15 USC § 1452 - Unfair and deceptive packaging and labeling; scope of prohibition

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1452"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1452 - Unfair and deceptive packaging and labeling; scope of prohibition"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1452"
section_name: "Unfair and deceptive packaging and labeling; scope of prohibition"
chapter_number: 39
chapter_name: "FAIR PACKAGING AND LABELING PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–755, § 3, Nov. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1296.)"
---


# § 1452. Unfair and deceptive packaging and labeling; scope of prohibition

**(a)** **Nonconforming labels** It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the packaging or labeling of any consumer commodity (as defined in this chapter) for distribution in commerce, or for any person (other than a common carrier for hire, a contract carrier for hire, or a freight forwarder for hire) engaged in the distribution in commerce of any packaged or labeled consumer commodity, to distribute or to cause to be distributed in commerce any such commodity if such commodity is contained in a package, or if there is affixed to that commodity a label, which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter and of regulations promulgated under the authority of this chapter.

**(b)** **Exemptions** The prohibition contained in subsection (a) shall not apply to persons engaged in business as wholesale or retail distributors of consumer commodities except to the extent that such persons (1) are engaged in the packaging or labeling of such commodities, or (2) prescribe or specify by any means the manner in which such commodities are packaged or labeled.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–755, § 3, Nov. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1296.)