relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2/11

7 December 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 507/2005

US: New Country of Origin Labelling Requirement for Sock Packaging

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 318/2005 dated 10 August 2005, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule on the new country of origin labelling requirement for sock packaging.

DETAILS

  1. According to the final rule (a copy is at Annex (pdf format)), with effect from 3 March 2006, the following requirements will be applicable to socks under subheading 6115.92.90, 6115.93.90, 6115.99.18, 6111.20.60, 6111.30.50, or 6111.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US:

    1. the country of origin marking must always be placed on the front of the package;

    2. if size information for the product also appears on the front of the package, the country of origin marking must be adjacent to the size information for the product;

    3. if no size information appears on the package or if the size information appears on the back of the package, the country of origin marking must still be placed on the front of the package;

    4. the information must be set forth in a manner that is clearly legible, conspicuous, and readily accessible to the consumer;

    5. the marking must be as indelible or permanent as the nature of the article or package will permit; and

    6. for socks that are not fully enclosed in a package, but are banded together by a label or hangtag, the information must be placed on the front of the label or tag.

  2. Socks included in a package that also contains other types of goods (e.g. a baby outfit that includes socks as well as other items of clothing) will be exempted from the new requirement. However, such packages of multiple items must comply with other relevant subsections of the Textiles Rules.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.




Yours faithfully,


(Ms Charmaine LO)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.