A warning label is a

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed ...

attached to a

product Product may refer to: Business * Product (business), an item that serves as a solution to a specific consumer problem. * Product (project management), a deliverable or set of deliverables that contribute to a business solution Mathematics * Produ ...

, or contained in a product's

instruction manual An owner's manual (also called an instruction manual or a user guide) is an instructional book or booklet that is supplied with almost all technologically advanced consumer products such as vehicles, home appliances and computer peripherals. ...

, warning the user about

risk In simple terms, risk is the possibility of something bad happening. Risk involves uncertainty about the effects/implications of an activity with respect to something that humans value (such as health, well-being, wealth, property or the environm ...

s associated with its use, and may include restrictions by the

manufacturer Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to ...

or seller on certain uses. Most of them are placed to limit civil liability in lawsuits against the item's manufacturer or seller (see

product liability Product liability is the area of law in which manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers, and others who make products available to the public are held responsible for the injuries those products cause. Although the word "product" has b ...

). That sometimes results in labels which for some people seem to state the obvious.

Government regulation

In the United States warning labels were instituted under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. Cigarettes were not required to have warning labels in the United States until in 1965 Congress passed the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA). In the EEA, a product containing hazardous mixtures must have a

Unique formula identifier The unique formula identifier (UFI) is a code printed on products with hazardous mixtures in the European Economic Area (EEA), meant to help calls to poison control centers to determine the contents. The UFI is mandated in the European Economic A ...

(UFI) code. This is not a warning label per se, but a code that helps

poison control centre A poison control center is a medical service that is able to provide immediate, free, and expert treatment advice and assistance over the telephone in case of exposure to poisonous or hazardous substances. Poison control centers answer question ...

s identify the exact formula of the hazardous product.

Abnormal warning labels

Warning labels have been produced for different items. In some cases, rumors have developed of labels warning against some very strange occurrences, such as the legendary microwave warning that allegedly states 'do not dry pets in microwave'. Some companies hold 'strange warning label competitions' such as the former M-law wacky warning labels competition. While many safe products intended for human consumption may require warning labels due to the health risks associated with using them, it is only tobacco products that have strongly worded warnings on their health risks.

References

External links

Safety Labels {{measurement-stub

Government regulation

Abnormal warning labels

See also

References

External links