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Country of Origin label

by Lchain, Performer

  • Created: December 7, 2010, 1:19 pm
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5 comments

I was wondering if a product imported from China is required to have a country of origin label somewhere on the product.  If so, is it acceptable to have the country of origins only on the packaging and not on the product?

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NicoleD | Former Moderator | 12/8/2010 - 8:10 am

If you choose to represent your product as American-made, you must comply with the FTC's Made in the USA policy. For more information, check out the FTC guide to Complying with the Made In the USA Standard.

Lchain | Performer | 12/8/2010 - 8:46 am

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If you choose to represent your product as American-made, you must comply with the FTC's Made in the USA policy. For more information, check out the FTC guide to Complying with the Made In the USA Standard.
I had read that before, and there is one part that still isn't clear to me...   Unqualified Claims are held to the 'all or virtually all' standard.  The 'all or virtually all' standard requires that All significant parts and processing are of U.S. origin and Products contain no foreign content - even if the percent is negligible.  I guess i don't really understand what 'virtually all' means when one of the requirements to be virtually all is no foreign content even if it is negligible... edit:  I read the second link, and found the answer to my question... It also appears as though the steel products I am purchasing do not need a country of origin stamp...   Thanks for the help again.

BizResearcher | Window Shopper | 12/8/2010 - 8:41 am

Show Replied Text…
If you choose to represent your product as American-made, you must comply with the FTC's Made in the USA policy. For more information, check out the FTC guide to Complying with the Made In the USA Standard.
The FTC web site contains information on country of origin labeling, particularly textiles (clothing, bedding, etc.). It sounds as if you are making jewelry or something similar, so you may have less stringent standards, but a check of the FTC site may be helpful.

kimmyfan27 | Performer | 12/7/2010 - 3:16 pm

Hi Lchain,   As far as I know, labeling depends on the kind product you are selling, if it is 'as is' or just a part of your whole product. But if ever you intend to claim or label the product as Made in USA or Assembled in USA you must also comply to the policy like the product must be assembled or primarily assembled on US. So eventhough your product has parts or components that was imported from China you can still declare it as 'Assembled in USA' and I think this is a good marketing technique. ;)
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Lchain | Performer | 12/8/2010 - 7:38 am

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Hi Lchain, As far as I know, labeling depends on the kind product you are selling, if it is 'as is' or just a part of your whole product. But if ever you intend to claim or label the product as Made in USA or Assembled in USA you must also comply to the policy like the product must be assembled or primarily assembled on US. So eventhough your product has parts or components that was imported from China you can still declare it as 'Assembled in USA' and I think this is a good marketing technique. ;)
Ok, thanks a lot for the info, it is much appreciated.  However it does raise some more questions...   For a steel product does that mean that 100% of the chain has to me manufactured in the US?  What if a small part of the product (5%) was manufactured in China and used in the assembly in the US?  Is there anywhere I can find these laws to read myself, or is it all on a case by case basis with customs?    I ask because this 5% of the product is an identical component to what is used in the import version, and it just so happens that this is the only place on the product where a country of origin stamp can be stamped.  I want to remove the C.O.O.L. stamp for the domestic part, but need to be sure I do not violate any trade laws.