49 CFR § 172.401 - Prohibited labeling.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s172.401"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 172.401 - Prohibited labeling."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "172.401"
section_name: "Prohibited labeling."
chapter_name: "PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS"
part_number: "172"
part_name: "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE, SPECIAL PROVISIONS, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMUNICATIONS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND SECURITY PLANS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 5101-5128, 44701; 49 CFR 1.81, 1.96 and 1.97."
regulatory_source: "Amdt. 172-29, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "172"
---


# 172.401 Prohibited labeling.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may offer for transportation and no carrier may transport a package bearing a label specified in this subpart unless:

(1) The package contains a material that is a hazardous material, and

(2) The label represents a hazard of the hazardous material in the package.

(b) No person may offer for transportation and no carrier may transport a package bearing any marking or label which by its color, design, or shape could be confused with or conflict with a label prescribed by this part.

(c) The restrictions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, do not apply to packages labeled in conformance with:

(1) The UN Recommendations (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(2) The IMDG Code (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(3) The ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(4) The TDG Regulations (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(5) The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(d) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to a packaging bearing a label if that packaging is:

(1) Unused or cleaned and purged of all residue;

(2) Transported in a transport vehicle or freight container in such a manner that the packaging is not visible during transportation; and

(3) Loaded by the shipper and unloaded by the shipper or consignee.

[Amdt. 172-9, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 172-75, 47 FR 44471, Oct. 7, 1982; Amdt. 172-77, 47 FR 54822, Dec. 6, 1982; Amdt. 172-94, 49 FR 38134, Sept. 27, 1984; Amdt. 172-100, 50 FR 41521, Oct. 11, 1985; Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52594, Dec. 21, 1990; Amdt. 172-132, 58 FR 50501, Sept. 27, 1993; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 45379, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 75741, 75742, Dec. 31, 2003; 74 FR 2252, Jan. 14, 2009]