[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR501.2]

[Page 16-17]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 501--ANIMAL FOOD LABELING--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec.  501.2  Information panel of package for animal food.

    (a) The term information panel as it applies to packaged food means 
that part of the label immediately contiguous and to the right of the 
principal display panel as observed by an individual facing the 
principal display panel with the following exceptions:
    (1) If the part of the label immediately contiguous and to the right 
of the principal display panel is too small to accommodate the necessary 
information or is otherwise unusable label space, e.g., folded flaps or 
can ends, the panel immediately contiguous and to the right of this part 
of the label may be used.
    (2) If the package has one or more alternate principal display 
panels, the information panel is immediately contiguous and to the right 
of any principal display panel.
    (3) If the top of the container is the principal display panel and 
the package has no alternate principal display panel, the information 
panel is any panel adjacent to the principal display panel.
    (b) All information required to appear on the label of any package 
of food pursuant to Sec. Sec.  501.4, 501.5, 501.8 and 501.17 shall 
appear either on the principal display panel or on the information 
panel, unless otherwise specified by regulations in this chapter.
    (c) All information appearing on the principal display panel or the 
information panel pursuant to this section shall appear prominently and 
conspicuously, but in no case may the letters and/or numbers be less 
than \1/16\ inch in height unless an exemption pursuant to paragraph (f) 
of this section is established. The requirements for conspicuousness and 
legibility shall include the specifications of Sec. Sec.  501.15 and 
501.105(h) (1) and (2).
    (1) Packaged foods are exempt from the type size requirements of 
this paragraph: Provided, That:
    (i) The package is designed such that it has a surface area that can 
bear an information panel and/or an alternate principal display panel.
    (ii) The area of surface available for labeling on the principal 
display panel of the package as this term is defined in Sec.  501.1 is 
less than 10 square inches.
    (iii) The label information includes a full list of ingredients in 
accordance with regulations in this part.
    (iv) The information required by paragraph (b) of this section 
appears on the principal display panel or information panel label in 
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (c) except that the 
type size is not less than \3/64\ inch in height.
    (2) Packaged foods are exempt from the type size requirements of 
this paragraph: Provided, That:
    (i) The package is designed such that it has a single obvious 
principal display panel as this term is defined in Sec.  501.1 and has 
no other available surface area for an information panel or alternate 
principal display panel.
    (ii) The area of surface available for labeling on the principal 
display panel of the package as this term is defined in Sec.  501.1 is 
less than 12 square inches and bears all labeling appearing on the 
package.
    (iii) The label information includes a full list of ingredients in 
accordance with regulations in this part.
    (iv) The information required by paragraph (b) of this section 
appears on the single, obvious principal display panel in accordance 
with the provisions of this paragraph (c) except that the type size is 
not less than \1/32\ inch in height.
    (3) Packaged foods are exempt from the type size requirements of 
this paragraph: Provided, That:
    (i) The package is designed such that it has a total surface area 
available to bear labeling of less than 12 square inches.
    (ii) The label information includes a full list of ingredients in 
accordance with regulations in this part.
    (iii) The information required by paragraph (b) of this section 
appears on the principal display panel or information panel label in 
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (c) except that the 
type size is not less than \1/32\ inch in height.
    (d) All information required to appear on the principal display 
panel or on the information panel pursuant to this section shall appear 
on the same panel unless there is insufficient space. In determining the 
sufficiency of the available space, any vignettes, design,

[[Page 17]]

and other nonmandatory label information shall not be considered. If 
there is insufficient space for all of this information to appear on a 
single panel, it may be divided between these two panels except that the 
information required pursuant to any given section or part shall all 
appear on the same panel. A food whose label is required to bear the 
ingredient statement on the principal display panel may bear all other 
information specified in paragraph (b) of this section on the 
information panel.
    (e) All information appearing on the information panel pursuant to 
this section shall appear in one place without other intervening 
material.
    (f) If the label of any package of food is too small to accommodate 
all of the information required by Sec. Sec.  501.4, 501.5, 501.8, and 
501.17, the Commissioner may establish by regulation an acceptable 
alternative method of disseminating such information to the public, 
e.g., a type size smaller than one-sixteenth inch in height, or labeling 
attached to or inserted in the package or available at the point of 
purchase. A petition requesting such a regulation, as an amendment to 
this paragraph shall be submitted pursuant to part 10 of this chapter.

[41 FR 38619, Sept. 10, 1976, as amended at 42 FR 4716, Jan. 25, 1977; 
42 FR 15675, Mar. 22, 1977]