Labeling Of Products Made By The Blind - Advertising - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 17520

This law states that if someone falsely claims that their products are made by blind workers, it is considered an important issue that affects the entire state.

Any misrepresentation that goods offered for sale are the products of blind workers is hereby directed to be a special matter of state-wide concern.

misrepresentation blind workers goods for sale ...

Section § 17521

This law defines two terms: 'Blind' describes someone with very limited vision, specifically severe limitations in either visual acuity or field of vision. 'Direct labor' refers to the actual hands-on work involved in getting a product ready, like making and packing it, but doesn't include oversight or other indirect tasks.

As used in this article:

(a) “Blind” means a person having central visual acuity not to exceed 20-200 in the better eye, with corrected lenses, or visual acuity greater than 20-200, but with a limitation in the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle not greater than 20 degrees.

(b) “Direct labor” means all work required for the preparation, processing, assembling, and packing, but not including supervision, administration, inspection, and shipping.

visual acuity field of vision limitation 20-200 vision ...

Section § 17522

This law states that if a product is labeled as being made by blind workers, at least 75% of the labor hours must actually be done by blind individuals. Products cannot be marketed as made by the blind unless this condition is met. Violating this rule is considered a misdemeanor and can result in a fine up to $1,000, jail time up to one year, or both. Such violations can also be pursued legally under another section.

No goods or articles which are determined by label, symbol, trade name, or name of the manufacturer to indicate that they are made by blind workers shall be delivered or offered by any person, partnership, firm, corporation, institution, or association, for sale in this state unless at least 75 percent of the total hours of direct labor of producing such goods or articles purported to be made by the blind shall have been performed by the blind. No goods or articles which do not have a label, symbol, or other printed matter indicating that at least 75 percent of the total hours of direct labor of producing such goods or articles were made by the blind, as herein defined, shall be offered for sale directly or indirectly as being made by the blind unless such goods or articles were in fact so made by the blind as herein defined.

Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment, and any such violation or threatened violation shall be actionable under Section 17535 of this chapter.

blind workers goods made by the blind 75 percent labor requirement ...

Section § 17523

This law allows blind workers, or organizations that employ them, to label products as "made by a blind workman" or similar terms if at least 75% of the labor hours for the product were done by blind individuals. These labels must also state where the product was made and can optionally include the name of the worker.

Any blind workman, who is a citizen or resident of this State, or any institution, public or private, corporation, partnership, and association engaged within this State in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of articles or merchandise, made, manufactured, or fabricated by blind workmen is authorized to imprint or stamp upon such articles or merchandise or affix thereto, labels containing the words “made by a blind workman,” or “made by the blind,” or “blind-made,” if not less than 75 percent of the total hours of direct labor of producing said products have been performed by a blind workman. Such labels, shall also have the place of manufacture on them and, if desired, the name of the particular workman who made, manufactured, or fabricated the article.

blind workman direct labor 75 percent labor ...