Consumer Affairs

Net Content Declarations
Information Sheet No. 12

All packaged products must be labeled with declarations of quantity and origin as provided in Section 7.04.205 of the Seattle Municipal Code:

Any commodity in package form ... exposed for sale ... shall bear on the outside of the package definite, plain, and conspicuous declarations of: (A) the identity of the commodity in the package, ... (B) the net quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or count, and (C) ... the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

State law also requires a declaration of quantity on commodities sold in packaged form in Section 19.94.350 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). This labeling requirement is based on model law contained in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 130 Uniform Laws and Regulations which has been adopted by Section 16-662-105 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). As a result, stores outside of Seattle, but located in Washington, must also comply with the labeling requirement.

The net contents declaration must be in units of weight if the commodity is solid, semisolid, viscous, or a mixture of solid and liquid. The declaration must be in units of liquid measure if the commodity is a liquid (SMC 7.04.285). The units of weight that must be used are pounds and ounces. The units of liquid measure must be gallons, quarts and fluid ounces. The required quantity declaration may be supplemented by one or more declarations of weight, measure or count.

The Consumer Affairs Unit is available to answer any questions you may have regarding the requirement to provide a declaration of quantity on the label of packaged commodities. If you need assistance please contact us at: Seattle.consumer-affairs@seattle.gov or call us at (206 386-1298.