FTC Resources for Reporters
Made in the USA Claims
For most products, unless they are automobiles or items made from textile or wool, there is no law requiring manufacturers and marketers to make a “Made in USA” claim. But if a business chooses to make the claim, the FTC's Made in USA standard applies. Made in USA means that “all or virtually all” the product has been made in America. That is, all significant parts, processing, and labor that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. Products should not contain any – or should contain only negligible – foreign content. The FTC’s Enforcement Policy Statement and its business guide, Complying with the Made in USA Standard, spell out the details, with examples of situations when domestic origin claims would be accurate and when they would be inappropriate.
News Releases:
- Manufacturer Settles with FTC for Making Misleading Made-in-the-USA Claims 7/20/2009
- FTC Alleges Stanley Made False Made in the USA Claims About Its Tools 6/9/2006
- Five Manufacturers of Over-the-counter Analgesic Products Agree to Settle Charges of Mislabeling Certain Products as “Made in USA" 11/6/2001
Business Education:
- Complying with the Made in USA Standard
- Selling 'American-Made' Products? What Businesses Need to Know About Making Made in USA Claims
- Enforcement Policy Statement
- “Made in U.S.A.” Standard
Consumer Education:
