502.102—“Economy size.”
(a)
The term economy size means any printed matter consisting of the words “economy size,” “economy pack,” “budget pack,” “bargain size,” “value size,” or words of similar import placed upon any package containing any consumer commodity or placed upon any label affixed to such commodity, stating or representing directly or by implication that a retail sale price advantage is accorded the purchaser thereof by reason of the size of that package or the quantity of its contents.
(b)
The package or label of a consumer commodity may not have imprinted thereon an “economy size” representation unless:
(1)
The packager or labeler at the same time offers the same brand of that commodity in at least one other packaged size or labeled form.
(2)
The packager or labeler offers only one packaged or labeled form of that brand of commodity labeled with an “economy size” representation.
(3)
The packager or labeler sells the commodity labeled with an “economy size” representation (either to the trade in the event such commodity is not sold at retail by the packager or labeler, or to the public in the event such commodity is sold at retail by the packager or labeler), at a price per unit of weight, volume, measure, or count which is substantially reduced (i.e., at least 5 percent) from the actual price of all other packaged or labeled units of the same brand of that commodity offered simultaneously.
(c)
A packager or labeler will not make an “economy size” package available in any circumstances where he knows that it will be used as an instrumentality for deception, e.g., where the retailer charges a price which does not pass on to the consumer the substantial reduction in cost per unit initially granted by the packager or labeler. Nothing in this rule, however, should be construed to authorize or condone the illegal setting or policing of retail prices by a packager or labeler.
(d)
A packager or labeler who sponsors an “economy size” package shall prepare and maintain invoices or other records showing compliance with paragraph (b) of this section. The invoices or other records required by this section shall be open to inspection by duly authorized representatives of this Commission and shall be retained for one year.