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CHAPTER 23. CONSUMER PACKAGES, COMMODITIES
AND CONTAINERS
Subchap. Sec.
A. DECLARATIONS OF QUANTITY AND IDENTITY IN GENERAL 23.1
B. SPECIFIC PACKAGE AND CONTAINER DECLARATIONS 23.51
C. SPECIFIC COMMODITY DECLARATIONS 23.101Authority The provisions of this Chapter 23 issued under sections 8 and 21 of the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (76 P. S. § § 100-8 and 100-21) (Transferred to 73 P. S. § § 1658 and 1671 in 1978), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 23 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 441, unless otherwise noted.
Notes of Decisions The Commonwealth has preempted the field of packaging and labeling of meat products. City of Erie v. Northwestern Pennsylvania Food Council, 322 A.2d 407 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1974).
Subchapter A. DECLARATIONS OF QUANTITY AND
IDENTITY IN GENERAL
DECLARATION OF IDENTITY Sec.
23.1. General.
DECLARATION OF QUANTITY
23.11. Largest whole unit.
23.12. Net quantity.
23.13. Weight, liquid measure or count terminology.
23.14. Fractions.
23.15. Supplementary declarations.
23.15a. Metric system declarations.
23.16. Qualification of declaration prohibited.
PROMINENCE AND PLACEMENT
23.21. General.
23.22. Area of principal display panel.
23.23. Type size in principal display panel.
DECLARATION OF IDENTITY
§ 23.1. General.
(a) Identification. A declaration of identity on a consumer package shall appear on the principal display panel, and shall positively identify the commodity in the package by its common or usual name, description, generic term, or the like.
(b) Placement. A declaration of identity on a consumer package shall appear generally parallel to the base on which the package rests as it is designed to be displayed.
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 27.13 (relating to butter); and 70 Pa. Code § 27.26 (relating to motor oils).
DECLARATION OF QUANTITY
§ 23.11. Largest whole unit.
When this chapter provides that a declaration of quantity shall be in the largest whole unit, the declaration shall, with respect to a particular package, be in the largest whole unit of weight or measure, with the remainder expressed by one of the following:
(1) Common or decimal fractions of the largest whole unit.
(2) The next smaller whole unit with the remainder in common or decimal fractions of the smallest unit present in the quantity declaration.
Authority The provisions of this § 23.11 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.11 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 441; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (31253).
Cross References The provisions of this § 23.12 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.13 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 23.12 (relating to net quantity); 70 Pa. Code § 23.102 (relating to textile products, threads and yarns); 70 Pa. Code § 23.110a (relating to polyethylene sheeting); 70 Pa. Code § 25.12 (relating to weight, liquid measure or count terminology); 70 Pa. Code § 27.8 (relating to labeling required by Federal law); 70 Pa. Code § 27.9 (relating to fluid dairy products and frozen desserts); 70 Pa. Code § 27.10 (relating to real and imitation fruit juice beverages and drinking water); 70 Pa. Code § 27.13 (relating to butter); 70 Pa. Code § 27.15 (relating to flour); 70 Pa. Code § 27.20 (relating to margarine); 70 Pa. Code § 27.24 (relating to paint and kindred products); 70 Pa. Code § 27.25 (relating to automotive antifreeze); and 70 Pa. Code § 27.26 (relating to motor oils).
§ 23.14. Fractions.
(a) A statement of net quantity of contents of a consumer commodity may contain common or decimal fractions. The denominator of a common fraction shall be limited to 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 except as provided in the following cases:
(1) If there exists a firmly established general consumer usage and trade custom of employing different common fractions in the net quantity declaration of a particular commodity, they may be employed.
(2) If linear measurements are required in terms of yards or feet, common fractions may be in terms of thirds.
(b) A common fraction shall be reduced to its lowest terms; a decimal fraction may not be carried out to more than two places.
(c) A separate statement of the net quantity of contents in terms of the metric system is not regarded as a supplemental statement, and a statement of quantity in terms of the metric system of weight or measure may also appear on the principal display panel or on other panels.
Source The provisions of this § 23.14 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
§ 23.15. Supplementary declarations.
The required quantity declaration may be supplemented by one or more declarations of weight, measure or count, if the declaration appears other than on a principal display panel. The supplemental statement of quantity of the contents may not include terms qualifying a unit of weight, measure or count that tends to exaggerate the amount of commodity contained in the package as, for example, in giant quart, full gallon, when packed, minimum or words of similar import.
Source The provisions of this § 23.15 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
§ 23.15a. Metric system declarations.
A separate statement of the net quantity of contents in terms of the metric system is not regarded as a supplemental statement, and a statement of quantity in terms of the metric system of weight or measure may also appear on the principal display panel or other panels.
Source The provisions of this § 23.15a adopted March 11, 1977, effective March 12, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 706.
§ 23.16. Qualification of declaration prohibited.
In no case may a declaration of quantity be qualified by the addition of the words when packed, minimum or not less than, or any words of similar import, nor may a unit of weight, measure or count be qualified by a term such as jumbo, giant, full, or the like, which tends to exaggerate the amount of commodity.
Source The provisions of this § 23.16 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
PROMINENCE AND PLACEMENT
§ 23.21. General.
Information required to appear on a consumer package shall appear thereon in the English language and shall be prominent, definite and plain and shall be conspicuous as to size and style of letters and numbers and as to color of letters and numbers in contrast to color of background. Required information that is either in hand lettering or hand script shall be entirely clear and equal to printing in legibility. Information required to appear on a consumer package that is either in print, hand lettering or hand script shall conform to the following provisions:
(1) Location. The declaration of quantity of the contents of a package shall appear in the bottom 30% of the principal display panel, except as otherwise provided in § 23.56 (relating to cylindrical containers).
(2) Style of type or lettering. The declaration or declarations of quantity shall be in a style of type or lettering as to be boldly, clearly and conspicuously presented with respect to other type, lettering or graphic material on the package, except that a declaration of net quantity blown, formed or molded on a glass or plastic surface is permissible when label information is blown, formed or molded on the surface.
(3) Color contrast. The declaration of quantity shall be in a color that contrasts conspicuously with its background, except that a declaration of net quantity blown, formed or molded on a glass or plastic surface may not be required to be presented in a contrasting color if no required label information is on the surface in a contrasting color.
(4) Free area. The area surrounding the quantity declaration shall be free of printed information in the following amounts:
(i) Above and below, by a space equal to at least the height of the lettering in the declaration.
(ii) To the left and right, by a space equal to twice the width of the letter n of the style and size of type used in the declaration.
(5) Parallel quantity declaration. The quantity declaration shall be presented as to be generally parallel to the declaration of identity and to the base on which the package rests as it is designed to be displayed.
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 27.7 (relating to cigarettes and small cigars); 70 Pa. Code § 27.8 (relating to labeling required by Federal law); 70 Pa. Code § 27.9 (relating to fluid dairy products and frozen desserts); 70 Pa. Code § 27.10 (relating to real and imitation fruit juice beverages and drinking water); 70 Pa. Code § 27.13 (relating to butter); 70 Pa. Code § 27.14 (relating to eggs); 70 Pa. Code § 27.15 (relating to flour); 70 Pa. Code § 27.19 (relating to combination packages); 70 Pa. Code § 27.20 (relating to margarine); and 70 Pa. Code § 27.21 (relating to corn flour).
Source The provisions of this § 23.21 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended November 22, 1974, effective November 23, 1974, 4 Pa.B. 2421. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (12357) to (12358).
§ 23.22. Area of principal display panel.
(a) The area, in square inches, of the principal display panel for purposes of type size shall be calculated as follows:
(1) In the case of a rectangular container, one entire side which properly can be considered to be the principal display panel, the product of the height times the width of that side.
(2) In the case of a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical container, 40% of the product of the height of the container times the circumference.
(3) In the case of a container other than cylindrical, 40% of the total surface of the container, unless the container presents an obvious principal display panel as, for example, the top of a triangular or circular package of cheese, or the top of a can of shoe polish, in which case the area shall consist of the entire such surface.
(b) Determination of the principal display panel shall exclude tops, bottoms, flanges at tops and bottoms of cans and shoulders and necks of bottles or jars.
§ 23.23. Type size in principal display panel.
(a) Minimum height of numbers and letters. The height of a letter or number in the required quantity declaration may not be less than that shown in the following Table I with respect to the area of the panel in square inches, and the height of each number of a common fraction shall meet 1/2 the minimum height standards:
TABLE I
Minimum Height of Numbers and Letters
Area of principal display panel (in square inches) Minimum height of numbers and letters
(in inches)Minimum height of label information blown, formed, or molded on surface of container
(in inches)Five and less 1/16 1/8 Greater than five but not greater than 25 1/8 3/16 Greater than 25 but not greater than 100 3/16 1/4 Greater than 100 but not greater than 400 1/4 5/16 Greater than 400 1/2 9/16
(b) Numbers and lettersproportion. No number or letter may be more than three times as high as it is wide.
Source The provisions of this § 23.23 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 27.7 (relating to cigarettes and small cigars); 70 Pa. Code § 27.8 (relating to labeling required by Federal law); and 70 Pa. Code § 27.19 (relating to combination packages).
Subchapter B. SPECIFIC PACKAGE AND CONTAINER
DECLARATIONS
Sec.
23.51. Display card package.
23.52. Aerosols and pressurized containers.
23.53. Multiunit package.
23.54. Combination package.
23.55. Variety package.
23.56. Cylindrical containers.§ 23.51. Display card package.
For an individual package affixed to a display card, or for a commodity and display card together comprising a package, the type size of the quantity declaration is governed by the dimensions of the display card.
Source The provisions of this § 23.51 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
§ 23.52. Aerosols and pressurized containers.
The declaration of quantity on an aerosol package, and on a similar pressurized package, shall disclose the net quantity of the commodity, including propellant, in terms of weight, that will be expelled when the instructions for use as shown on the container are followed.
Source The provisions of this § 23.52 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
§ 23.53. Multiunit package.
(a) A multiunit package shall state on the outside of the package a declaration containing the following:
(1) The number of individual units.
(2) The quantity of each individual unit.
(3) The total quantity of the contents of the multiunit package. However, the requirement for a declaration of the total quantity of contents of a multiunit package shall be effective either with respect to those labels revised after February 30, 1970, or as of January 1, 1970. A declaration of total quantity may not be required to include the parenthetical quantity statement of a dual quantity representation.
(b) Whenever the quantity declaration appearing on an individual unit of a multiunit package is located other than in the lower 30% of the principal display panel, the individual unit may not be sold separately.
Authority The provisions of this § 23.53 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.53 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (12360) and (31260).
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 27.1 (relating to general); and 70 Pa. Code § 27.7 (relating to cigarettes and small cigars).
§ 23.54. Combination package.
A package containing individual units of dissimilar commodities, such as an antiquing kit, shall state on the label of the package a quantity declaration for each unit.
Authority The provisions of this § 23.54 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.54 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (31260).
§ 23.55. Variety package.
A package containing individual units of similar commodities, such as a seasonal gift package or variety package of cereal, shall state on the label of the package a declaration of the total quantity of commodity in the package.
Authority The provisions of this § 23.55 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.55 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (31260).
§ 23.56. Cylindrical containers.
In the case of cylindrical or nearly cylindrical containers, information required to appear on the principal display panel shall appear within that 40% of the circumference which is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown or examined under customary conditions of display for retail sale.
Source The provisions of this § 23.56 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44.
Cross References This section cited in 70 Pa. Code § 23.21 (relating to general).
Subchapter C. SPECIFIC COMMODITY DECLARATIONS
Sec.
23.101. Eggs.
23.102. Textile products, threads and yarns.
23.103. Paper products.
23.104. Roofing materials.
23.105. Produce.
23.106. Liquefied petroleum gas.
23.107. Wood.
23.108. Random weight packaged meat and meat products.
23.109. Bulk meat.
23.110. Packaged seed.
23.110a. Polyethylene sheeting.
23.111. Information on sales receipts.§ 23.101. Eggs.
If cartons containing 12 eggs have been designed so as to permit division in half by the retail purchaser, the required quantity declaration shall be so positioned as to have its context destroyed when the carton is divided.
Source The provisions of this § 23.106 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.106 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (20067) to (20068).
§ 23.107. Wood.
Wood used for fuel shall be sold by the cord of 128 cubic feet, or fraction thereof, and shall be accompanied by a statement or invoice certifying the amount sold and presented to the buyer or his designee at the time of delivery or billing.
Source The provisions of this § 23.109 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.109 adopted October 21, 1970, effective October 22, 1970, 1 Pa.B. 44; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (12370) and (31264) to (31265).
§ 23.110. Packaged seed.
Packages of seed intended for planting shall be labeled in accordance with this part except as follows:
(1) The net quantity statement shall appear in the upper 30% of the principal display panel.
(2) The net quantity statement shall be in the largest whole unit of the metric system for weights up to 7 grams, and in grams or in ounces for other weights less than 225 grams or 8 ounces; packaged seed weighing 225 grams or 8 ounces or more is not subject to this section.
(3) The net quantity statement for coated seed, encapsulated seed, pelletized seed, seed tapes, pre-plants and the like, shall be by count.
(4) This section applies only to labels developed or revised after January 1, 1975.
Authority The provisions of this § 23.110 amended under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.110 adopted July 25, 1975, effective July 26, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 1925; amended May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (31265).
§ 23.110a. Polyethylene sheeting.
(a) Labeling. Each package of polyethylene sheeting, shall contain, on a surface visible to the public, the following information:
(1) The length in feet or fraction thereof, or both.
(2) The width in feet or fraction thereof, or both.
(3) The thickness in mills. A mill is defined as .001 inches.
(4) The net weight in pounds or fraction thereof, or both.
(5) The abbreviation of linear measurement and weight values shall be limited to abbreviations identified in § 23.13(c) (relating to weight, liquid measure or count terminology).
(b) Declaration of weight. The labeled statement of weight for polyethylene sheeting may not be less than the weight calculated by using the following formula:
W = T x A x 0.03613 x D, where
W = Net Weight in Pounds
T = Labeled thickness in inches
A = Labeled length in inches times labeled width in inches
D = Density in g/cm3
0.03613 = Conversion factor for density from g/cm3 to lb in3 .
Authority The provisions of this § 23.110a issued under the Weights and Measures Act of 1965 (73 P. S. § § 16511692) (Transferred from 76 P. S. § § 100-1100-42 in 1978).
Source The provisions of this § 23.110a adopted May 26, 1989, effective May 27, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 2254.
§ 23.111. Information on sales receipts.
(a) Recorded representations, point of sale systems. The sales information recorded by cash registers when interfaced with a weighing element shall contain the following information for items weighed at the checkout stand:
(1) The net weight identified by the words pounds, grams, or kilograms or by the abbreviations lb, g, or kg.
(2) The unit price with weight values identified as in paragraph (1).
(3) The total price.
(4) The product class, name or code number.
(b) Effect of section. Subsection (a) supersedes all sections of the National Bureau of Standards Handbook 44 which are inconsistent with the provisions of subsection (a).
Source The provisions of this § 23.111 adopted July 15, 1977, effective July 16, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 1985.
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