The Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (UPLR) aims at providing consumers with accurate information regarding the product name, seller identity, and content quantity of packages so that the purchasers can compare quantity and price with other products.
The Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation (UPLR) covers products ranging from apparel and textiles to food and beverage. In this guide, we list some of the categories covered by the UPLR and the various ways that the regulation impacts the packaging labeling requirements.
Product List Creation Methodology
Though the UPLR may apply to many different categories of products, in this guide we only list products that are mentioned in the regulation itself. This article also lists some products that are covered by the UPLR, but which may be exempt from some requirements – under certain conditions.
Content Overview
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General UPLR Requirements
The UPLR generally requires labels on consumer packaging to clearly specify the following:
a. The product’s name
b. Who manufactured, packed, or distributed the package, and their place of business
c. The net quantity of the package’s contents (e.g. weight, mass measure, or numerical count), servings, or uses
Address format
The manufacturer’s, packer’s, or distributor’s address should include the following information:
- Street address
- City
- State (or country, for non-US locations)
- ZIP Code (mailing code, if any, for non-US countries)
Unit measures
Packages and their contents must be measured in metric units (SI) and US customary units unless exceptions apply. The required information about the products’ sizes might vary (e.g. bedsheets are to be measured in centimeters and inches, and food to be measured in grams and ounces).
Other requirements
Here are some additional requirements (although exceptions might apply):
a. The quantity declaration of a package’s contents should appear in the bottom 30% of the label
b. Letters should have a minimum height of 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
c. Exponents and other characters should be presented in the same type style as the letters, and be proportionate to the type size used
d. The height of letters and numbers should not exceed that of three times their width
Wearing Apparel
The UPLR specifies that wearing apparel includes non-textile apparel, leather apparel, and footwear. It also sets exemptions to the net quantities requirements.
Labeling Requirements
Wearing apparel is exempt from the requirements for net quantity statement by count if it is normally sold in pairs, like shoes, or if it is sold as single unit items, like leather goods.
Examples
Wearing apparel includes textile apparel and non-textile apparel items, such as leather goods. Here are some examples of covered products:
- Footwear
- Hosiery
- Gloves
- Shoes
Textiles
The regulation specifies that textile products include items ranging from bed sheets and comforters to flags and potholders. It also gives examples of products exempted from net quantities requirements set out in Section 6.9 “Bi-dimensional Commodities”.
Labeling Requirements
Section 6.9 requires that labels should state the product’s dimensions (with regards to the quantity declaration) in both SI and US customary units (eg., in cm and inches). For example:
20.3 cm x 25.4 cm (8 in x 10 in)
Textile products are exempt from the above requirements covering bi-dimensional commodities when the quantity statement is specified by count (e.g. 3 items) and the products are of “irregular dimensions”.
Examples
Here are some examples of products mentioned by the UPLR:
- Blankets
- Bedspreads
- Dishtowels
- Flags
Sewing Threads, Handicraft Threads, and Yarns
The regulation specifies labeling requirements for sewing threads, handicraft threads, and yarns, including requirements concerning unit measures.
Labeling Requirements
The net quantity for handicraft threads and sewing threads should be expressed in terms of meters and yards. On the other hand, the net quantity of yarns should be expressed in terms of weight or mass.
Labels on thread products should identify who manufactured, packed, or distributed said products. Instead of stating a name and address (as is usually required), you may provide the following information:
- Trademark
- Symbol
- Brand
- Other mark that identifies the manufacturer
Examples
Here are some examples of covered products:
- Sewing threads
- Handicraft threads
- Yarns
Pillows, Cushions, Comforters, Mattress Pads, Sleeping Bags, and Similar Products
The regulation specifies labeling requirements for the products such as pillows, mattress pads, and sleeping bags.
Labeling Requirements
According to Section 11.25, products mentioned above are exempt from several labeling requirements, provided said products fulfill the following conditions:
a. They bear a permanently-attached label
b. They satisfy other requirements in the UPLR
c. Purchasers can clearly read the information on the product’s permanently-attached label
Specifically, covered products bearing a permanent label as designated by the International Association of Bedding and Furniture Law Officials (IABFLO) or the Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) are exempt from certain labeling requirements, such as:
- Location
- Size of letters or numbers
- Declaration of identity
Examples
Here are some examples of covered products:
- Pillows
- Cushions
- Comforters
- Mattress Pads
- Sleeping Bags
Audio Recording Media
The regulation provides the labeling requirements for audio recording media. It also specifies the conditions under which audio recording media packaged and labeled for retail sale are exempt from the net quantity statement requirements.
Labeling Requirements
The labeling requirements for the net quantity of audio recording media are outlined below. Note that audio recording media is exempt from net quantity content requirements if the length of time for the following is not available.
Unrecorded audio media
The label should bear the following information with regards to unrecorded audio media:
a. Length of time available for recording
b. Recording, playing speed, or other machine settings
c. Supplementary information concerning the length of the media
Prerecorded audio media
The length of time for prerecorded audio media that is of entertainment value should be provided on the label.
“Entertainment value” is defined here as the portion of audio media that starts with the first frame of sound and finishes with the end of the sound.
Examples
Examples of audio recording media include:
- Camera film
- Video recording tape
- Audio recording tape
Food
The UPLR covers labeling requirements and exemptions for different types of food products.
Labeling Requirements
The UPLR has several labeling requirements for food products, including:
a. Parallel Identity Declaration: Consumer Package, which states that the declaration of the identity should generally be placed parallel to the base of the package.
b. Location, which states that the declaration of quantity of a package’s contents should appear in the bottom 30% of the display panel(s).
c. Parallel Quantity Declaration, which states that the quantity declaration should generally be placed parallel to the base of the product’s package
The following food products are exempt from the location requirement of the net quantity declaration:
- Fluid dairy products, ice cream, and similar frozen desserts
- Butter
- Eggs
- Flour
- Margarine
- Corn flour and corn meal
We outline some additional exemptions for specific food products below.
Frozen desserts
Fluid dairy products, ice cream, and similar frozen desserts are exempt from location requirements when the net contents of containers are:
a. 8 fluid ounces (fl oz) but are packaged in half liquid pint (liq pt) containers
b. 64 fl oz but are packaged in half-gallon containers
Butter
Butter is exempt from requirements regarding the parallel declaration of identity and quantity when it is packaged in 8 oz and 1 pound (lb) packages with continuous label copy wrapping.
Butter is also exempt from the location requirements when it is packaged in 8 oz and 1 lb units.
Eggs
Each half of 12-egg cartons designed for division in half is exempt from location requirements if the undivided carton conforms to its requirements.
Wheat flour
Packages of wheat flour in the following conventional packages are exempt from location requirements:
- 2 lb packages
- 5 lb packages
- 10 lb packages
- 25 lb packages
- 50 lb packages
- 100 lb packages
Margarine
Margarine in 1 lb rectangular packages is exempt from location requirements.
Corn flour
Corn flour and corn meal packaged in the following conventional bags are exempt from location requirements:
- 5 lb bags
- 10 lb bags
- 25 lb bags
- 50 lb bags
- 100 lb bags
Examples
Here are a few examples of covered products:
- Butter
- Margarine
- Corn flour
- Eggs
Beverage
The regulation also covers beverages. In particular, the measurement units of certain liquid beverages have to be stated in the declaration of quantity. Also, Section 11 of the UPLR covers exemptions for beverages.
Labeling Requirements
According to the labeling requirements regarding the declaration of quantity for consumer packages, the declaration of quantity can express a beverage’s measurement in either SI Units or in US Customary Units.
SI units
Where beverages are concerned, if the declaration of quantity is expressed in SI units, the units should be in liters or milliliters. The units should express the volume at a temperature of 20 °C, except for the following beverages:
a. Distilled spirits – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 15.6 °C
b. Malt (beer) beverages – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 4 °C
c. Wine – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 20 °C
US customary units
If the declaration of the quantity of beverages is expressed in US customary units of liquid measure, the units should be in the following:
- US gallons
- Liquid quart
- Liquid pint
- Fluid-ounce subdivisions of the gallon
The units should also express the beverage’s volume at a temperature of 68 °F, except for the following beverages:
a. Distilled spirits – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 60 °F
b. Malt (beer) beverages – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 39.1 °F
c. Refrigerated food (e.g., milk) – the volume should be expressed at a temperature of 40 °F
Exemptions
Section 11.8 specifies that packages of alcoholic beverages like beer, distilled spirits, and wine are exempt from requirements regarding location and calculation of area of principal panel for purposes of type size, provided other labeling requirements are fulfilled.
Section 11.10 specifies two things regarding single-strength and less than single-strength fruit beverages.
Firstly, they are exempt from bearing liquid measurements in either SI units or US customary units when they are packaged in the following containers of 8 fl oz and 64 fl oz capacity:
- Glass containers
- Plastic containers
- Fluid milk type paper containers
Secondly, they are exempt from requirements regarding the location of the declaration of quantity on a label when the beverage is packaged in glass or plastic containers of the following capacities:
- Half pint
- 1 pint
- 1 quart
- Half gallon
- 1 gallon
Examples
Here we list a few examples of beverages:
- Distilled spirits
- Malt (beer) beverages
- Wine
- Milk
Packaged Seed
The UPLR covers labeling requirements for packaged seeds.
Labeling Requirements
Packages of seeds meant for planting that have net contents of less than 225 g or 8 oz should be labeled in compliance with this regulation.
The quantity statement should appear in the upper 30% of the label. Also, it should be in terms of:
a. The largest whole SI unit for packages weighing up to 7 g
b. In grams and ounces for all other packages weighing less than 225 g or 8 oz
The quantity statement should be in terms of count for some types of seed including:
- Coated seed
- Encapsulated seed
- Pelletized seed
- Pre-planters
- Seed tapes
Examples
We list a few examples of covered packaged seeds below:
- Coated seed
- Encapsulated seed
- Pelletized seed
