An RN number is a Registered Identification Number issued by the Federal Trade Commission that a U.S. business can print on a textile label in place of its name. It satisfies one of the three disclosures every covered textile product must carry: fiber content, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer or of a business that markets or handles the product. The RN is free, it is optional, and only businesses residing in the United States can get one.
For apparel, technical apparel and e-commerce apparel importers, the RN matters at the port more than at the store. The importer is legally responsible for the label on imported textile, wool and fur products, and CBP enforces the FTC rules at entry under 19 CFR 11.12b for textiles (11.12 for wool and 11.12a for fur). A missing or wrong identity disclosure is one of the cheapest label errors to prevent and one of the more expensive ones to fix after the goods have landed.
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What an RN Number Replaces on a Textile Label
The Textile Rules at 16 CFR 303.16(a) list the required label content: the generic fiber names and percentages by weight, the name or registered identification number of the manufacturer or of one or more persons marketing or handling the product, and the country where the product was processed or manufactured. The RN only ever stands in for the second item. It does not replace fiber content, it does not replace country of origin, and it does not change care labeling.
16 CFR 303.19(a) defines the name that the RN substitutes for: the name under which the person does business. A registered word trademark used as a house mark may also be used. Other brand names and trade names may not serve as the required identity. 16 CFR 303.19(b) then allows the RN in lieu of that name. In practice that is the main reason brands use one: a short number avoids printing a long legal entity name on a small neck label, and it lets the same label stock run across several product lines.
Under 16 CFR 303.20(c) an RN also works on labels required by the Wool Products Labeling Act and the Fur Products Labeling Act, so a single number covers a mixed program of cotton basics, wool knitwear and fur-trimmed outerwear. Placement follows 16 CFR 303.15(b): on a garment with a neck, the country of origin goes on a label at the inside center of the neck between the shoulder seams, while fiber content and the RN or name can sit on that label or on another conspicuous and readily accessible label inside or outside the garment.
Who Can Hold an RN and Who Can Use One
16 CFR 303.20(a) limits issuance to qualified persons residing in the United States. The FTC’s own FAQ is explicit that foreign businesses cannot get an RN, and that an IRS number or a Canadian CA number cannot substitute for a business name or RN on the label. The FTC describes RN holders as U.S. businesses that manufacture, import, distribute or sell products covered by the Textile, Wool and Fur Acts.
Use is personal to the holder. Under 16 CFR 303.20(b)(1) the number may only be used by the person or company it was issued to and is not transferable or assignable. That has two consequences for import programs. A U.S. brand cannot lend its RN to a contract manufacturer that sells the same garments elsewhere under its own account, and a business that acquires another company’s inventory does not acquire the right to keep issuing labels under that company’s RN.
For imported goods, the FTC guidance lists who may be identified: the foreign manufacturer or distributor, the importer, the wholesaler, or the ultimate retailer, and the retailer only if it has consented. A foreign factory with no U.S. presence therefore has two routes: print its own business name, or print the RN or name of the U.S. company directly involved in importing, distributing or selling the product. A non-resident brand that acts as non-resident importer still cannot obtain an RN in its own right.
How to Apply and Run an RN Number Lookup
Applications, updates and cancellations go through the FTC system at rn.ftc.gov. 16 CFR 303.20(d) states that requests made by other means, including email, will not be accepted. The FTC states there is no charge, that online applications are usually processed within three business days, and that it does not offer expedited service to any business. A brand that needs labels printed for a production run should apply before the label artwork is approved, not after the bulk fabric is cut.
An RN number lookup is done in the same FTC database. The search screen accepts a keyword from the company name and returns the matching numbers, and it also works in reverse when a number on a sample needs to be traced to a business. The FTC does not give out RNs by phone or fax. For an importer, the lookup is a supplier-onboarding check: confirm that the RN on the factory’s label artwork belongs to your company, or to the customer who has agreed to be named, before the trim order is placed.
The number stays valid only while the record is current. Under 16 CFR 303.20(b)(3) an RN is subject to cancellation if the FTC is not promptly notified of a change in name, business address or legal business status. A merger, a conversion from LLC to corporation or a headquarters move should trigger an update through the Update RN function. An RN can also be cancelled under 303.20(b)(2) if it was procured or used improperly.
RN or Company Name on Imported Apparel Labels
Neither choice changes legal responsibility. The FTC guidance states that an importer is legally responsible for the proper labeling of imported textile, wool and fur products, whichever business is named on the label. The choice is commercial and operational.
An RN suits importers that sell through several channels. A wholesale brand that ships the same style to department stores, marketplaces and its own e-commerce site can keep one label, and private-label programs can carry the retailer’s RN when the retailer has consented. Where the planned retailer does not take the goods, the FTC guidance requires the retailer’s name or RN to be removed or obliterated and the products relabeled, which is a real cost on cancelled private-label orders sitting in a bonded or distribution warehouse.
A company name suits importers that want brand recognition on the label or that work with foreign factories selling under their own identity. It must be the full name under which the business operates, as it appears on purchase orders and invoices, not a product brand, unless the brand is a registered house mark. Retailers that replace a supplier’s label must put their own name or RN plus all the original required information on the new label and keep records for three years.
For importers that run high-volume programs, the RN check belongs in the same pre-shipment review as classification and origin, which is how our retail and consumer goods logistics team sequences apparel files: label artwork, fiber test reports and the commercial invoice are compared before the booking, so that the label, the country of origin determination and the entry data agree.
Mistakes That Trigger Relabeling at Import
CBP enforces textile labeling at entry because 19 CFR 11.12b(a) requires imported textile fiber products to be labeled according to the Textile Act and 16 CFR part 303. Goods not yet in the form intended for sale to the consumer, such as cut pieces or fabric for further manufacturing, may travel with an invoice that carries the required information instead of a label. Finished garments may not.
When labels are wrong and the Center director is satisfied there was no fraud or willful neglect, 19 CFR 11.12b(b) gives the importer a reasonable opportunity to relabel under CBP supervision, and the importer reimburses the cost of that supervision. If goods were already released, 19 CFR 141.113 allows CBP to demand redelivery for labeling, generally within 30 days after the date of entry or 30 days after an examination at the importer’s premises. Goods not returned to custody expose the importer’s customs bond to liquidated damages equal to the entered value plus the estimated duty under 11.12b(e). Willful or flagrant violations lead to seizure and referral to the FTC under 11.12b(f).
- An RN that belongs to a different company: a factory reusing artwork from another buyer, or a former parent company’s number after a spin-off.
- An RN whose record is out of date after a name change, address change or change of legal status, which makes the number subject to cancellation.
- A retailer’s RN on goods diverted to another customer, which the FTC guidance says must be removed and the goods relabeled.
- A brand name or trade name used as the identity when it is not the business name or a registered house mark.
- A foreign company’s tax or registration number printed where a business name or RN is required.
- Identity printed correctly but the country of origin label missing from the neck position on garments with a neck, or printed on the reverse side of the label.
Duty Exposure on Typical RN-Labeled Products
Relabeling costs sit on top of duty that is already high on textile products. The table shows the MFN rate and the additional duties on common goods that carry an RN, for China and Bangladesh origin, as of October 27, 2026. China lines carry the 7.5% List 4A duty under heading 9903.88.15 and the 12.5% Section 301 forced-labor duty; synthetic blankets in 6301.40.00 are listed only in the suspended List 4B. Bangladesh carries the 10% forced-labor duty. The full rate picture for apparel sits in our analysis of apparel and footwear duties, and a line-by-line check for a specific SKU runs in the Bangladesh to US tariff calculator.
| HTS | Product | MFN | China additional | China total | Bangladesh additional | Bangladesh total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6109.10.00 | Cotton knit T-shirts | 16.5% | 20% (List 4A + forced labor) | 36.5% | 10% | 26.5% |
| 6203.42.45 | Men's cotton woven trousers | 16.6% | 20% | 36.6% | 10% | 26.6% |
| 6110.20.20 | Cotton sweaters and pullovers | 16.5% | 20% | 36.5% | 10% | 26.5% |
| 6115.95.90 | Cotton socks and hosiery, other | 13.5% | 20% | 33.5% | 10% | 23.5% |
| 6302.21.90 | Printed cotton bed linen, not napped | 6.7% | 20% | 26.7% | 10% | 16.7% |
| 6302.60.00 | Cotton terry towels | 9.1% | 20% | 29.1% | 10% | 19.1% |
| 6301.40.00 | Synthetic fiber blankets | 8.5% | 12.5% (forced labor only) | 21% | 10% | 18.5% |
Reading the Table
Totals are MFN plus the Chapter 99 additional duties, applied to the customs value. AD/CVD orders and Section 301 product exclusions are not included. Goods made with cotton grown in Xinjiang face a separate admissibility issue that no label can solve, covered in our UFLPA compliance guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an RN number on a clothing label?
An RN number is a Registered Identification Number issued by the FTC to a U.S. business. Under 16 CFR 303.19(b) and 303.20 it may be printed on a textile, wool or fur product label in place of the business name of the manufacturer or of a company that markets or handles the product.
Is an RN number required to import clothing?
No. A covered textile product must identify a responsible business, but the label can carry either the business name or the RN. The FTC states that an RN is optional and that the full business name may be used instead.
Can a foreign manufacturer get an RN number?
No. 16 CFR 303.20(a) issues RNs only to qualified persons residing in the United States. A foreign manufacturer can print its own business name, or the product can carry the RN or name of the U.S. company importing, distributing or selling it.
How do I look up an RN number?
Use the RN search in the FTC database at rn.ftc.gov, entering a keyword from the company name or the number itself. The FTC does not give out RNs by phone or fax.
How much does an RN number cost and how long does it take?
There is no fee. The FTC states that online applications are usually processed within three business days and that it does not offer expedited service.
Can I use my supplier's or customer's RN number?
An RN may only be used by the business it was issued to and is not transferable under 16 CFR 303.20(b)(1). A product may carry a U.S. retailer’s RN when that retailer has consented and is the business marketing the goods; if the goods go to someone else, the FTC requires the retailer’s RN to be removed and the products relabeled.
What happens at the port if the RN or label is wrong?
CBP can require relabeling under its supervision at the importer’s cost under 19 CFR 11.12b(b), or demand redelivery of released goods under 19 CFR 141.113. Goods not redelivered expose the bond to liquidated damages equal to entered value plus estimated duty, and willful violations can lead to seizure.
