---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1452"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1452"
heading: "Unfair and deceptive packaging and labeling; scope of prohibition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1452"
units:
  - "Chapter 39 — Fair Packaging and Labeling Program"
---

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

- (a) **Nonconforming labels—** It shall be unlawful for any [person](/usc/15/1459.md?p=d) engaged in the packaging or labeling of any [consumer commodity](/usc/15/1459.md?p=a) (as defined in this chapter) for distribution in [commerce](/usc/15/1459.md?p=e), or for any [person](/usc/15/1459.md?p=d) (other than a common carrier for hire, a contract carrier for hire, or a freight forwarder for hire) engaged in the distribution in [commerce](/usc/15/1459.md?p=e) of any packaged or labeled [consumer commodity](/usc/15/1459.md?p=a), to distribute or to cause to be distributed in [commerce](/usc/15/1459.md?p=e) any such commodity if such commodity is contained in a [package](/usc/15/1459.md?p=b), or if there is affixed to that commodity a [label](/usc/15/1459.md?p=c), 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)](#a) shall not apply to [persons](/usc/15/1459.md?p=d) engaged in business as wholesale or retail distributors of [consumer commodities](/usc/15/1459.md?p=a) except to the extent that such [persons](/usc/15/1459.md?p=d) (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.)