L&R 2017 Annual Meeting Report - Appendix A
Appendix A
Background/Discussion on Agenda Items
of the
Laws and Regulations (L&R) Committee
Subject Series ListIntroduction 2000 Series
NIST Handbook 130 – General 2100 Series
Uniform Laws 2200 Series
Uniform Weights and Measures Law 2201 Series
Uniform Weighmaster Law 2202 Series
Uniform Engine Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Inspection Law 2203 Series
Uniform Regulations 2300 Series
Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation 2301 Series
Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities 2302 Series
Uniform Unit Pricing Regulation 2303 Series
Uniform Regulation for the Voluntary Registration of Servicepersons and Service Agencies for Commercial Weighing and Measuring Devices 2304 Series
Uniform Open Dating Regulation 2305 Series
Uniform Regulation for National Type Evaluation 2306 Series
Uniform Engine Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulation 2307 Series
Examination Procedure for Price Verification 2400 Series
NCWM Policy, Interpretations, and Guidelines, Section 2 2500 Series
NIST Handbook 133 2600 Series
Other Items 2700 Series
Table ATable of Contents
Reference Key / Title of Item / L&R Page
2301 nist HANDBOOK 130 – UNIFORM PACKaging and labeling REGULATION 5
2301-1 W Section 11. Exemptions, 11.XX. Multi-unit Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Packages. 5
2302 nist HANDBOOK 130 – UNIFORM REGULATION FOR THE METHOD OF SALE COMMODITIES 7
2302-1 V Section 1. Food Products and Section 2 Non-Food Products 7
2302-2 V Section 1.12. Ready-to-Eat Food. 10
2302-3 W Section 1.12. Ready-to-Eat Food. 13
2302-4 W Section 1.7.X. Bulk Ice Cream and Similar Frozen Products 15
2302-5 V Section 2.13. Polyethylene Products 16
2302-6 V Section 2.17. Precious Metals 16
2302-7 V Section 2.20. Gasoline – Oxygenate Blends and Section 2.30. Ethanol Flex-Fuel (See related Item 2307-2) 20
2302-8 V 2.23. Animal Bedding 21
2302-9 V Section 2.XX. Automatic Transmission Fluid. (See Related Item 2307-1) 22
2302-10 W Section 2.XX. Agricultural Vending 24
2302-11 D Electric Watthour 28
2307 nist HANDBOOK 130 – UNIFORM ENGINE FUELS AND AUTOMOTIVE LUBRICANTS REGULATION 29
2307-1 V Section 2.14. Products for Use in Lubricating Automatic Transmission Fluids and Section 3.14. Automatic Transmission Fluid. (See Related Item 2302-9) 29
2307-2 V 3.8. Ethanol Flex Fuel (See Related Item 2302-7) 32
2307-3 I Section 4.1. Water in Retail Engine Fuel Storage Tanks Gasoline-Alcohol Blends, Biodiesel Blends, Ethanol Flex Fuel, Aviation Gasoline, and Aviation Turbine Fuel and Section 4.2. Water in Gasoline, Diesel, Gasoline-Ether, and Other Fuels. 34
2307-4 W Section 4.3. Dispenser Filters 36
2500 NCWM Policy, Interpretations, and Guidelines 38
2500-1 V Sections: 2.1.1. Weight(s) and/or Measure(s)., 2.1.2. Weight(s) and/or Measure(s)., 2.1.3. Definition of Net Weight., 2.2.1. Gift Packages., 2.2.2. Sand., 2.2.3. Sold by 4/5Bushel., 2.2.5. Lot, Shipment, or Delivery., 2.2.6. Aerosols and Similar Pressurized Containers., 2.2.7. Aerosol Packaged Products., 2.2.8. Variety and Combination Packages., 2.2.9. Textile Products., 2.2.10. Yarn., 2.2.11. Tint Base Paint., 2.2.12. Reference Temperature for Refrigerated Products: When a Product is Required to be Maintained under Refrigeration. 2.3.9. Fireplace Logs., 2.3.11. Packaged Foods or Cosmetics Sold from Vending Machines., 2.3.12. Movie Films, Tapes, Cassettes. 38
2600 Handbook 133 40
2600-1 V Section 1.2.1. Inspection Lots and Section 3.10. Mulch and Soils Labeled by Volume 40
2600-2 W Section 1.2.3. Individual Package Requirement 44
2600-3 D Recognize the Use of Digital Density Meters 46
2600-4 V Section 4.5. Polyethylene Sheeting, Bags and Liners 47
2600-5 W Table 2-12. Upper and Lower MAV Limits for Fish and Fishery Products Labeled with a Count 48
2700 OTHER ITEMS 51
2700-1 D Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee 51
2700-2 D Packaging and Labeling Subcommittee 52
2700-3 W NIST Handbook 158 53
Table BGlossary of Acronyms and Terms
Acronym / Term / Acronym / Term
AKI / Minimum Antiknock Index / MPFS / Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Seafood
API / American Petroleum Institute / OEM / Original Equipment Manufacturer
ASTM / ASTM International / NCWM / National Conference on Weights and Measures
CFR / Code of Federal Regulations / NEWMA / Northeastern Weights and Measures Association
CNG / Compressed Natural Gas / NIST / National Institute of Standards and Technology
CWMA / Central Weights and Measures Association / OWM / Office of Weights and Measures
FALS / Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee / PALS / Packaging and Labeling Subcommittee
FDA / Food and Drug Administration / S&T / Specifications and Tolerances
FPLA / Fair Packaging and Labeling Act / SAE / Society of Automotive Engineers
FTC / Federal Trade Commission / SWMA / Southern Weights and Measures
HB / Handbook / TG / Task Group
FG / Focus Group / UPLR / Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulation
JASO / Japanese Automotive Standards Organization / USNWG / U.S. National Work Group
L&R / Laws and Regulations / WWMA / Western Weights and Measures Association
LNG / Liquefied Natural Gas
MAV / Maximum Allowable Variation
Details of All Items
(In order by Reference Key)
2301 nist HANDBOOK 130 – UNIFORM PACKaging and labeling REGULATION
2301-1 W Section 11. Exemptions, 11.XX. Multi-unit Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Packages.
Background/Discussion:
This will allow for the UPLR to be identical to FDA’s preemptive regulation on multi-unit retail packages in 21 CFR 101.105(s).
Growers and producers are using a Product Traceability Initiative (PTI) sticker (2016 Food Safety Modernization Act requirement - http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/default.htm) that also doubles for identity, responsibility and quantity (IRQ) requirements. Producers are no longer putting all multi-unit requirements from HB 130, Section 10.4. (omitting term “bag or counts” and total count) on their agricultural packages. This issue is prevalent in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
21 CFR 101.105(s). which is presented here:
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2015]
TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS,CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER B--FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
PART 101 -- FOOD LABELING
Subpart G--Exemptions From Food Labeling Requirements - 21 CFR Sec. 101.105 Declaration of net quantity of contents when exempt.
(s) On a multiunit retail package a statement of the quantity of contents shall appear on the outside of the package and shall include the number of individual units, the quantity of each individual unit, and, in parentheses, the total quantity of contents of the multiunit package in terms of avoirdupois or fluid ounces, except that such declaration of total quantity need not be followed by an additional parenthetical declaration in terms of the largest whole units and subdivisions thereof, as required by paragraph (j)(1) of this section. A multiunit retail package may thus be properly labeled: "6-16 oz bottles--(96 fl oz)" or "3-16 oz cans--(net wt. 48 oz)". For the purposes of this section, "multiunit retail package" means a package containing two or more individually packaged units of the identical commodity and in the same quantity, intended to be sold as part of the multiunit retail package but capable of being individually sold in full compliance with all requirements of the regulations in this part. Open multiunit retail packages that do not obscure the number of units or prevent examination of the labeling on each of the individual units are not subject to this paragraph if the labeling of each individual unit complies with the requirements of paragraphs (f) and (i) of this section. The provisions of this section do not apply to that butter or margarine covered by the exemptions in 1.24(a) (10) and (11) of this chapter.
Item as it initially was submitted.
10.4. Multi-unit Retail Packages. [NOTE7, page74] – Any package containing more than one individual “commodity in package form” (see Section2.1. Package) of the same commodity shall bear on the outside of the package a declaration of:
(a) the number of individual units;
(b) the quantity of each individual unit; and
(c) the total quantity of the contents of the multi-unit package.
Example:
soap bars, 6 Bars, Net Wt 100g (3.53oz) each
total Net Wt 600 g (1.32 lb).
The term “total” or the phrase “total contents” may precede the quantity declaration.
A multi-unit package containing unlabeled individual packages which are not intended for retail sale separate from the multi-unit package may contain, in lieu of the requirements of section(a), a declaration of quantity of contents expressing the total quantity of the multi-unit package without regard for inner packaging. For such multi-unit packages it shall be optional to include a statement of the number of individual packages when such a statement is not otherwise required by the regulations.
Examples:
Deodorant Cakes –
5cakes, NetWt 113g (4oz) each, Total NetWt 566g (1.25lb); or
5cakes, Total NetWt 566g (1lb4oz)
Soap Packets –
10packets, NetWt 56.6g (2oz) each, Total NetWt 566g (1.25lb); or NetWt 566g (1lb4oz); or 10packets, Total NetWt 566g (1lb4oz)
(Amended 1993)
NOTE7: For foods, a “multi-unit” package means a package containing two or more individually packaged units of the identical commodity in the same quantity, intended to be sold as part of the multi-unit package but labeled to be individually sold in full compliance with this regulation. Open multi-unit retail food packages under the authority of the FDA or the USDA that do not obscure the number of units or prevent examination of the labeling on each of the individual units are not required to declare the number of individual units or the total quantity of contents of the multi-unit package if the labeling of each individual unit complies with requirements so that it is capable of being sold individually. (See also Section11.11. Soft Drink Bottles and Section11.12. Multi-Unit Soft-Drink Bottles.)
(Added 1984)
At the 2017 NCWM Interim Meeting, the Committee received modified language from the submitter requesting that the current item under consideration be stricken and replaced with language to create an exemption under Section 11. for multi-unit fresh fruit and vegetable package. Two presentations were provided; Eric Lauritzen (Monterey County, CA) and a joint presentation from Matt McInerney (Western Growers Association) and Ed Treacy (Produce Marketing Association). The NIST Technical Advisor remarked that NIST Handbook 130, UPLR Section 10 applied to consumer and non-consumer packages. He also remarked that the three exemptions for non-consumer packages are, net content statement can appear anywhere (no PDP), no font size or free area requirements. Non-consumer packages may fall under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as well as the UPLR. Other non-consumer products in the marketplace all comply. Mr. Sefcik reached out to Elizabeth Tansing (FMI) who commented, why would you not want to provide this information? It gives the retailer a guarantee of what is in the box. It also provides the retailer the ability to protect themselves because the can do an audit by weighing at the warehouse or store and compare to the total net. Every other industry and commodity is required to be labeled with a total net if it is multi-unit package. There were concerns that if an exemption is granted would others manufacturers request similar exemptions? Anne Boeckman (Kraft Heinz Foods) believed it only applies to retail packages. Several states remarked that they do warehouse inspections on the basis of total net weight.
During the Committee work session, they reviewed several non-consumer labels for fresh fruits and vegetables. The Committee discussed whether there was spacing within the current labeling practices and were there any other restrictions not to have the labeling comply with the UPLR. It was also noted that symbols and abbreviations were not being followed. There was also concern if this exemption was granted would lead other products start requesting exemptions. It was unanimous that they are able to comply. This item was Withdrawn.
Regional Association Comments:
The WWMA did not forward this item to NCWM.
The CWMA heard several comments that they were unsure about the intent of this item and the language does not add anything that is not currently included in NIST Handbook 130. CWMA did not forward this item to NCWM.
The SWMA reviewed a presentation that was provided from the submitter which explained the concept of their proposal. NIST has contacted the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) seeking their requirements for net content labeling. The SWMA forwarded the item to NCWM and recommended the status of this item be a Developing item. It is recommended that the submitter work with NIST OWM to further develop.
NEWMA received a comment from NIST OWM that industry is concerned there would be a cost associated, if this change is not adopted. NIST will be meeting with the Produce Marketing Association and other stakeholders to discuss further. NIST commented that the recommendation of inserting the term “retail” impacts a significant amount of the marketplace. NIST encouraged this be a Developing item until an update from meeting with stakeholders can be provided by the 2017 Interim Meeting. NEWMA forwarded the item to NCWM and recommended the status of the item be Developing.
Additional letters, presentations and data may have been part of the Committee’s consideration. Please refer to http://www.ncwm.net/meetings/annual/publication-16 to review these documents.
2302 nist HANDBOOK 130 – UNIFORM REGULATION FOR THE METHOD OF SALE COMMODITIES
2302-1 V Section 1. Food Products and Section 2. Non-Food Products
This item has been assigned to the submitter for further development. For more information or to provide comment, please contact:
Kurt Floren (County of Los Angeles Department of Agriculture, Commissioner/Weights and Measures)
(626) 575-5451,
Background/Discussion:
Much discussion and debate has been undertaken within the NCWM over the past two years regarding proposals for methods of sale of commodities (specifically, liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas as vehicle fuels) based upon “equivalencies” to other methods of sale for different commodities (in these recent cases, based upon calculated average energy content comparisons to gasoline or diesel fuel). With the exception of a singular commodity, compressed natural gas, for which gasoline-liter-equivalent and gasoline-gallon-equivalent methods of sale were permitted some 20 years ago, the methods of sale for all other commodities have historically and consistently been established based upon legally-recognized units of weight or measure that are traceable to national standards maintained by NIST, the sole exceptions (found in interpretations and guidelines) being specific fresh vegetable commodities permitted to be sold by “head” or “bunch.” Discussions surrounding considerations of “equivalency” units have raised the potential for untold similar proposals to establish methods of sale for countless competing products in the marketplace claiming comparisons of performance, quality, energy or nutritional content, or other factors that can be subjective, widely varying due to inconsistent chemical or biological makeup, or a host of other influences that are, or may be, based upon little to no scientific or metrologically sound and traceable determinations or calculations.