Last week, USFIA filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in support of AAFA’s petition to allow digital care labels and the proposed regulatory language suggested. Our comments highlight that this is a global industry with different labeling requirements for different markets.
Digital labeling would allow firms to provide detailed product information for multiple countries in a readily accessible manner, such as using a simple QR code or other digital tools, resulting in reduced labels and label size. This approach also would enable firms to provide updated information to consumers, something which is not realistically available under the current system.
Finally, it is sometimes the case that over time labels become illegible. The likelihood of that happening with a digital label is diminished. Allowing the use of digital labels would establish a more harmonized approach to labeling as other countries, such as the EU, Singapore and Australia, have proposed or enacted digital labels.
Most of the comments filed were in support of AAFA’s petition, including those from USFIA members Ralph Lauren and Taiwan Textile Federation, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the PoliticallyInFashion Council, the National Cotton Council of America, and several apparel brands.