FINAL DRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARD  
  FDUS 1028  
First Edition  
2013 -mm-dd 
 
 
 3 
© UNBS 2013   
  
Labelling  requirements  for prepackaged products  
 FDUS 1028 : 2013 
ii © UNBS 2013  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 201 3  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: 256 41 4 505 995  
Fax: 256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
 
. FDUS 1028 :2013  
© UNBS 2013  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda.  UNBS is mandated to co -ordinate the 
elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, trade rs, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Final Draft Uganda Standard is based on OIML R 79 Labelling requirements for prepackaged products .  
Committee membership  
The following organization s were represented on the Metrology standards Technical Committee (UNBS/TC 9), 
during the development of this standard:  
 Civil Aviation Authority  (CAA)  
 Kampala City Traders Association  (KACITA)  
 Kyambogo University Kampala  
 Makerere University Kampala  
 Ministr y of Defence  
 Ministry of Energy  and Mineral Development  
 Ministry of Internal Affairs  
 Ministry of Works and Transport  
 National Environmental Management Authority  (NEMA)  
 Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
 UMEME  
 FINAL DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  FDUS 1028 : 2013  
 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  1 
 Labelling  requirements for prepackaged produ cts 
1 Scope  
1.1 This Final Draft Uganda Standard  specifies  requirements for the labe lling of prepackaged products with 
constant nominal content with respect to:  
a) the identity of the product;  
b) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, distri butor, importer or retailer and  
c) the net quantity of the product.  
1.2 This standard  does not apply to the  labelling of prepackaged foods for which a separate standard 
applies.  
1.3 This standard  does not include  labelling requirements  for prepackaged produc ts with variable  content . 
1.4 This standard  does not include  existing national regulations established for reasons of health, safety or 
tax, or for other purposes such as date limit for sale or use, storage temperature, etc.; however, such labelling  
should  be taken into account as appropriate. Declarations of ingredients on package labels or nutritional 
information on food products, whether compulsory or not, are also not covered by this standard . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents ar e indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
US 1030 , Quantity of product in prepackage s  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply.  
3.1  
prepackaged product  
commodity that is enclosed in a container or wrapped in any manner, and for which its quantity has been 
determined and i ndicated on its label prior to being offered for sale  
3.2  
net quantity  
quantity of the identified product in the package exclusive of wrappers and any other material packed with 
such product  
NOTE  This term relates to specifications on a package and does n ot account for the actual contents in an individual 
package. The procedures for determining whether a production lot meets regulatory requirements are provided in US 
1030 .  FDUS 1028 : 2013 
2 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 3.3 
label 
any written, printed, or graphic matter affixed to, applied to, attached to, blown into, formed or  molded into, 
embossed on, or appearing upon a package containing any product for purposes of branding, identifying, or 
giving any information with respect to the product or to the contents of the package; however, an inspector ’s 
tag or other non -promotional text affixed to or appearing on a product shall not be deemed to be a label that 
requires the label information prescribed by this standard  
3.4 
principal display panel  
part of a package that is most likely to be displayed, prese nted, shown or examined under normal and 
customary conditions of display  
3.5  
person(s)  
both singular and plural, as the case demands, including individuals, partnerships, corporations, companies, 
societies and associations  
3.6 
consumer package  
package tha t is customarily produced or distributed for sale to final purchasers through retail sales agencies or 
other means  
3.7 
non-consumer package  
package intended solely for industrial or institutional use or for wholesale distribution  
4 Identity of the product  
4.1 The principal display panel on a prepackage shall bear a specification of the identity of the product 
unless the wrapper is transparent, thus rendering the product easily identifiable.  
4.2 The identity of the product shall be a conspicuous feature of the principal display panel and shall be in 
such type size and so positioned as to make it easy to read and understand.  
4.3 The identity of the product shall be in terms of at least one of the following designations in the order of 
preference listed:  
a) the n ame specified in or required by any applicable national law or regulation;  
b) the common or usual name of the product;  and 
c) the generic name or other appropriately descriptive term such as a specification which includes a 
statement of function.  
5 Name and plac e of business of the manufacturer, packager, distributor or 
importer  
5.1 The label of a prepackaged product shall specify conspicuously the name and place of business of the 
person responsible for any of the following:  
 manufacturing,  
 packing,  
 distributi ng,  FDUS 1028 : 2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  3 
  importing or  
 retailing the product.  
When the product is not manufactured or packaged by the person whose name appears on the label, the 
name may be qualified by a phrase that reveals the connection such person has with the product, for 
example: “man ufactured for ...”, “distributed by ...”, “marketed by ...”, “imported by ...” or “sold by ...”.  
NOTE  In some cases, the identity of the manufacturer or packer may be added as a code if permitted by national 
regulations.  
5.2 The statement of the place of b usiness, with complete mailing address, shall be in accordance with the 
national laws and postal usage or may be represented by an indicator (such as a code number) if permitted by 
national regulations.  
6 Declared net quantity of the prepackaged product  
6.1 A prepackaged product shall bear a declaration of the net quantity of the product on the principal 
display panel. The declaration may be made at any one of the following locations: at the initial place of 
packaging, at importation, or at the place where offered for sale.   
NOTE 1  The metrological requirements for net contents in packages are covered i n US 1030 . 
NOTE 2  For some products, national regulations may require the labelling  of Adrained mass@.   
6.2 Requirements and exemptions for small and mixed pr epackages shall be in accordance with national 
regulations.  
NOTE The term Asmall packages@  includes such items as individual packets of salt, pepper,  sugar, individually 
wrapped pieces of candy, etc. Mixed packages are those containing two or  more individu al packages or units of dissimilar 
commodities . 
6.3 The net quantity shall be expressed in terms of the largest whole unit of mass, volume,  length, area, or 
a combination of these units in accordance with  Annex A.  
Depending on national requirements and cus toms, the net quantity statement for a specific  product may be 
expressed as follows:  
a) volume (at a specified reference temperature determined in accordance with national  regulations) if 
the product is liquid or viscous. Normally, the reference temperature w ould not appear on the label;  
b) mass if the product is solid, semi -solid or viscous, a mixture of solid and liquid, or the solid  part of a 
mixture of a solid and liquid;  
c) length in micrometres is used primarily in expressing thicknesses less than 1 mm for som e products 
such as polyethylene films;  
d) quantities based firmly on established general consumer usage and trade custom, if such  quantities 
provide accurate and adequate information to the purchaser. For example, the  declaration of contents 
of a liquid by ma ss, or of a solid, semi -solid, or viscous product by  volume or numerical count may be 
used.  
In the case of a product packed in a container designed to deliver the product under pressure,  the statement 
shall declare the net quantity in mass that will be exp elled when the instructions for use  are followed. The 
propellant is included in the net quantity statement. Statements of quantity shall be  the kilogram, gram or 
milligram.  
6.4 Statements of a quantity in terms of count shall be expressed in whole numbers . FDUS 1028 : 2013 
4 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 6.5 Statements of a quantity less than a whole number may contain decimal fractions to no more  than three 
places  provided that the declaration complies with 6.6 . 
Statements of the net quantity shall appear in easily legible boldface type or print that con trasts conspicuously 
with the background and with other information on a package; however, when the value of the net quantity is 
blown, embossed, or molded on the surface of the package, then all other required label information shall be 
provided conspicuo usly elsewhere on the surface or on a label.  
Statements of net quantity shall be in letters and numerals in a minimum type size established in relationship 
to either the area of the principal display panel of the package or the quantity of the packaged con tents ( see 
Annex B).  
6.6 In general, the number used on a label shall be shown to three figures in the decimal system. Three 
exceptions are permitted:  
a) quantities below 100 g, 100 mL, 100 cm3, 100 cm2, or 100 cm may be shown to two figures;  
b) any final zeros to the right of the decimal mark need not be expressed;  
c) if the quantity is less than one, it shall be shown in the decimal system with the figure zero preceding 
the decimal mark. Statements such as Ahalf kilogram@ are not acceptable.  
7 Misleading practices  
7.1 Packages shall be filled in such a manner that a purchaser may not reasonably be misled with respect 
to the quantity or identity of the product it contains, taking into consideration any recognized and accepted 
production practices that may be necessa ry for the manufacturer or packer.  
7.2 For p ackage design and display , packages shall be manufactured, constructed or displayed in such a 
manner that a purchaser may not reasonably be misled with respect to the quantity or identity of product 
contained the rein. 
7.3 If the prepackaged product is labelled  on more than one location or its package, the information on all 
labels shall be equivalent and in accordance with the requirements of this standard . 
8 Exemptions  
Exemptions from required information on prep ackage labels may be made on the basis of national  
practice; however, such exceptions shall be explicitly stated in national regulations . 
 
. FDUS 1028 : 2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Units of measurement and symbols  
A.1 Units of measurement shall be expressed in either words o r symbols. Table A.1 provides the unit and 
the appropriate symbol for measurements.  
Table A.1 — Units of measurement  
Unit Symbola) 
Milligram  mg 
Gram  g 
Kilogram  kg 
Tonne t 
litreb) L or l 
Millilitre  mL or ml  
Micrometre  µm 
Millimetre  mm 
Centimetre  cm 
Decimetre  dm 
Metre  m 
Square millimetre  mm2 
Square centimetre  cm2 
Square  metre  m2 
Cubic  centimetr e cm3 
Cubic  decimetr e dm3 
Cubic  metre  m3 
a) Neither a period nor the letter “s” should be used after any of the 
symbols.  
b) The alternative symbol for the l itre, L, was adopted by the General 
Conference of Weights and Measures (CGPM) in order to avoid the 
risk of confusion of the letter l and the number 1.  
NOTE  The script letter l is not an approved symbol for litre.  
 
A.2 A single space shall be used to sepa rate the number from the unit of measurement.  
A.3 Appropriate phrases such as “net”, “net mass”, “net contents” or “net quantity” may be used in 
connection with the net quantity declaration. Such phrases may appear either before of after the net quantity 
declaration.  
A.4 The unit used depends on the type of measure and net quantity of product. Table 2 indicates the correct 
unit to use for a variety of measures and quantities.  
 FDUS 1028 : 2013 
6 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 Table A.2 — Choice of units  
Type of measure  Net quantity of product ( q) Units  
volume  
(liquids)  q < 1000 mL  
1000 mL  ≤ q mL (ml)  
L (l) 
volume - cubic  
(solids)  q ≤
1000 cm3 (1 dm3) 
1 dm3 < q < 1000 dm3 
1000 dm3 
q cm3, mL (ml)  
dm3, L (l)  
m3 
mass  q < 1 g  
q < 1000 g  
q mg 
g 
kg 
length  q < 1 mm  
q < 100 cm  
q mm 
mm or cm  
m 
area q < 100 cm2 (1 dm2) 
1 dm2 ≤
q < 100 dm2 (1 m2) 
1 m2 
q mm2 or cm2 
dm2 
m2 
 FDUS 1028 : 2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  7 
 Annex  B 
(informative)  
 
Type size of letters and numerals  for statements of net quantity on 
consumer packages  
B.1 General  
A consensus has not been achieved on a minimum type size for the lettering required for labelling  
prepackaged products. This Annex gives the current requirements in the USA and in the EU as examples 
only.  
B.2 Examples of minimum type size requirements  
B.2.1  In the United States, for example, the minimum height requirements of numbers and letters in relation 
to the area of the principal display panel of the package is shown in Table B.1. These requirements have been 
adopted by the National Conference on Weights and Measures and published in the  National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Handbook 130, “Uniform Laws and Regulations”, 1996.  
B.2.2  The area of principal display panel of the package (not including the tops, bottoms, flanges at tops 
and bottoms of cans, and shoulders and necks of b ottles and jars) shall be determined as follows:  
a) in the case of a rectangular package, where one entire side can properly be considered to be the 
principal display panel side, the product of the height × the width of that side.  
b) in the case of a cylindrical  or nearly cylindrical package, 40 % of the product of the height of the 
package × the circumference.  
c) in the case of any other shaped package, 40 % of the total surface of the package, or an area 
considered to be a principle display panel of the package ac cording to 3.4. 
Table B.1 — Minimum height of numbers and letters  
Area of principal  display panel , A 
cm2 Minimum height of  numbers and 
letters  
mm Minimum height: label  information 
blown, formed  or molded on 
surface of  container  
mm 
A≤32  1.6 3.2 
32<A≤161  3.2 4.8 
161<A≤645  4.8 6.4 
645<A≤2581  6.4 7.9 
2581<A  12.7 14.3 
 
B.2.3   In the European Union, for example, the Council Directive 76/211/EU prescribes the minimum type 
size in relation to the quantity of the net contents as shown i n Table B.2. FDUS 1028 : 2013 
8 © UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  
 Table B.2 — Minimum height of numbers and letters  
Net contents ( C) Minimum height of numbers and  letters  
mm 
C ≤ 50 g( mL)  2 
50 g (or mL) < C ≤ 200 g ( or mL)  3 
200 g ( or mL)  < C ≤ 1 kg ( or L)  4 
1 kg ( or L ) < C  6 
 FDUS 1028 : 2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  9 
 Bibliography  
OIML R 79 Labelling  requirements for prepackaged products . Edition 1997 (E)   
 
. FDUS 1028 : 2013 
© UNBS 2013 – All rights reserved  11 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use o f the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction wit h the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certif ication mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the t erms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 FDUS 1028 : 2012    
 
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