Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
Encyclopedia
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act is a US law that applies to label
s on many consumer products. It requires the label to state:
The contents statement must include both metric
and U.S. customary units.
Passed under Lyndon B. Johnson
in 1966, the law first took effect on July 1, 1967. The metric labeling requirement was added in 1992 and took effect on February 14, 1994. The law is codified as .
There has been an effort by industry threatened by a European Union directive that would force metric-only labeling starting January 1, 2010, to amend the FPLA to allow manufacturers to use metric-only labeling. An amendment to delay indefinitely metric-only labeling was adopted by the European Commission September 10, 2007, approved by the European Parliament
November 29, 2007, and by the European Economic and Social Committee December 12, 2007. The E.U. will review this policy again in 2018 and may then maintain the status quo or set a deadline for mandatory metric only.
Label
A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....
s on many consumer products. It requires the label to state:
- The identity of the product;
- The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and
- The net quantity of contents.
The contents statement must include both metric
Si
Si, si, or SI may refer to :- Measurement, mathematics and science :* International System of Units , the modern international standard version of the metric system...
and U.S. customary units.
Passed under Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
in 1966, the law first took effect on July 1, 1967. The metric labeling requirement was added in 1992 and took effect on February 14, 1994. The law is codified as .
There has been an effort by industry threatened by a European Union directive that would force metric-only labeling starting January 1, 2010, to amend the FPLA to allow manufacturers to use metric-only labeling. An amendment to delay indefinitely metric-only labeling was adopted by the European Commission September 10, 2007, approved by the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
November 29, 2007, and by the European Economic and Social Committee December 12, 2007. The E.U. will review this policy again in 2018 and may then maintain the status quo or set a deadline for mandatory metric only.
External links
- FPLA in full
- Federal Trade Commission page
- Proposal to Amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) for Permissible Metric-Only Labeling accessed December 17, 2008
- Standards Setting in the European Union NIST SP891 (1997 edition)