FTC Public Workshop on Effectiveness of Appliance Labeling Rule, Energy/Conservation Labeling Requirements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a notice stating that it is planning to host a public workshop on May 3, 2006 to discuss the Appliance Labeling Rule (Rule, 16 CFR Part 305), including certain energy and/or conservation labeling requirements, for consumer appliances and certain other consumer products.
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The FTC states that this workshop is part of a 2005 advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) where the FTC sought comments on a series of questions about the effectiveness of the Rule's current energy labeling and other requirements, possible alternatives, and other potential changes to the Rule.
Consumer Appliances and Other Consumer Products Requiring Energy/Water Conservation Labeling/Information
The 2005 ANPR indicates that the Rule's labeling requirements (e.g., the EnergyGuide label) and certain other energy-disclosure requirements (e.g., fact sheets, directories), as well as other provisions of the Rule, apply to the following consumer appliances and products:
| refrigerators | clothes washers | fluorescent lamp ballasts |
| refrigerator-freezers | room air conditioners | plumbing products |
| freezers | furnaces | lighting products |
| dishwashers | central air conditioners | pool heaters |
| water heaters | heat pumps | certain other water heaters |
Consumer Products Include Light Bulbs, Showerheads, Etc.
The FTC notes that the Rule has labeling requirements other than the EnergyGuide label, for consumer products other than appliances. The FTC states that there are minimum energy efficiency 'E' labeling requirements for manufacturers of fluorescent lamp ballasts and certain tube-type fluorescent bulbs. In addition, manufacturers of certain incandescent bulbs, spot and flood bulbs, and screw-based compact fluorescent bulbs must disclose on the packaging the light output in watts, voltage, etc. and explain how purchasers can select the most energy efficient bulb. Manufacturers of showerheads, faucets, toilets, etc. must disclose water usage information on the products, packaging, and labeling.
Public Workshop to Address Possible TV Labels, Label Design, Etc.
According to the FTC, the public workshop will begin by addressing four issues related to the ANPR, specifically label design, refrigerator categories, heating and cooling labels, and television labeling (e.g., for big screen digital TVs).
After discussion of these four issues, the FTC states there will be time available to discuss any other issues affected by the Rule and/or raised in the ANPR.
(The FTC explains that was directed by the 2005 Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58) to initiate the 2005 ANPR in order to, among other things, consider changes to the Rule that would improve the effectiveness of consumer product labels. P.L. 109-58 gives the FTC two years to complete this rulemaking. The FTC adds that the ANPR generated 27 comments, which are available for viewing on the FTC's Web at http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/energylabeling/index.htm.)
- FTC public workshop on May 3, 2006
- Requests to appear as panelist due by April 21, 2006
- Written comments due by May 17, 2006
FTC contact: Hampton Newsome (202) 326-2889
April 17, 2006 FTC Workshop notice (FR Pub 04/10/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-3452.pdf
November 2, 2005 ANPR (FR Pub 11/02/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-21817.pdf