# Appendix C. Glossary

**A**

**allowable difference.** The amount by which the actual quantity in the
package may differ from the declared quantity. Pressed and blown
tumblers and stemware labeled by count and capacity are assigned an
allowable difference in capacity. This is also called a tolerance.

**audit testing.** Preliminary tests designed to quickly identify
potential noncompliance units.

**average.** The sum of a number of individual measurement values
divided by the number of values. For example, the sum of the individual
weights of 12 packages divided by 12 would be the average weight of
those packages.

**average error.** The sum of the individual \"package errors\"
(defined) (considering their arithmetic sign) divided by the number of
packages comprising the sample.

**average requirement.** A requirement that the average net quantity of
contents of packages in a "lot" equals the net quantity of contents
printed on the label.

**average tare.** The sum of the weights of individual package
containers (or wrappers, etc.) divided by the number of containers or
wrappers weighed.

**B**

**berry baskets and boxes.** Disposable containers in capacities of 1
dry quart or less for berries and small fruits. See Section 4.46. in
NIST Handbook 44.

**C**

**Category A (Category B).** A set of sampling plans provided in this
handbook to use in checking packages that must (except when exempted)
meet the \"average requirement\" (defined).

**chamois.** A natural leather made from skins of sheep and lambs that
have been oil-tanned.

**combination quantity declarations.** A package label that contains the
count of items in the package as well as one or more of the following:
weight, measure, or size.

**compliance testing.** Determining package conformance using specified
legal requirements.

**D**

**decision criteria.** The rules for deciding whether or not a lot
conforms to package requirements based on the results of checking the
packages in the sample.

**delivery.** A quantity of identically labeled product received at one
time by a buyer.

**dimensionless units.** The integers in terms of which the official
records package errors. The dimensionless units must be multiplied by
the \"unit of measure\" to obtain package errors in terms of weight,
length, etc.

**division, value of (d).** The value of the scale division, expressed
in units of mass, is the smallest subdivision of the scale for analog
indication or the difference between two consecutively indicated or
printed values for digital indication or printing. See NIST Handbook 44.

**drained weight.** The weight of solid or semisolid product
representing the contents of a package obtained after a prescribed
method for removal of the liquid has been employed.

**dry measure.** Rigid containers designed for general and repeated use
in the volume measurement of particulate solids. See Section 4.45. Dry
Measures in NIST Handbook 44.

**dry pet food.** All extruded dog and cat foods and baked treat
packaged in kraft paper bags and cardboard boxes that has a moisture
content of 13 % or less at the time of packaging.

**dry tare.** See UNUSED DRY TARE.

**E**

**error.** See PACKAGE ERROR.

**G**

**gravimetric test procedure.** An analytical procedure that involves
measurement by mass or weight.

**gross weight.** The weight of the package including contents, packing
material, labels.

**H**

**headspace.** The container volume not occupied by product.

**I**

**inch-pound units.** Units based upon the yard, gallon, and the pound
commonly used in the United States of America. Some of these units have
the same name as similar units in the United Kingdom (British, English,
or Imperial units), but they are not necessarily equal to them.

**initial tare sample.** The first packages (either two or five)
selected from the sample to be opened for tare determination in the tare
procedure. Depending upon the variability of these individual tare
weights as compared with the variability of the net contents, this
initial tare sample may be sufficient or more packages may be needed to
determine the tare.

**inspection lot.** The collection of identically labeled (random
packages, in some cases, are exempt from identity and labeled quantity
when determining the inspection lot) packages available for inspection
at one time. This collection will pass or fail as a whole based on the
results of tests on a sample drawn from this collection.

**L**

**label.** \"Any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to, applied
to, attached to, blown into, formed, molded into, embossed on, or
appearing upon or adjacent to a consumer commodity or a package
containing any consumer commodity, for purposes of branding,
identifying, or giving any information with respect to the commodity or
to the contents of the package, except that an inspector\'s tag or other
non-promotional matter affixed to or appearing upon a consumer commodity
is not a label.\" See Section 2.5 in the Uniform Packaging and Labeling
Regulation in NIST Handbook 130.

**linear measures.** Rulers and tape measures.

**location of test.** The place where the package will be examined. This
is broadly defined as one of three general locations: (1) where the
commodity was packaged, (2) a warehouse or storage location, or (3) a
retail outlet.

**lot.** See INSPECTION LOT.

**lot code.** A series of identifying numbers and/or letters on the
outside of a package designed to provide information such as the date
and location of packaging or the expiration date.

**lot size.** The number of packages in the \"inspection lot\".

**M**

**MAV.** See MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VARIATION

**maximum allowable variation (MAV).** A deficiency in the weight,
measure, or count of an individual package beyond which the deficiency
is considered to be an \"unreasonable error\". The number of packages
with deficiencies that are greater than the MAV is controlled by the
sampling procedure.

**measure containers.** Containers whose capacities are used to
determine quantity. They are of two basic types: (a) retail and (b)
prepackaged. Retail containers are packaged at the time of retail sale,
and prepackaged containers are packaged in advance of sale. An example
of a prepackaged measure container is an ice cream package.

**metric or SI units.** Units of the International System of Units as
established in 1960 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures
and interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of
Commerce. (See NIST Special Publication 814 -- "Metric System of
Measurement; Interpretation of the SI for the United States and Federal
Government Metric Conversion Policy")

**minus or plus errors.** Negative or positive deviations from the
labeled quantity of the actual package quantities as measured. See
PACKAGE ERROR.

**mulch.** Any product or material other than peat or peat moss for
sale, or sold for primary use as a horticultural, above-ground dressing
for decoration, moisture control, weed control, erosion control,
temperature control, or other similar purposes.

**moisture allowance.** That variation in weight of a packaged product
permitted in order to account for loss of weight due to loss of moisture
during good package distribution practices. For packaged goods subject
to moisture loss, when the average net weight of a sample is found
between the labeled weight and the boundary of the moisture allowance,
the lot is said to be in a no-decision area. Further information is
required to determine lot compliance or noncompliance.

**N**

**net quantity or net contents.** That quantity of packaged product
remaining after all necessary deductions for tare (defined) have been
made.

**nominal.** A designated or theoretical size that may vary from the
actual.

**nominal gross weight.** The sum of the nominal tare weight (defined)
plus the declared or labeled weight (or other labeled quantity converted
to a weight basis).

**P**

**packaged goods.** Product or commodity put up in any manner in advance
of sale suitable for either wholesale or retail sale.

**package error.** The difference between the actual net contents of an
individual package as measured and the declared net contents on the
package label; minus (-) for less than the label and plus (+) for more
than the label.

**petroleum products.** Gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, or any product
(whether or not such a product is actually derived from naturally
occurring hydro-carbon mixtures known as \"petroleum\") commonly used in
powering, lubricating, or idling engines or other devices, or labeled as
fuel to power camping stoves or lights. Sewing machine lubricant,
camping fuels, and synthetic motor oil are \"petroleum products\" for
the purposes of this regulation. The following products are not
\"petroleum products:" brake fluid, copier machine dispersant,
antifreeze, cleaning solvents, and alcohol.

**plus errors.** See MINUS OR PLUS ERRORS

**principal display panel or panels.** Part (s) of a label that are
designed to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under normal and
customary conditions of display and purchase. Wherever a principal
display panel appears more than once on a package, all requirements
pertaining to the "principal display panel" shall pertain to all such
"principal display panels.\" See Section 2.7 in the Uniform Packaging
and Labeling Regulation in NIST Handbook 130.

**production lot.** The total collection of packages defined by the
packager, usually consisting of those packages produced within a given
unit of time and coded identically.

**pycnometer.** A container of known volume used to contain material for
weighing so that the weight of a known volume may be determined for the
material. If it is constructed, it is called a density cup.

**R**

**random pack.** \"The term 'random package\' shall be construed to mean
a package that is one of a lot, shipment, or delivery of packages of the
same consumer commodity with varying weights which means, packages of
the same consumer commodity with no fixed pattern of weight.\"

**random sampling.** The process of selecting sample packages such that
all packages under consideration have the same probability of being
selected. An acceptable method of random selection is to use a table of
random numbers.

**range.** The difference between the largest and the smallest of a set
of measured values.

**reasonable variation.** An amount by which individual package net
contents are allowed to vary from the labeled net contents. This term is
found in most Federal and State laws and regulations governing packaged
goods. Reasonable variations from the labeled declaration are recognized
for (1) unavoidable deviations in good manufacturing practice, and (2)
loss or gain of moisture in good distribution practice.

**rounding.** The process of omitting some of the end digits of a
numerical value and adjusting the last retained digit so that the
resulting number is as near as possible to the original number.

**S**

**sample.** A group of packages taken from a larger collection of
packages and providing information that can be used to make a decision
concerning the larger collection of packages or of the package
production process. A sample provides a valid basis for decision only
when it is a random sample (defined).

**sample correction factor.** Students\' \"t\" value for a one sided
test at the 3 % confidence level and n is the sample size.

**sample error limit (SEL).** Means a statistical value computed by
multiplying the sample standard deviation times the sample correction
factor from Column 3 of Table 2-1. Category A - Sampling Plans for the
appropriate sample size. The SEL value allows for the uncertainty
between the average error of the sample and the average error of the
inspection lot with an approximately 97 % level of confidence.

**sample size** **(n).** The number of packages in a sample.

**sampling plan.** A specific plan that states the number of packages to
be checked and the associated decision criteria.

**scale tolerance.** The official value fixing the limit of allowable
error for weighing equipment as defined in NIST Handbook 44.

**seat.** (as in \"seat diameter\" or \"seated capacity\"). The
projection or shoulder near the upper rim of a cup or container that is
designed to serve as the support for a lid or cover.

**seated capacity.** The capacity of a cup, container, or bottle, as
defined by the volume contained by them when the lid or a flat disc is
inserted into the lid groove that is located inside and near the upper
rim of the cup, container, or bottle.

**SEL.** See SAMPLE ERROR LIMIT.

**shipment.** A quantity of identically labeled product (except for lot
code) sent at one time to a single location.

**slicker plate.** A flat plate, usually of glass or clear plastic
composition, used to determine the \"level full\" condition of a
capacity (volumetric) measure.

**standard deviation.** A measure to describe the scatter of the
individual package contents around the mean contents.

**standard pack.** That type of package in which a commodity is put up
with identical labels and only in certain specific quantity sizes.
Examples of goods so packed are canned, boxed, bottled and bagged foods,
and over-the-counter drugs.

**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 terms qualifying a unit of weight, measure, or count
that tends to exaggerate the amount of commodity contained in the
package (e.g., "giant" quart, "full" gallon, "when packed," "minimum",
or words of similar import).\" See Section 6.12 in the Uniform Packaging
and Labeling Regulation in NIST Handbook 130.

**T**

**tare weight.** The weight of a container, wrapper, or other material
that is deducted from the gross weight to obtain the net weight.

**tare sample.** The packages or packaging material used to determine
the average tare weight.

**tare sample size.** The number of packages or packaging material units
used to determine the average tare weight.

**tolerance.** A value fixing the limit of allowed departure from the
labeled contents; usually presented as a plus (+) and minus (-) value.

**U**

**unit of measure.** An increment of weight, length, or volume so that
an inspector may record package errors in terms of small integers. (The
package errors are actually the integers multiplied by the unit of
measure.)

**unreasonable errors.** Minus package errors that exceed the MAV
(defined). The number of unreasonable errors permitted in a sample is
specified by the sampling plan.

**unused dry tare.** All unused packaging materials (in­cluding glue,
labels, ties, etc.) that contain or en­close a product. It includes
prizes, gifts, coupons, or decorations that are not part of the
product.* *

**used dry tare.** Used tare material that has been air dried, or dried
in some manner to simu­late the un­used tare weight. It includes all
packaging materials that can be separated from the pack­aged product,
either readily (e.g., by shaking) or by washing, scraping, ambient air
drying, or other techni­ques involving more than \"normal\" house­hold
re­covery procedures, but not including laboratory procedures like oven
drying. Labels, wire closures, staples, prizes, decorations, and such
are considered tare. It is not the same as "wet tare. See also \"wet
tare."

**V**

**volumetric measures.** Standard measuring flasks, graduates,
cylinders, for use in the measuring volumes of liquids.

W

**wet tare.** Used packaging materials when no effort is made to
reconstruct unused tare weight by drying out the absorbent portion (if
any) of the tare.