COOL Online Act

Summary

Requires online sellers to clearly display the country of origin for products that U.S. law requires to be marked, and to show the country where the seller has its principal place of business. It also requires manufacturer/packer/distributor identification for certain marked drugs, creates obligations for suppliers to give origin data to retailers, provides a safe harbor for retailers that rely on third‑party data, and makes violations enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission. Agencies must publish an interagency MOU within six months, and the rule becomes effective 12 months after that MOU is published.

• Internet sellers must conspicuously display country of origin for products covered by U.S. marking laws and the seller’s principal place of business.
• Manufacturers, importers, distributors, sellers, and private‑labelers must provide origin and seller place‑of‑business information to retailers.
• Certain goods are excluded, including specified agricultural commodities, inspected meat/poultry, egg products, FDA‑regulated foods/drugs, used items, and small sellers under $20,000/200 sales.
• Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts enforceable by the FTC under existing authority with full penalties.
• FTC, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and USDA must publish an interagency MOU within six months to coordinate implementation.
• The disclosure requirement becomes effective 12 months after publication of the MOU.
• Retailers get a safe harbor when they reasonably rely on third‑party origin data and limited liability if they promptly remove false listings after notice.
• The law preserves other federal agencies’ existing authorities while assigning primary enforcement to the FTC.