New regs for Wednesday: Fur labels, highway safety, online privacy disclosures

Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for labeling fur products, highway safety, e-cigarettes and privacy disclosures by banks.

Here’s what is happening:

Labels: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is moving forward with new labeling requirements for fur products.

The Fur Products Labeling Act, established by Congress in 1952, prohibits misbranding and false advertising of fur products.

The new rules will update the FTC’s existing fur regulations, which require manufacturers and retailers to disclose the animal’s name, whether the fur was bleached, dyed or artificially colored, whether it is composed of paws or tails, the fur’s country of origin and the name of the manufacturer. 

The rule changes go into effect on Nov. 19.

Road safety: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is delaying new highway safety regulations.

The FHWA announced the rules in March, but said Tuesday it is extending the comment period, which would have otherwise closed today, through June 30 to give interested parties more time to consider the rule. 

The proposed rule makes changes to the Highway Safety Improvement Program.

E-cigs: The Food and Drug Administration is correcting several mistakes made in the new rules it proposed last month for electronic cigarettes. 

The rules would, among other things, prohibit people under the age of 18 from smoking e-cigarettes, even though they are currently allowed to until the rule is finalized and goes into effect.

Privacy: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is delaying a rule that would encourage banks to post their privacy disclosures online, rather than mailing them to customers.

The CFPB proposed the rule on May 6, but said Tuesday it is extending the comment period through July 14 to give interested parties more time to consider the rule.

The proposed rule, which the agency says would save the industry millions of dollars each year, is intended to limit banks’ data-sharing activities.

Investment: The Commerce Department is considering a new survey that would measure foreign direct investment in the U.S.

The survey was discontinued in 2009, but the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Tuesday it wants to reinstate the survey and make responses mandatory for certain foreign businesses.

The public has 60 days to comment.