kristin
12-13-2006, 09:07 AM
Jewelers Petition FTC Over Use of Word “Cultured”
(December 13, '06, 7:44 IDEX Online Staff Reporter)
Eleven jewelry industry associations have filed a petition with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to amend ‘The FTC Guides’ - FTC Guidelines for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries - to add the term “cultured” to the list of terms that are unfair or deceptive to use in conjunction with manufactured jewelry industry products.
The petitioners urge the FTC to pass the proposed amendment for several reasons:
To protect consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices that can occur when the term “cultured” is used in conjunction with jewelry industry products other than pearls.
To protect consumers from associating the phrase “cultured diamond” with a natural product or gemstone grown naturally with human intervention.
To justify continued consumer confidence in the jewelry industry.
According to one of the petitioners, Cecilia L. Gardner, president, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), “The jewelry guidelines provide explicit standards for trade practices in the jewelry industry. Given the widespread confusion and misconception found among consumers when asked about the meaning of “cultured” when applied to products other than pearl, we felt it was important to ask the FTC to amend the guides. The guides should address the important issue of full disclosure of the true nature of laboratory created jewelry products. “
The ten other associations supporting the request are:
AGS- (American Gem Society)
AGTA – (American Gem Trade Association)
CIBJO – (The World Jewellery Confederation)
Cultured Pearl Association
DCA – (Diamond Council of America)
DMIA – (Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America)
IDMA – (International Diamond Manufacturers Association)
JA – (Jewelers of America)
MJSA – (Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America)
WFDB – (World Federation of Diamond Bourses)
“I am truly gratified that leading jewelry associations, both in the US and abroad, saw fit to join in this effort,” Gardner added.
According to Ruth Batson, AGS’s executive director and CEO, “Consumers’ high regard for cultured pearls require the FTC to amend the guides to prevent confusion, deception and mistrust that is likely to result from the use of the term ‘cultured’ in conjunction with materials other than pearl.”
The staff of the Consumer Enforcement Division of the FTC will now consider the contents of the petition with its accompanying consumer survey data and determine if there are sufficient grounds to issue a Federal Register notice which could solicit comments from the trade on whether the Guides should be amended.
(December 13, '06, 7:44 IDEX Online Staff Reporter)
Eleven jewelry industry associations have filed a petition with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to amend ‘The FTC Guides’ - FTC Guidelines for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries - to add the term “cultured” to the list of terms that are unfair or deceptive to use in conjunction with manufactured jewelry industry products.
The petitioners urge the FTC to pass the proposed amendment for several reasons:
To protect consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices that can occur when the term “cultured” is used in conjunction with jewelry industry products other than pearls.
To protect consumers from associating the phrase “cultured diamond” with a natural product or gemstone grown naturally with human intervention.
To justify continued consumer confidence in the jewelry industry.
According to one of the petitioners, Cecilia L. Gardner, president, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), “The jewelry guidelines provide explicit standards for trade practices in the jewelry industry. Given the widespread confusion and misconception found among consumers when asked about the meaning of “cultured” when applied to products other than pearl, we felt it was important to ask the FTC to amend the guides. The guides should address the important issue of full disclosure of the true nature of laboratory created jewelry products. “
The ten other associations supporting the request are:
AGS- (American Gem Society)
AGTA – (American Gem Trade Association)
CIBJO – (The World Jewellery Confederation)
Cultured Pearl Association
DCA – (Diamond Council of America)
DMIA – (Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America)
IDMA – (International Diamond Manufacturers Association)
JA – (Jewelers of America)
MJSA – (Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America)
WFDB – (World Federation of Diamond Bourses)
“I am truly gratified that leading jewelry associations, both in the US and abroad, saw fit to join in this effort,” Gardner added.
According to Ruth Batson, AGS’s executive director and CEO, “Consumers’ high regard for cultured pearls require the FTC to amend the guides to prevent confusion, deception and mistrust that is likely to result from the use of the term ‘cultured’ in conjunction with materials other than pearl.”
The staff of the Consumer Enforcement Division of the FTC will now consider the contents of the petition with its accompanying consumer survey data and determine if there are sufficient grounds to issue a Federal Register notice which could solicit comments from the trade on whether the Guides should be amended.