August 2022 at-a-glance … regulations

NAFEM watching “right to repair” regulations

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) required Weber Grills to allow consumers with extended warranties to fix their grills anywhere and use third-party parts without violating warranty agreements. The FTC recently took similar “right to repair” actions against Harley Davidson and Westinghouse outdoor generators. Items like these are covered under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act that specifically addresses consumer products. While NAFEM’s legal counsel does not expect the federal government will get involved in commercial product warranties, NAFEM will continue to monitor this situation.

U.S. government looks to reduce single-use plastics

The General Services Administration (GSA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) seeking public feedback on the use of plastics in packaging and shipping, as well as other single-use plastics for which the agency contracts. The ANPR will inform future rulemaking to reduce unnecessary single-use plastics in response to Executive Order 14008 to combat the climate crisis. The ANPR is closely related to similar producer responsibility issues and efforts by the states to limit the use of plastics.