk aspirin compound comprises a substantial percentage of total manufacturing costs and imparts the crucial analgesic quality to the OTC products at issue. The Commission's complaint does not allege that all of A&S's private label aspirin brands or products are mislabeled, but only that certain products for certain customers have been improperly labeled.

The proposed consent order contains a provision that is designed to remedy the charges and to prevent the respondent from engaging in similar acts and practices in the future. Part I of the proposed order prohibits A&S from misrepresenting the extent to which any over-the-counter drug product is made in the United States. The proposed order would allow A&S to represent that such products are made in the United States as long as all, or virtually all, of the ingredients or component parts of such products are made in the United States and all, or virtually all, of the labor in manufacturing such products is performed in the United States.

Part II of the proposed order requires the respondent to maintain materials relied upon in disseminating any representation covered by the order. Part III of the proposed order requires the respondent to distribute copies of the order to certain company officials and employees. Part IV of the proposed order requires the respondent to notify the Commission of any change in the corporation that may affect compliance obligations under the order. Part V of the proposed order requires the respondent to file one or more compliance reports. Part VI of the proposed order is a provision whereby the order, absent certain circumstances, terminates twenty years from the date of issuance.

The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed consent order. It is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify in any way their terms.