Definitions and Labeling Requirements

RCNY tit. 6, ch. 3, subch. A

in effect

6 RCNY § 3-01 Definitions.

§ 3-01 Definitions. Container. "A container", as used in these regulations, shall include any carton, box, crate, barrel, half-barrel, hamper, keg, drum, jar, jug, crock, bottle, bag, basket, pail, can, wrapper, parcel or package.

6 RCNY § 3-02 Prominence and Placement.

§ 3-02 Prominence and Placement. All information required by these rules and regulations to appear on a container 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. The declaration of identity, if required, and the net quantity statement shall appear on the principal display panel. The name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor shall appear either on the principal display panel or on any other appropriate panel. Any required information that is either in hand lettering or hand script shall be entirely clear and equal to printing in legibility.

6 RCNY § 3-03 Declaration of Identity.

§ 3-03 Declaration of Identity. Any commodity sold or offered for sale in a container shall bear on the outside or top thereof a definite, plain and conspicuous declaration of the identity of the commodity unless the same can easily be identified through the container. Such identification shall positively identify the commodity by its common or usual name, description, generic term or the like.

6 RCNY § 3-04 Declaration of Quantity.

§ 3-04 Declaration of Quantity. Any commodity sold or offered for sale in a container shall bear on the outside or top thereof a definite, plain and conspicuous declaration of the net quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure or count except where otherwise provided by law.

6 RCNY § 3-05 Declaration of Responsibility.

§ 3-05 Declaration of Responsibility. Any commodity sold or offered for sale in a container shall bear on the outside or top thereof a definite, plain and conspicuous declaration of the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.

6 RCNY § 3-06 Correct Marking in Units of Weight or Measure.

§ 3-06 Correct Marking in Units of Weight or Measure. (a) Prescribed units. A declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of the largest whole unit of weight or measure (for example, 1 quart liquid shall be expressed as "1 quart liquid" and not as "2 pints liquid" or "32 fluid ounces"). However, when this results in a whole number and a fraction, the fraction may be expressed in its equivalent in the next smaller whole unit (for example, 1 3/4 quarts liquid may be expressed as "1 quart 1 1/2 pints liquid" or "1 quart 1 pint 8 fluid ounces," but not as "1 quart 24 fluid ounces" 1 1/4 pounds may be expressed as "1 pound 4 ounces"). (b) When the commodity is liquid, the markings shall be in terms of liquid measure: when the commodity is solid, semi-solid, viscous, or a mixture of solid and liquid, the markings shall be in terms of weight, (except where otherwise provided by the Commissioner), provided that if the commodity is packaged in an aerosol container, the declaration shall be in terms of net weight (including the propellant). (c) Where packaged food or food products are sold or offered for sale with quantity representations in decimals, an adequate equivalent weight chart shall be posted at or near the items so sold or offered for sale. (d) When a food product is packaged in a liquid preservative or is enclosed along with a packing substance, the net quantity of such food product shall be expressed in terms of the drained net weight of the food product when removed from the container, exclusive of the liquid preservative or the packing substance.

6 RCNY § 3-07 Qualifying Words Prohibited.

§ 3-07 Qualifying Words Prohibited. When commodities are sold or offered for sale by weight, measure or numerical count, and the containers are so marked, no qualifying word or phrase or clause shall be used. Statements such as "Minimum weight," "Not less than," "Average," "When packed," or similar qualifying phrases are prohibited nor shall any unit of weight, measure or count be qualified by any term (such as "Jumbo," "Giant," "Full" or the like) that tends to exaggerate the amount of commodity.

6 RCNY § 3-08 Units with Two or More Meanings.

§ 3-08 Units with Two or More Meanings. When any unit of weight or measure having two or more distinct meanings is employed in a declaration of quantity, the declaration shall identify the particular meaning of the term as it is employed in the declaration. For example, distinction shall be made between "avoirdupois" and "fluid" ounces and between "liquid" and "dry" quarts and pints. However, such distinction may be omitted when, by association of terms (as in "1 pound 4 ounces" or "1 pint 8 fluid ounces"), the proper meaning is obvious.

6 RCNY § 3-09 Count to be Supplemented.

§ 3-09 Count to be Supplemented. A declaration of quantity in terms of count shall be supplemented by a declaration of the weight, measure or size of the individual units of the commodity or of the total weight or measure of the commodity, unless a declaration of count alone is fully informative to the consumer.

6 RCNY § 3-10 Weight or Measure to be Supplemented.

§ 3-10 Weight or Measure to be Supplemented. A declaration of quantity in terms of weight or measure shall be supplemented by a declaration of the count or size of the individual units of the commodity, unless a declaration of weight or measure alone is fully informative to the consumer.

6 RCNY § 3-11 Metric System.

§ 3-11 Metric System. A declaration of weight or measure in United States customary units may be supplemented by a declaration in units of the metric system.

6 RCNY § 3-12 Language.

§ 3-12 Language. All information required by these rules and regulations to appear on a container shall appear thereon in the English language. A translation in any language other than English of such information may supplement the representations on the container to provide fuller consumer information.

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-18309Fetched: 10/24/2026