Virtually every consumable product available in retail stores in the U.S. is regulated by federal laws in respect to packaging and labeling. Overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Federal Trade Commission, packaging legislation is designed to make all product information transparent and clearly defined so that consumers can make informed comparisons between competing products in the marketplace.
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act 1966
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966 came into effect the following year and is the most wide ranging legislation concerning 'consumer commodities', defined as a food, drug, device or cosmetic. The act states that the product and manufacturer or supplier must be clearly identified on labeling along with the net weight or volume of the contents. Since 1994 all labeling must also include measurements in metric. The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act supersedes any State laws in place and also covers many imported goods. The Federal Trade Commission also has powers to extend or amend its scope without going through the lengthy legislative process.
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act 1990
This act was introduced in response to the growing popularity of nutrition products and the widely differing definitions of what exactly constitutes a health food. This law standardizes descriptions such as 'reduced fat' or 'sugar free' with compulsory minimum requirements. In 1993 it was extended to include restaurants who advertise healthy choice or low fat menus. It also requires detailed ingredient information to be clearly displayed on labels for specially marketed goods such as weight-loss products and energy drinks.
Other Packaging and Labeling Laws
Products not covered by these two acts include fresh meat, poultry, tobacco, prescription drugs, agricultural products and alcohol. There are several specific federal laws governing the manufacture, marketing and packaging of these consumables. The Federal Alcohol Administration Act, the Federal Seed Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act all include stringent labeling and packaging requirements that go much further. The more inclusive Food and Cosmetic Act administers safety and purity standards in a wide range of saleable goods and legally defines what a consumer commodity is. Under direction from the Food and Drug Administration, it has far reaching powers to inspect production facilities and to instigate necessary legal action. This act can also compel manufacturers to adopt a 'voluntary' code of conduct to ensure labeling information is less ambiguous for the consumer.
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