Rule 40-15-3-.06 - Declaration of Quantity: Consumer Packages(1) General. The metric and inch pound systems of weights and measures are recognized as proper systems to be used in the declaration of quantity. Units of both systems may be presented in a dual declaration of quantity. Except where additional exemption is otherwise provided herein, all metric labeling requirements affected by this shall apply to labels after the effective date of this regulation.(2) Largest Whole Unit. Where this regulation requires that the quantity declaration be in terms of the largest whole unit, the declaration shall, with respect to a particular package, be in terms of the largest whole unit of weight or measure, with any remainder expressed. (a) Inch-Pound Units: 1. in common or decimal fractions of such largest whole unit or in:2. the next smaller whole unit, or units with any further remainder of terms of common or decimal fractions of the smallest unit present in the quantity declaration.(b) Metric Units:1. in decimal fractions of such largest whole unit.(3) Net Quantity. A declaration of net quantity of the commodity in the package, exclusive of wrappers and any other material packed with such commodity (except as noted in Section 40-15-3-.10(3)), shall appear on the principal display panel of a consumer package, and unless specified in this regulation (see 40-15-3-.06(3) through 40-15-3-.06(17)(c)), shall be in terms of the largest whole unit. (a) Use of "Net Weight." The term "net weight" shall be used in conjunction with the declaration of quantity in units of weight. The term may either precede or follow the declaration of weight.(b) Line of Print or Type. A declaration of quantity may appear on one or more lines of print or type.(4) Terms: Weight, Liquid Measure, Dry Measure, or Count. The declaration of quantity of a particular commodity shall be expressed in terms of liquid measure if the commodity is liquid, or dry measure if the commodity is dry, or in terms of weight if the commodity is solid, semisolid, viscous, or a mixture of solid and liquid, or in terms of numerical count. However, if there exists a firmly established general consumer usage and trade custom with respect to the terms used in expressing a declaration of quantity of a particular commodity, such declaration of quantity may be expressed in its traditional terms, if such traditional declaration gives accurate and adequate information as to the quantity of the commodity. (a) Combination Declaration: 1. Declaration of quantity in terms of weight shall be combined with appropriate declarations of the measure, count and size of the individual units unless a declaration of weight alone is fully informative.2. A declaration of quantity in terms of measure shall be combined with appropriate declarations of the weight, count, and size of the individual units unless a declaration of measure alone is fully informative.3. A declaration of quantity in terms of count shall be combined with appropriate declaration of weight, measure, and size of the individual units unless a declaration of count alone is fully informative.(5) Inch-Pound System: Weight, Measure. A declaration of quantity:(a) in units of weight shall be in terms of the avoirdupois pound or ounce;(b) in units of liquid measure, shall be in terms of the United States gallon of 231 cubic inches of liquid-quart, liquid pint, or fluid ounce subdivisions of the gallon, and shall express the volume at 68° F (20° Celsius), except in the case of petroleum products, for which the declaration shall express the volume at 60° F (15° Celsius), and except also in the case of commodity that is normally sold and consumed while frozen, for which the declaration shall express the volume at frozen temperature, and except also in the case of a commodity that is normally sold in the refrigerated state, for which the declaration shall express the volume at 40° F (4° Celsius);(c) in units of linear measure, shall be in terms of the yard, foot, or inch;(d) in units of area measure, shall be in terms of the square yard, square foot, or square inch;(e) in units of volume measure, shall be in terms of the cubic yard, cubic foot, cubic inch; and,(f) in units of dry measure, shall be in terms of the United States bushel of 2150.42 cubic inches, or peck, dry-quart and dry-pint subdivisions of the bushel.(6) Symbols and Abbreviations. Any of the following symbols and abbreviations, and none other, shall be employed in the quantity statement on a package of commodity: avoirdupois | avdp | ounce | oz |
cubic | cu | pint | pt |
feet or foot | ft | pound | lb |
fluid | fl | quart | qt |
gallon | gal | square | sq |
inch | in | weight | wt |
liquid | liq | yard | yd |
(There normally are no periods following, nor plural forms of symbols. For example, "oz" is the symbol for both "ounce" and "ounces." Both upper and lower case letters are acceptable.)
(7) Units of Two or More Meanings. When the term "ounce" is employed in a declaration of liquid quantity, the declaration shall identify the particular meaning of the term by the use of the term "fluid;" however, such distinction may be omitted when by association of terms (for example, as in "20 fluid ounces, 1 pint four ounces"), the proper meaning is obvious. Whenever the declaration of quantity is in terms of the dry-pint or dry-quart, the declaration shall include the word "dry."(8) Metric Units: Weight, Measure. A declaration of quantity:(a) in units of weight shall be in terms of the kilogram, gram, or milligram;(b) in units of liquid measure shall be in terms of the liter or milliliter, and shall express the volume at 20° C, except in the case of petroleum products, for which the declaration shall express the volume at 15° C, and except also in the case of a commodity that is normally sold and consumed while frozen, for which the declaration shall express the volume at the frozen temperature, and except also in the case of a commodity that is normally sold in the refrigerated state, for which the declaration shall express volume at 4° Celsius;(c) in units of linear measure shall be in terms of the meter, centimeter, or millimeter;(d) in units of area measure, shall be in terms of the square meter or square centimeter; and,(e) in units of volume other than liquid measure, shall be in terms of the liter and milliliter, except that the terms cubic meter and cubic centimeter will be used only when specifically designated as a method of sale.(9) Symbols. Any of the following symbols for metric units and none other, may be employed in the quantity statement on a package of commodity: kilogram | kg | centimeter | cm |
gram | g | millimeter | mm |
milligram | mg | square meter | m2 |
liter | L or l | square centimeter | cm2 |
milliliter | mL or ml | cubic meter | m3 |
meter | m | cubic centimeter | cm3 |
(a) Symbols, except for liter, are not capitalized unless the unit is derived from a proper name. Periods should not be used after a symbol. Symbols are always written in the singular form. Do not add "s" to express the plural when the symbol is used.(b) The "l" symbol for liter and "ml" symbol for milliliter are permitted; however, the "L" symbol and "mL" symbol are preferred.(10) Prescribed Units, Inch-Pound System. (a) Less than 1 Foot, 1 Pound, or 1 Pint. The declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of: 1. in the case of length measure of less than 1 foot, inch and fractions of inches;2. in the case of area measure of less than 1 square foot, square inches and fractions of square inches;3. in the case of weight of less than 1 pound, ounces and fractions of ounces; and,4. in the case of liquid measure of less than 1 pint, fluid ounces and fractions of fluid ounces. Provided, that the quantity declaration appearing on a random package may be expressed in terms of decimal fraction of the largest appropriate unit, the fraction being carried out to not more than two decimal places.
(11) Weight: Dual Quantity Declaration. On packages 1 pound or more but less than 4 pounds, the declaration shall be expressed in ounces, and in addition, shall be followed by a declaration in parentheses, expressed in terms of the largest whole unit: Provided that the quantity declaration appearing on a random package may be expressed in terms of pound and decimal fraction of the pound carried out to not more than two decimal places.(12) Liquid Measure: Dual Quantity Declaration. On packages containing one pint or more, but less than 1 gallon, the declaration shall be expressed in fluid ounces and, in addition, shall be followed by a declaration in parentheses, expressed in terms of the largest whole unit.(13) Length Measure: Dual Quantity Declaration. On packages containing 1 foot or more, but less than 4 feet, the declaration shall be expressed in inches, and in addition shall be followed by a declaration in parentheses, expressed in terms of the largest whole unit.(14) Area Measure: Dual Quantity Declaration. On packages containing I square foot or more but less than 4 square feet, the declaration shall be expressed in square inches and, in addition, shall be followed by a declaration in parentheses, expressed in terms of the largest whole unit.(15) Four feet, 4 Square Feet, 4 Pounds, 1 Gallon, or More. (a) In the case of: length measure of 4 feet or more the declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of feet, followed in parentheses by a declaration of yards and common or decimal fractions of the yard, or in terms of feet followed in parentheses by a declaration of yards with any remainder in terms of feet and inches.(b) In the case of: 1. area measure of 4 square feet or more;2. weight of 4 pounds or more; and,3. liquid measure of 1 gallon or more; the declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of the largest whole unit.(16) Bi-Dimensional Commodities. For bi-dimensional commodities (including roll-type commodities) the quantity declaration shall be expressed.(a) if less than 1 square foot, in terms of linear inches and fractions of linear inches;(b) if at least 1 square foot but less than 4 square feet, in terms of square inches followed in parentheses by a declaration of both the length and width, each being in terms of the largest whole unit; Provided, that 1. if less than 1 square foot, in terms of linear inches and fractions of linear inches;2. if at least 1 square foot but less than 4 square feet, in terms of square inches followed in parentheses by a declaration of both the length and width, each being in terms of the largest whole unit; Provided, that(i) no square inch declaration is required for bi-dimensional commodity of 4 inches width or less,(ii) a dimension of less than 2 feet may be stated in inches within the parenthetical declaration, and(iii) commodities consisting of usable individual units (except roll-type commodities with individual usable units created by perforation, for which see sub-chapter 40-15-3-.16(18)Count: Ply.) require a declaration of unit area but not a declaration of total area of all such units;3. if 4 square feet or more, in terms of square feet followed in parentheses by a declaration of the length and width in terms of the largest whole unit; Provided, that (i) no declaration in square feet is required for a bi-dimensional commodity with a width of 4 inches or less,(ii) bi-dimensional commodities with a width of 4 inches or less, shall have the length expressed in inches followed by a statement in parentheses of the length in the largest whole unit. (Example: 2 inches by 360 inches (10 yards).)(iii) a dimension of less than 2 feet may be stated in inches within the parenthetical declaration, and(iv) no declaration in square units is required for commodities for which the length and width measurements are critical in terms of end use (such as tablecloths or bedsheets) if such commodities clearly present the length and width measurements on the label.(17) Prescribed Units, Metric System. (a) Less than 1 Meter, 1 Square Meter, I Kilogram, or 1 Liter. The declaration of quantity shall be expressed in terms of:1. in the case of length measure of less than 1 meter, centimeters or millimeters;2. in the case of area measure of less than 1 square meter, square centimeter and decimal fractions of square centimeter;3. in the case of weight of less than 1 kilogram, gram and decimal fractions of a gram, but less than 1 gram then in milligrams;4. in the case of liquid or dry measure of less than one liter, milliliters; Provided, that the quantity declaration appearing on a random weight package may be expressed in terms of decimal fractions of the largest appropriate unit, the fraction being carried out to not more than three decimal places.(b) One Meter, 1 Square Meter, 1 Liter or More. In the case of: 1. length measure of 1 meter or more: in meters and decimal fractions to not more than two places;2. area measure of 1 square meter or more: in square meters and decimal fractions to not more than two places;3. weight of 1 kilogram or more: in kilograms and decimal fractions to not more than two places; and,4. liquid or dry measure of 1 liter or more: in liters and decimal fractions to not more than two places.(c) Bi-Dimensional Commodities. For bi-dimensional commodities (including roll-type commodities) the quantity declaration shall be expressed:1. if less than 1 square meter, in terms of length and width;2. if 1 square meter or more, in terms of square measure followed in parentheses by a declaration of length and width: Provided, that:(i) quantity declarations of bi-dimensional commodities with a width of 100 millimeters or less may be expressed in terms of width and length, only;(ii) commodities consisting of usable individual units except roll-type commodities with individual usable units created by perforations, for which (see Chapter 40-15-3-.16(18)Count: Ply) require a declaration of unit area but not a declaration of total area of all such units; and, that(iii) no declarations in square units is required for commodities for which the length and width measurements are critical in terms of end use (such as tablecloths and bedsheets) if such commodities clearly present the length and width measurements on the label.(18) Count: Ply. If the commodity is in individually-usable units of one or more components or ply, the quantity declaration shall, in addition to complying with other applicable quantity declaration requirements of this regulation, include the number of ply and total number of usable units. (a) Roll-type commodities, when perforated so as to identify individual usable units, shall not be deemed to be made up of usable units; however, such roll-type commodities shall be labeled in terms of: 1. total area measurement;3. count of usable units; and,4. dimensions of single usable unit.(19) Fractions. (a) Metric: A metric statement in a declaration of net quantity of contents of any consumer commodity may contain only decimal fractions.(b) Inch-Pound: An inch-pound statement of net quantity of contents of any consumer commodity may contain common or decimal fractions. A common fraction shall be terms of halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenth or thirty-seconds, except that: 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; and,2. if linear measurements are required in terms of yards or feet, common fractions may be in terms of thirds.(c) Common Fractions: A common fraction shall be reduced to its lowest term (Example: 2/4 becomes 1/2).(d) Decimal Fractions. A decimal fraction shall not be carried out to more than two places.(20) Supplementary Declarations. (a) Supplementary Quantity Declarations. The required quantity declaration may be supplemented by one or more declarations of weight, measure, or count, such declaration appearing other than on a principal display panel. Such supplemental statement of quantity of contents shall not include any term qualifying a unit of weight, measure, or count that tends to exaggerate the amount of commodity contained in the package (e.g., "giant" quart, "larger" liter, "full" gallon, "when packed," "minimum," or words of similar import).(b) Combined Metric and Inch-Pound Declarations. An equivalent statement of the net quantity of contents in terms of either the inch-pound or metric system is not regarded as a supplemental statement and such statement may also appear on the principal display panel; Provided, that it conforms to both Paragraphs 40-15-3-.06(5) and 40-15-3-.06(8).(c) Rounding. In all conversions for the purpose of showing an equivalent metric or inch-pound quantity to a rounded inch-pound or metric quantity, the number of significant digits retained should be such that accuracy is neither sacrificed nor exaggerated. As a general rule, converted values should be rounded down by dropping any digit beyond the first three. (Example: 196.4 grams becomes 196 grams or 1.759 feet becomes 1.75 feet).(21) Qualification of Declaration Prohibited. In no case shall any 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 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.(22) Character of Declaration: Average. The average quantity of contents in the package of a particular lot, shipment, or delivery shall at least equal the declared quantity, and no unreasonable shortage in any package shall be permitted, even though overages in other packages in the same shipment, delivery, or lot compensate for shortage.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-15-3-.06
O.C.G.A. Sec. 10-2-5(Ga. L. 1972, p. 654).
Original Rule entitled "Declaration of Quantity: Consumer Packages" was filed on November 30, 1973; effective December 20, 1973.Amended: Rule repealed and a new Rule of the same title adopted. Filed March 1, 1984; effective March 21, 1984.