Washington, DC — October 17, 2024 — The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) is proud to announce a significant victory in its ongoing efforts to secure fair regulations for the health and fitness industry following the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) finalization of its Negative Option Rule. While the finalized rule reflects several of the concerns raised by HFA during the public comment period, marking a collaborative step forward, it remains a new regulatory hurdle that will impact the operations and growth of small businesses in our sector.
The rule’s adjustments, such as the removal of annual reminder requirements for long-term memberships and the allowance for fitness facilities to engage in customer retention efforts during cancellation requests, are important acknowledgments of the unique operational needs of in-person health and fitness services. However, the rule still introduces new burdens that will disproportionately affect small businesses within the industry.