§ 2101. Marking requirements  


Latest version.
  • (a) Political items

    The manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or distribution in commerce of any imitation political item which is not plainly and permanently marked with the calendar year in which such item was manufactured, is unlawful and is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].

    (b) Coins and other numismatic items

    The manufacture in the United States, or the importation into the United States, for introduction into or distribution in commerce of any imitation numismatic item which is not plainly and permanently marked “copy”, is unlawful and is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in commerce under the Federal Trade Commission Act [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.].

    (c) Rules and regulations

    The Federal Trade Commission shall prescribe rules for determining the manner and form in which items described in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be permanently marked.

    (d) Exemption

    Subsections (a) and (b), and regulations under subsection (c) of this section, shall not apply to any common carrier or contract carrier or freight forwarder with respect to an imitation political item or imitation numismatic item received, shipped, delivered, or handled by it for shipment in the ordinary course of its business.

(Pub. L. 93–167, § 2, Nov. 29, 1973, 87 Stat. 686.)

References In Text

References in Text

The Federal Trade Commission Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), is act Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 41 et seq.) of chapter 2 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 58 of this title and Tables.

Effective Date

Effective Date

Pub. L. 93–167, § 8, Nov. 29, 1973, 87 Stat. 687, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] shall apply only to imitation political items and imitation numismatic items manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1973].”

Short Title

Short Title

Pub. L. 93–167, § 1, Nov. 29, 1973, 87 Stat. 686, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Hobby Protection Act’.”