Use this guide to help you comply with laws and regulations that apply to consumer goods and services businesses and the consumer goods and services industry.

Select a topic to jump to the section this page:

• Appliances

• Computers & Internet Services

• Consumer Protection

• Dry Cleaning

• Educational Services

• Food Stamps

• Health & Fitness Products

• Product Labeling

• Textiles

• Tobacco Products

Appliances

• Complying with the Appliance Labeling Rule: A Guide for Retailers
  Explains labeling rules. If you sell home appliances online, you may be required to observe the disclosure requirements of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Appliance Labeling Rule. The Rule requires manufacturers of certain appliances to affix yellow-and-black Energy Guide labels to these appliances. It also requires appliance retailers to leave the labels in place.

• Appliance Labeling for Manufacturers
  Provides information on how to comply with the Appliance Labeling Rule, including answers to frequently asked questions.

Back to top

Computers & Internet Services

• CAN-SPAM Act: Requirements for Commercial Entities
  Covers the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act), which establishes requirements for those who send commercial email, spells out penalties for spammers and companies whose products are advertised in spam if they violate the law, and gives consumers the right to ask emailers to stop spamming them.

• Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
  Offer a general guide to DMCA, an intellectual property law affecting online businesses.

• Dotcom Disclosures
  Contains booklet that describes the information businesses should consider as they develop online ads to ensure that they comply with the law.

• Regulations for E-Commerce and the Internet Services
  Provides guides for businesses that market or advertise on Internet; assistance with e-commerce transactions laws and regulations.

Back to top

Consumer Protection

• Business Guide to Fighting Identity Theft
  Includes a wide range of educational materials that can serve as practical tools to help you educate your employees, constituents and/or members about identity theft and data security.

• Businesses Must Provide Victims and Law Enforcement with Transaction Records Relating to Identity Theft
  Lists questions and answers about complying with Section 609(e) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

• Consumer Product Safety Commission: Regulations, Laws & Information for Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors & Retailers
  Details consumer product safety regulations and gives compliance guidance for manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.

• Credit Reports: What Information Providers Need to Know
  Provides guidance on steps (established under the Fair Credit Reporting Act) that businesses should follow when reporting consumer credit information to credit reporting agencies.

Back to top

Dry Cleaning

• Plain English Guide for Dry Cleaners
  Gives a step-by-step approach to understanding federal environmental regulations.

• Dry Cleaning: FAQs
  Offers fact sheet that delineates the partnership between the dry cleaning industry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and gives basic facts about the environmental impact of the chemicals involved in the process, as well as information about chemical alternatives.

• Dry Cleaning Emissions Standards
  Explains the EPA's emission standards for industrial and small neighborhood dry cleaners.

• Dry Cleaning Sector Guide (EPA)
  Provides compliance assistance information for the dry cleaning industry.

Back to top

Educational Services

• Compliance Guide for Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools
  Offers a guide to laws concerning unfair and deception marketing as they apply to the advertising, promotion, marketing and sale of courses or programs of instruction offered by private vocational or distance education schools.

Back to top

Food Stamps

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Info for Retailers
  Offers resource for retailers or individuals who want to apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) to become an authorized retailer.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Training Guide for Retailers
  Provides rules for retailers and answers to common questions about the program.

Back to top

Health & Fitness Products

• Contact Lens Rule: A Guide for Prescribers and Sellers
  Contains a fact sheet for prescribers and sellers of contact lens.

• Cosmetics: Information for Industry
  Offers a portal for the cosmetic industry to help regulated entities comply with the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations.

• Regulations for Diet, Health & Fitness Product
  Offers a guide for helping small businesses advertise and market for dietary, health and weight loss products. Eye-care specialists are a good example of who needs this information.

Back to top

Product Labeling

• Energy Efficiency Claims and Labeling Requirements
  Contains current energy efficiency labeling requirements for consumer products issued pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

• Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
  Explains how to comply with laws governing labeling of consumer products. Includes guidance for metric labeling, "Made in U.S.A." labeling, energy efficiency, environmental marketing, jewelry, precious metals and pewter industries, labeling alternative fuels; and textile, wool, fur and apparel matters.

• Made in the USA Standard: Compliance Information
  Offers how-to-comply-with guide and enforcement policy statement for making "Made in U.S.A." claims; enforcement and compliance history of the agency activities, and links to documents from specific enforcement case, including investigative case closing letters.

Back to top

Textiles

• Registered Identification Number (RN) FAQs
  Lists frequently asked questions about RN numbers issued by the FTC to U.S. businesses that manufacture, import, distribute, or sell products covered by the Textile, Wool, and Fur Acts. Businesses can use this number on product labels in lieu of the company name.

• Registered Identification Number Database
  Explains a registered identification number or RN, a number issued by the FTC, upon request, to a business residing in the U.S. that is engaged in the manufacture, importing, distribution, or sale of textile, wool, or fur products. Such businesses are not required to have RNs. They may, however, use the RN in place of a name on the label or tag that is required to be affixed to these products.

Back to top

Tobacco Products

• Tobacco Production, Sale and Distribution FAQs
  Lists frequently asked questions and answers about tobacco.

• Tobacco Regulations and Permits
  Offers information for tobacco producers and distributors, including applying for a permit, paying taxes, importing, and other issues.

• Tobacco Advertising and Promotion
  Contains compliance guides on advertising and health warning requirements for tobacco manufacturers, importers or retail sellers of tobacco related products; and materials on Tobacco Industry Settlement.

Back to top