UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
In the Matter of NATURAL ORGANICS, INC., a
corporation, and DOCKET NO. 9294 DECISION AND ORDER The Commission having heretofore issued its complaint charging the respondents named in the caption hereof with violation of Sections 5 and 12 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and the respondents having been served with a copy of that complaint, together with a notice of contemplated relief; and The respondents, their attorneys, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by the respondents of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the complaint, a statement that the signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, or that the facts as alleged in such complaint, other than jurisdictional facts, are true, and waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission's Rules; and The Secretary of the Commission having thereafter withdrawn this matter from adjudication in accordance with § 3.25(c) of its Rules; and The Commission having considered the matter and having thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in § 3.25(f) of its Rules, the Commission hereby makes the following jurisdictional findings and enters the following order:
ORDER DEFINITIONS For purposes of this order, the following definitions shall apply:
I. IT IS ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of Pedi-Active A.D.D. or any other food, drug, or dietary supplement, as "food" and "drug" are defined in Section 15 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, that such product:
unless, at the time the representation is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation. II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of Pedi-Active A.D.D. or any substantially similar product marketed for children in or affecting commerce, shall not use the name "A.D.D." or any other name that represents expressly or by implication, that the product can treat or mitigate ADHD unless, at the time the representation is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation. III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondents, directly or through any corporation, subsidiary, division, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any food, drug or dietary supplement marketed for children, as "food" and "drug" are defined in Section 15 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, in or affecting commerce, shall not make any representation, in any manner, expressly or by implication, regarding the ability of such product to treat or cure any disease or mental disorder unless, at the time the representation is made, respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation. IV. Nothing in this order shall prohibit respondents from making any representation for any product that is specifically permitted in labeling for such product either by regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration pursuant to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, or pursuant to Sections 303-304 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997. V. Nothing in this order shall be constituted as a waiver of respondents' right to engage in speech protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order shall not apply to any product sold or distributed to consumers by third parties under private labeling agreements with respondents, their successors or assigns, provided respondents, their successors or assigns, do not participate in any manner, directly or indirectly, in the funding, preparation or dissemination of any advertising of said products to consumers. VII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Natural Organics, Inc., and its successors and assigns, and respondent Gerald A. Kessler shall, for five (5) years after the last date of dissemination of any representation covered by this order, maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying:
VIII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Natural Organics, Inc., and its successors and assigns, and respondent Gerald A. Kessler shall deliver a copy of this order to all current and future principals, officers, directors, and managers, and to all current and future employees, agents, and representatives having responsibilities with respect to the subject matter of this order, and shall secure from each such person a signed and dated statement acknowledging receipt of the order. Respondents shall deliver this order to current personnel within thirty (30) days after the date of service of this order, and to future personnel within thirty (30) days after the person assumes such position or responsibilities. Respondents shall maintain and upon request make available to the Federal Trade Commission for inspection and copying a copy of each signed statement acknowledging receipt of the order. IX. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Natural Organics, Inc. and its successors and assigns shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any change in the corporation that may affect compliance obligations arising under this order, including but not limited to a dissolution, assignment, sale, merger, or other action that would result in the emergence of a successor corporation; the creation or dissolution of a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that engages in any acts or practices subject to this order; the proposed filing of a bankruptcy petition; or a change in the corporate name or address. Provided, however, that, with respect to any proposed change in the corporation about which respondent learns less than thirty (30) days prior to the date such action is to take place, respondent shall notify the Commission as soon as is practicable after obtaining such knowledge. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. X. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Gerald A. Kessler, for a period of ten (10) years after the date of issuance of this order, shall notify the Commission of the discontinuance of his current business or employment, or of his affiliation with any new business or employment. The notice shall include respondent's new business address and telephone number and a description of the nature of the business or employment and his duties and responsibilities. All notices required by this Part shall be sent by certified mail to the Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C. 20580. XI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that respondent Natural Organics, Inc., and its successors and assigns, and respondent Gerald A. Kessler shall, within sixty (60) days after the date of service of this order, and at such other times as the Federal Trade Commission may require, file with the Commission a report, in writing, setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied with this order. XII. This order will terminate on September 6, 2021, or twenty (20) years from the most recent date that the United States or the Federal Trade Commission files a complaint (with or without an accompanying consent decree) in federal court alleging any violation of the order, whichever comes later; Provided, however, that the filing of such a complaint will not affect the duration of:
Provided, further, that if such complaint is dismissed or a federal court rules that the respondent did not violate any provision of the order, and the dismissal or ruling is either not appealed or upheld on appeal, then the order will terminate according to this Part as though the complaint had never been filed, except that the order will not terminate between the date such complaint is filed and the later of the deadline for appealing such dismissal or ruling and the date such dismissal or ruling is upheld on appeal. By the Commission. Donald S. Clark SEAL: ISSUED: September 6, 2001 |