15 USC 69 - Definitions

§ 69. Definitions
§ 69a. Violations of Federal Trade Commission Act
§ 69b. Misbranded fur products
§ 69c. False advertising and invoicing
§ 69d. Fur products imported into United States
§ 69e. Name guide for fur products
§ 69f. Enforcement of subchapter
§ 69g. Condemnation and injunction proceedings
§ 69h. Guaranty
§ 69i. Criminal penalty
§ 69j. Application of other laws

§ 69. Definitions

As used in this subchapter—

(a) The term “person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, business trust, or any organized group of any of the foregoing.

(b) The term “fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state, but shall not include such skins as are to be converted into leather or which in processing shall have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed.

(d) The term “fur product” means any article of wearing apparel made in whole or in part of fur or used fur.

(e) The term “waste fur” means the ears, throats, or scrap pieces which have been severed from the animal pelt, and shall include mats or plates made therefrom.

(f) The term “invoice” means a written account, memorandum, list, or catalog, which is issued in connection with any commercial dealing in fur products or furs, and describes the particulars of any fur products or furs, transported or delivered to a purchaser, consignee, factor, bailee, correspondent, or agent, or any other person who is engaged in dealing commercially in fur products or furs.

(g) The term “Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission.

(h) The term “Federal Trade Commission Act” means the Act entitled “An Act to create a Federal Trade Commission, to define its powers and duties, and for other purposes”, approved September 26, 1914, as amended [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].

(i) The term “Fur Products Name Guide” means the register issued by the Commission pursuant to section 69e of this title.

(j) The term “commerce” means commerce between any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof; or between points within the same State, Territory, or possession, or the District of Columbia, but through any place outside thereof; or within any Territory or possession or the District of Columbia.

(k) The term “United States” means the several States, the District of Columbia, and the Territories and possessions of the United States.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 2, 65 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 106–476, title I, § 1443(b), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2167; Pub. L. 111–313, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3326.)

§ 69a. Violations of Federal Trade Commission Act

(a) Introduction or manufacture for introduction into commerce, sale, advertising or offering for sale in commerce

(b) Manufacture for sale, sale, advertising, offering for sale, transportation or distribution

(d) Removal or mutilation of label

(e) Substitution of labels; records

(f) Application of section to common carrier or freight forwarder

(g) Exemption for particular sales

No provision of this subchapter shall apply to a fur product—

(1) the fur of which was obtained from an animal through trapping or hunting; and

(2) when sold in a face to face transaction at a place such as a residence, craft fair, or other location used on a temporary or short term basis, by the person who trapped or hunted the animal, where the revenue from the sale of apparel or fur products is not the primary source of income of such person.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 3, 65 Stat. 176; Pub. L. 111–313, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3326.)

§ 69b. Misbranded fur productsFor the purposes of this subchapter, a fur product shall be considered to be misbranded—

(1) if it is falsely or deceptively labeled or otherwise falsely or deceptively identified, or if the label contains any form of misrepresentation or deception, directly or by implication, with respect to such fur product;

(2) if there is not affixed to the fur product a label showing in words and figures plainly legible—

(A) the name or names (as set forth in the Fur Products Name Guide) of the animal or animals that produced the fur, and such qualifying statement as may be required pursuant to section 69e(c) of this title;

(B) that the fur product contains or is composed of used fur, when such is the fact;

(C) that the fur product contains or is composed of bleached, dyed, or otherwise artificially colored fur, when such is the fact;

(D) that the fur product is composed in whole or in substantial part of paws, tails, bellies, or waste fur, when such is the fact;

(E) the name, or other identification issued and registered by the Commission, of one or more of the persons who manufacture such fur product for introduction into commerce, introduce it into commerce, sell it in commerce, advertise or offer it for sale in commerce, or transport or distribute it in commerce;

(F) the name of the country of origin of any imported furs used in the fur product;

(3) if the label required by paragraph (2)(A) of this section sets forth the name or names of any animal or animals other than the name or names provided for in such paragraph.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 4, 65 Stat. 177.)

§ 69c. False advertising and invoicing

(a) For the purposes of this subchapter, a fur product or fur shall be considered to be falsely or deceptively advertised if any advertisement, representation, public announcement, or notice which is intended to aid, promote, or assist directly or indirectly in the sale or offering for sale of such fur product or fur—

(1) does not show the name or names (as set forth in the Fur Products Name Guide) of the animal or animals that produced the fur, and such qualifying statement as may be required pursuant to

(2) does not show that the fur is used fur or that the fur product contains used fur, when such is the fact;

(3) does not show that the fur product or fur is bleached, dyed, or otherwise artificially colored fur when such is the fact;

(4) does not show that the fur product is composed in whole or in substantial part of paws, tails, bellies, or waste fur, when such is the fact;

(5) contains the name or names of any animal or animals other than the name or names specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, or contains any form of misrepresentation or deception, directly or by implication, with respect to such fur product or fur;

(6) does not show the name of the country of origin of any imported furs or those contained in a fur product.

(b) For the purposes of this subchapter, a fur product or fur shall be considered to be falsely or deceptively invoiced—

(1) if such fur product or fur is not invoiced to show—

(B) that the fur product contains or is composed of used fur, when such is the fact;

(C) that the fur product contains or is composed of bleached, dyed, or otherwise artificially colored fur, when such is the fact;

(D) that the fur product is composed in whole or in substantial part of paws, tails, bellies, or waste fur, when such is the fact;

(E) the name and address of the person issuing such invoice;

(F) the name of the country of origin of any imported furs or those contained in a fur product;

(2) if such invoice contains the name or names of any animal or animals other than the name or names specified in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, or contains any form of misrepresentation or deception, directly or by implication, with respect to such fur product or fur.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 5, 65 Stat. 178.)

§ 69d. Fur products imported into United States

(a) Necessity of proper labelling; additional information

(b) Violations of Federal Trade Commission Act

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 6, 65 Stat. 178.)

§ 69e. Name guide for fur products

(a) Fur Products Name Guide

(b) Additions and deletions; public hearing

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 7, 65 Stat. 179.)

§ 69f. Enforcement of subchapter

(a) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission

(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this subchapter, sections 69a, 69d, and 69h(b) of this title shall be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission under rules, regulations, and procedure provided for in the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].

(2) The Commission is authorized and directed to prevent any person from violating the provisions of sections 69a, 69d, and 69h(b) of this title in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.] were incorporated into and made a part of this subchapter; and any such person violating any provision of section 69a, 69d, or 69h(b) of this title shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in said Federal Trade Commission Act as though the applicable terms and provisions of the said Act were incorporated into and made a part of this subchapter.

(b) Rules and regulations for disclosure of information

(d) Maintenance of records by manufacturer or dealer

(1) Every manufacturer or dealer in fur products or furs shall maintain proper records showing the information required by this subchapter with respect to all fur products or furs handled by him, and shall preserve such records for at least three years.

(2) The neglect or refusal to maintain and preserve such records is unlawful, and any such manufacturer or dealer who neglects or refuses to maintain and preserve such records shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $100 for each day of such failure which shall accrue to the United States and be recoverable by a civil action.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 8, 65 Stat. 179.)

§ 69g. Condemnation and injunction proceedings

(a) Grounds for condemnation; disposition of merchandise

(1) Any fur product or fur shall be liable to be proceeded against in the district court of the United States for the district in which found, and to be seized for confiscation by process of libel for condemnation, if the Commission has reasonable cause to believe such fur product or fur is being manufactured or held for shipment, or shipped, or held for sale or exchange after shipment, in commerce, in violation of the provisions of this subchapter, and if after notice from the Commission the provisions of this subchapter with respect to such fur product or fur are not shown to be complied with. Proceedings in such libel cases shall conform as nearly as may be to suits in rem in admiralty, and may be brought by the Commission.

(2) If such fur products or furs are condemned by the court, they shall be disposed of, in the discretion of the court, by destruction, by sale, by delivery to the owner or claimant thereof upon payment of legal costs and charges and upon execution of good and sufficient bond to the effect that such fur or fur products will not be disposed of until properly marked, advertised, and invoiced as required under the provisions of this subchapter; or by such charitable disposition as the court may deem proper. If such furs or fur products are disposed of by sale, the proceeds, less legal costs and charges, shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

(b) Grounds for temporary injunction or restraining order; issuance without bond

Whenever the Commission has reason to believe that—

(1) any person is volating,1

1 So in original. Probably should be “violating,”.

or is about to violate, section 69a, 69d, or 69h(b) of this title; and

(2) it would be to the public interest to enjoin such violation until complaint is issued by the Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.] and such complaint dismissed by the Commission or set aside by the court on review, or until order to cease and desist made thereon by the Commission has become final within the meaning of said Act,

the Commission may bring suit in the district court of the United States or in the United States court of any Territory, for the district or Territory in which such person resides or transacts business, to enjoin such violation, and upon proper showing a temporary injunction or restraining order shall be granted without bond.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 9, 65 Stat. 180.)

§ 69h. Guaranty

(a) Avoidance of liability; requirements

(b) Furnishing false guaranty

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 10, 65 Stat. 181.)

§ 69i. Criminal penalty

(a) Any person who willfully violates section 69a, 69d, or 69h(b) of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $5,000, or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

(b) Whenever the Commission has reason to believe any person is guilty of a misdemeanor under this section, it shall certify all pertinent facts to the Attorney General, whose duty it shall be to cause appropriate proceedings to be brought for the enforcement of the provisions of this section against such person.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 11, 65 Stat. 181.)

§ 69j. Application of other laws

The provisions of this subchapter shall be held to be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the provisions of any other Act of Congress.

(Aug. 8, 1951, ch. 298, § 12, 65 Stat. 181.)