Labeling Requirements for Retail Products in the U.S.

Labeling Requirements
for Retail Products in
the U.S.
Red Rider Creative
http://www.redridercreative.com

Labels and packaging are an important
factor in the production and sale of
consumer goods. The packaging solutions
make up a lucrative industry, with analysts
projecting a $7 billion revenue in the next
three years. Food, cosmetics, drugs, and
other consumables have a huge share in
the amount.
As marketing continues to be a
determining factor of sales, packaging and
labeling service providers put a strong
focus on the design and the material to set
one product apart from the other. But,
there are elements that have to be uniform
to the packaging of consumables.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
states labeling requirements for retail
goods in the country. The following content
summarizes the important points.
Disclosing Ingredients and Warnings
The FDA’s Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act states that labels for
cosmetics and drugs must have a
declaration of ingredients. This only applies
to retail products, meaning those for
wholesale trade, distribution, and other
similar purposes are exempt.

The ingredient declaration must be:
• Conspicuous so consumers are likely to read it immediately
• On any of the packaging material’s visible panels
• Written in letters not smaller than 1/16 of a square inch (for those with
containers 12 square inches and above) or 1/32 of a square inch in height (for
those with containers smaller than 12 square inches)
• Able to properly list the ingredients in descending order of predominance
Warning labels should also be legible. Products in self-pressurized containers, such as
deodorants and bubble bath products, need to have warning labels. Products not tested
for safety should have a label reading, “Warning — The safety of the product has not
been determined.”

Displaying Units of Measurement: The
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act also lists
a few requirements. It applies to goods sold
based on weight or measure. It applies to the
net quantity content of products consumers
can buy in retail stores. As such, the act does
not apply to all packaged goods.
In 1992, the FLPA was amended to make the
display of metric (SI) units mandatory for
retail labels. The metric units were helpful,
and manufacturers readily followed the new
rule.
The amendment also allowed manufacturers
to use both metric (centimeter/kilogram/liter,
etc.) and U.S. customary units
(inch/pound/pint, etc.) in labeling their
products.
The two acts serve as guidelines for
manufacturers to include labeling details that
are helpful to consumers. By following the
guidelines, manufacturers abide by the law
and add value to their products.
Sources:
• http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/Regulations/ucm126438.htm
• http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/laws/pack-lab.cfm
• http://www.redridercreative.com/