HR 5226
Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025
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Bill overview
This bill, the Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025, directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create regulations that prevent manufacturers from reducing the size of consumer products and using the same packaging as before, without clearly informing consumers. The bill aims to protect consumers from deceptive practices that can drive up prices and reduce purchasing power. It establishes specific requirements for manufacturers to disclose size reductions on product packaging.
Key provisions
- The FTC will create regulations prohibiting ‘deceptive downsizing’ – reducing product size while using the same packaging.
- Manufacturers must provide conspicuous and easily understandable notice on product packaging when a size reduction occurs.
- Notice must clearly state both the larger and reduced sizes of the product.
- The bill defines ‘deceptive downsizing’ as using the same packaging for a smaller product.
- The bill defines ‘reduced size’ as a measurable decrease in volume, size, or quantity.
- Violations of the Act will be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
- The Commission has the authority to enforce the Act using existing FTC powers and procedures.
- The Act protects consumers regardless of the product’s price or the manufacturer’s cost.
Who is affected
- Manufacturers of consumer products (including food)
- Consumers of consumer products
- The Federal Trade Commission
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
Henry C. "Hank" Johnson
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5226
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate regulations that prohibit the practice of deceptive downsizing, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Deceptive Downsizing Prohibition Act of 2025
.
Congress finds the following:
Manufacturers of consumer products, including food, are reducing the size of such products while continuing to use packaging designed for the same or similar product of a larger size.
The practice of deceptive downsizing substantially harms consumers and reduces the purchasing power of consumers.
Consumers frequently do not appreciate or recognize that the size of a consumer product has changed until after the purchase, if ever.
The trend toward producing consumer products of reduced size without reducing the price has driven inflation, causing substantial injury to consumers that is not reasonably avoidable.
The Federal Government plays an essential role in protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including ensuring manufacturers of consumer products do not deceive customers.
This Act shall protect consumers by prohibiting manufacturers of consumer products from selling such products, regardless of price or cost, of reduced size in packaging previously used for the same or similar product of a larger size.
In this Act:
The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission.
The term consumer product has the same meaning given the term in section 101 of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (15 U.S.C. 2301).
The term deceptive downsizing means the practice of a manufacturer of a consumer product selling such a product of reduced size using the same or substantially similar packaging that was used for any prior version of the same or substantially similar product that was of larger size.
The term larger size means a consumer product of greater volume, size, mass, weight, or quantity relative to the consumer product that is the subject of the alleged deceptive downsizing.
The term reduced size means a reduction in volume, size, mass, weight, or quantity of a consumer product relative to any prior version of the same or substantially similar consumer product.
is conspicuous, clear, and easy for consumers to read and understand; and
The Commission may promulgate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, any regulations the Commission determines necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
A violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
The Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act, and any person who violates this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other provision of law.