Is it a dog or is it a raccoon?
And should that make a difference in our egalitarian society?
You have until Nov. 16 to decide.
I'm speaking, of course, of nyctereutes procyonoides.
Is it an Asiatic raccoon or is it a raccoon dog?
It's a fascinating philosophical question and one which the Federal Trade Commission must decide. Check out the Federal Register for the details and to learn how you can weigh in on the debate.
Actually, the argument isn't over what nyctereutes procyonoides actually is - apparently everyone agrees it's a kind of dog, it isn't related to raccoons, and it's not even exclusively Asian - but over how it should be labeled.
Oddly, the FTC seems to be in favor of mislabeling.
Apparently, people who sell furs claim that consumers would be misled if they were told what the animals really were. Truth is so darn confusing.
Really. You've got to read the Federal Register report.
A guy from a fur company told the FTC that 'how a product is marketed ought to be a critical factor in deciding" its name.
And then there was this:
"(S)everal commenters asserted that 'Asiatic Raccoon' is superior to 'Raccoon Dog' because it provides more information to consumers. For example, FICA stated that the term 'Raccoon' accurately describes nyctereutes procyonoides because it has 'rings around it eyes (so) it clearly looks like a raccoon.' In addition, Ms. Lynn of FWS noted that the 'Asiatic' is helpful, despite the existence of European nyctereutes procyonoides, because it 'gives you an idea where the animal originated naturally.'"
Who says accuracy has to be true? Well, not these guys anyway.
This could be important in case one of those nyctereutes procyonoides tries to run for president.
A little later we learn of another concern: the fur company commenters noted that a "Raccoon Dog" label would "mislead" consumers into thinking the animals were related to domestic dogs.
Which they are.
But it's still misleading.
Send your comments directly to the FTC.
Read more: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/28/51730.htm
And should that make a difference in our egalitarian society?
You have until Nov. 16 to decide.
I'm speaking, of course, of nyctereutes procyonoides.
Is it an Asiatic raccoon or is it a raccoon dog?
It's a fascinating philosophical question and one which the Federal Trade Commission must decide. Check out the Federal Register for the details and to learn how you can weigh in on the debate.
Actually, the argument isn't over what nyctereutes procyonoides actually is - apparently everyone agrees it's a kind of dog, it isn't related to raccoons, and it's not even exclusively Asian - but over how it should be labeled.
Oddly, the FTC seems to be in favor of mislabeling.
Apparently, people who sell furs claim that consumers would be misled if they were told what the animals really were. Truth is so darn confusing.
Really. You've got to read the Federal Register report.
A guy from a fur company told the FTC that 'how a product is marketed ought to be a critical factor in deciding" its name.
And then there was this:
"(S)everal commenters asserted that 'Asiatic Raccoon' is superior to 'Raccoon Dog' because it provides more information to consumers. For example, FICA stated that the term 'Raccoon' accurately describes nyctereutes procyonoides because it has 'rings around it eyes (so) it clearly looks like a raccoon.' In addition, Ms. Lynn of FWS noted that the 'Asiatic' is helpful, despite the existence of European nyctereutes procyonoides, because it 'gives you an idea where the animal originated naturally.'"
Who says accuracy has to be true? Well, not these guys anyway.
This could be important in case one of those nyctereutes procyonoides tries to run for president.
A little later we learn of another concern: the fur company commenters noted that a "Raccoon Dog" label would "mislead" consumers into thinking the animals were related to domestic dogs.
Which they are.
But it's still misleading.
Send your comments directly to the FTC.
Read more: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/28/51730.htm
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