Fair Packaging and Labeling Act

The two Acts which form the cornerstone for food labeling regulations in the USA are the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDA), and The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.

The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) 1966 standardized the labels of products and required that labels provide honest information. The FPLA relates only to the net quantity of contents information on packages, goods, or commodities that are sold on the basis of weight or measure.

These rules apply to all types of products, such as groceries, cosmetics, cleaners and chemicals. The FPLA requires that all packages of household consumer commodities, as defined by the Act, bear a label containing certain basic information about the nature source and contents of the commodity.

It is the responsibility of the consumer to compare weights and sizes of products available – a much easier job when accurate, standard information is available for comparison.

Amendments to the FPLA were passed in 1992. These laws require labels to include conversion of quantities into a metric measurement in additional to the US system of weights and measures.
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act