FTC Launches New Program for Industry Input on Consumer Protection Rules
FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection launched a new process for industry input on rules.
Why it matters: Legal professionals advising regulated entities have new opportunities to influence FTC rulemaking and guide clients on compliance.
- Announced September 15, 2026, the BCP Rule Guidance Program invites formal stakeholder feedback on FTC consumer protection rules.
- Stakeholders can submit issues via an online form, highlighting ambiguities or conflicts within specific FTC rules.
- The Bureau may issue public guidance if it finds significant issues but retains discretion over responses.
- This program doesn't replace formal advisory opinions or FTC approval for compliance practices.
On September 15, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection unveiled the BCP Rule Guidance Program. This new initiative provides a structured channel for businesses and stakeholders to formally raise concerns about ambiguities, substantive conflicts with statutes, or other significant issues in FTC consumer protection rules.
Stakeholders can use an online form titled “Submit an Issue for Consideration” to specify the particular Commission rule and detail their concerns. According to Christopher G. Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, the program aims to support “clear, accessible, and timely guidance” to help the public understand and comply with the law.
While the Bureau retains full discretion on if and when to address submitted issues, it may issue public guidance whenever it identifies genuine ambiguities or significant problems within a rule. However, this process is not a substitute for formal FTC advisory opinions and does not provide companies with FTC approval of specific compliance practices.
The program continues the Commission's efforts, dating back to September 2021, to enhance public participation in rulemaking, thereby promoting transparency and accountability. Legal professionals advising regulated entities will find this new mechanism valuable for engaging in the development and clarification of FTC regulations, allowing them to better guide clients through complex compliance landscapes.
By the numbers:
- September 15, 2026 — Launch date of the BCP Rule Guidance Program
Yes, but: The program does not act as a formal approval or advisory opinion process, limiting its effect on specific compliance practices.