I'm a COO nerd, so I've done tons of reading on this.
"Made in the USA" and phrases with the same meaning are pretty strictly regulated by the FTC.
The labeling rules for imported items are regulated by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Here's a very simple, easy-to-understand website that spells out the rules for items to be labeled "made in the USA,"
http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus03-complying-made-usa-standard
Quote:
What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?
For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.
What does "all or virtually all" mean?
"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
From what I understand, the box has no legal bearing. It's the case of the item / body of the item that matters.
This. I assume most of these "the box is made in the USA" comments are jokes.
Originally Posted By: KGMtech
the electric motor is made in China, the blower assembly and /or the plastic surround is made in USA - perhaps.
If that were the case, it would seem reasonable to me that it would be a violation of the "all or virtually all" rule. The motor is a huge portion of the content and cost of this item.
It may be a total mistake, outdated sticker, etc.
If anyone wants to report violations of the FTC rules, here's how you do it. Someone on Garage Journal has used this to report violations and he got a response and eventually submitted photos and more evidence.:
Quote:
What if I suspect noncompliance with the FTC’s Made in USA standard or other country-of-origin mislabeling?
Information about possible illegal activity helps law enforcement officials target companies whose practices warrant scrutiny.
If you suspect noncompliance, contact the Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; (202) 326-2996 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
If you know about import or export fraud, call Customs’ toll-free Commercial Fraud Hotline, 1-800-ITS-FAKE. Examples of fraudulent practices involving imports include removing a required foreign origin label before the product is delivered to the ultimate purchaser (with or without the improper substitution of a Made in USA label) and failing to label a product with a required country of origin.