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Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
15 U.S.C. §§ 1451-1461
FTC Regulations: 16 C.F.R. Parts 500, 501, 502, 503
What is the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act?
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA or Act), enacted in 1967, directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Food
and Drug Administration to issue regulations requiring that all "consumer commodities" be labeled to disclose net
contents, identity of commodity, and name and place of business of the product's manufacturer, packer, or distributor. The
Act authorizes additional regulations where necessary to prevent consumer deception (or to facilitate value comparisons) with
respect to descriptions of ingredients, slack fill of packages, use of "cents-off" or lower price labeling, or characterization
of package sizes. The Office of Weights and Measures of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department
of Commerce, is authorized to promote to the greatest practicable extent uniformity in State and Federal regulation of the
labeling of consumer commodities.
* Basic Requirements: The FPLA requires each package of household "consumer commodities" that is included
in the coverage of the FPLA to bear a label on which there is:
o a statement identifying the commodity, e.g., detergent, sponges, etc.;
o the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor;
o and the net quantity of contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count (measurement must be in both
metric and inch/pound units).
* Purpose of the Act: The FPLA is designed to facilitate value comparisons and to prevent unfair or deceptive packaging
and labeling of many household "consumer commodities."
* FDA: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administers the FPLA with respect to foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical
devices. The FTC administers the FPLA with respect to other "consumer commodities" that are consumed or expended
in the household.
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