The small tag sewn into your clothing contains more than just washing instructions and fiber content. A short code beginning with the letters “RN” often appears, representing a direct link to the company responsible for the garment. This number serves as an important identifier that promotes transparency and accountability in the apparel market. Understanding this code demystifies textile labeling and provides a tool to trace the product’s origin.
Defining the Registered Identification Number
The “RN” on a clothing label stands for Registered Identification Number, a unique code assigned to a business by a government agency. This number serves as a permanent identifier for the entity that manufactures, imports, distributes, or sells textile, wool, or fur products in the United States. Companies use this short number on a product’s label in place of printing their full legal name, streamlining the required identification process.
The RN number is not a style number or a product tracking code designed for inventory management. Instead, it links every product back to the original business entity. Since a single company is assigned only one RN number for all its covered products, the code allows regulators and consumers to quickly pinpoint the legally responsible party.
The Legal Authority Behind RN Numbers
The system for issuing and regulating these numbers is managed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The use of an RN number is governed by federal statutes, including the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, the Wool Products Labeling Act, and the Fur Products Labeling Act. These laws require that a label on covered products must disclose the fiber content, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer or responsible marketer.
The RN system provides an authorized alternative to listing the full business name on the label. Businesses located in the United States apply to the FTC for this number, which is then used across all their textile, wool, and fur goods. This system ensures compliance with labeling mandates designed to protect consumers.
Why Businesses Use RN Numbers
Using a Registered Identification Number offers several practical advantages for manufacturers. The most immediate benefit is the ability to use a concise, standardized, five-to-seven digit code on a small garment tag instead of a potentially long company name. This practice is useful for private-label brands or those with numerous subsidiaries, where branding is kept separate from the legal entity name.
The RN number also streamlines internal record-keeping and product recall management by providing a singular, universal identifier. Furthermore, it establishes clear liability by creating an unambiguous link between the product and the responsible company. This identification allows regulatory bodies to enforce labeling laws and hold the responsible party accountable for content claims or misrepresentation.
How Consumers Can Look Up an RN Number
The most direct utility of the Registered Identification Number is the ability to trace the product’s origin through the official database. The Federal Trade Commission maintains a public RN Database search tool that allows anyone to enter a number found on a tag. This search yields the legal business name, physical address, and contact details of the company to which the number was issued.
This lookup process is useful when a brand label is generic or has been removed, allowing users to identify the original manufacturer or importer. Consumers with product quality concerns or who suspect false advertising can use the RN to contact the responsible party directly. For resellers, the database helps verify the authenticity of a vintage garment or identify the parent company behind a lesser-known brand name.
Other Key Product Identification Numbers
While the RN number is the primary identifier used in the United States, consumers may encounter other codes serving a similar purpose on textile goods. The CA number is the equivalent registration number used for businesses operating within Canada. This code is assigned by the Canadian Competition Bureau and functions like the RN, identifying the Canadian manufacturer, importer, or distributor.
A different number, the WPL number, may appear on older garments, particularly vintage wool products. WPL stands for Wool Products Labeling and was a distinct numbering system used under the Wool Products Labeling Act between 1941 and 1959. The FTC no longer issues WPL numbers, as the current RN system now covers textile, wool, and fur products under one unified registration.