Competition Bureau Clarifies Requirements
March 10, 2009
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| > | Competition Bureau Calls on Textile Dealers to Accurately Label Textile Articles Derived from Bamboo |
| > | Guidance on Labelling Textile Articles Derived from Bamboo |
As of August 31, 2009, all products made of rayon or viscose or other man-made fibres made from bamboo must be labeled to indicate first the generic fibre from which they are made. To assist and encourage compliance, until August 31, 2009, the Bureau will allow retailers and suppliers to sell existing stocks of merchandise that were in production, manufactured, labelled, or packaged prior to March 10, 2009, without being re-labelled.
RCC strongly encourages retailers to act immediately to ensure any future merchandise made of rayon or viscose from bamboo fibre is labeled in accordance with the requirements. This will minimize your costs and help to ensure you are in compliance by the end of August. RCC recommends you:
- Verify which of your products are made using rayon or viscose from bamboo fibre and check their labels.
- Notify suppliers that, starting immediately, these products must carry a label that complies with the wording recommended by the Bureau (see link to Bureau site.)
- 3. Require that the supplier certify in writing that the rayon or viscose was made from bamboo.
- 4. All labels and representations that refer to fibre content are included. Be sure to check the wording on hang tags, packaging, advertising, etc.
The Bureau expects that all products in stores after August 31 will be compliant with the requirements. RCC and the Bureau have discussed a retailer's obligations with respect to old non-compliant merchandise that has not sold-through by August 31. RCC is hopeful that we can persuade Bureau officers to act with reasonable discretion on a case by case basis. We will report back to members.
If you must re-label product, stick-on labels can be properly applied. You should ensure they cover the incorrect information and will survive ten cleanings.
For further information, please contact Peter Woolford, Vice-President Policy Development & Research, at (416) 922-0553, ext. 230; e-mail: pwoolford@retailcouncil.org.