1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to commerce; regulating deceptive trade 
  1.3             practices; adopting federal standards for 
  1.4             environmental marketing claims; providing penalties; 
  1.5             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.6             chapter 325E; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1994, 
  1.7             section 115A.56. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  [325E.41] [DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES; 
  1.10  ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS.] 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [ADOPTION OF FEDERAL GUIDES.] (a) 
  1.12  Environmental marketing claims made by a manufacturer, packager, 
  1.13  wholesaler, or retailer for a product sold or offered for sale 
  1.14  or distribution in this state, including those related to the 
  1.15  product's packaging, must conform to the standards or be 
  1.16  consistent with the examples contained in Code of Federal 
  1.17  Regulations, title 16, part 260, "Guides for the Use of 
  1.18  Environmental Marketing Claims" regarding general environmental 
  1.19  benefits claims, claims that a product or package is degradable, 
  1.20  compostable, recyclable, or contains recycled content, and 
  1.21  claims relating to source reduction, refillability, or ozone 
  1.22  safety.  
  1.23     (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an environmental claim 
  1.24  unless the claim is made in an attempt to influence purchasing 
  1.25  decisions by end users of the product. 
  1.26     Subd. 2.  [INVESTIGATION; ENFORCEMENT.] A person who 
  2.1   violates this section is subject to the penalties and remedies 
  2.2   in section 8.31. 
  2.3      Sec. 2.  [REPEALER.] 
  2.4      Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 115A.56, is repealed.