American safety label standard gains acceptance worldwide

Abstract

The United States voluntary consensus labelling standards have provided significant guidance to manufacturers selling in the US. Despite a lack of concrete scientific support for labels based on these standards, the courts, some labelling experts and many manufacturers have embraced these standards.

Adoption of labelling standards in Europe has encouraged some manufacturers to consider how they can create labels that may be effective worldwide. Other US manufacturers are struggling with the concept of how to sell products in the US, Europe and elsewhere and comply with all labelling requirements.

This paper will discuss the current status of the ANSI Z535 standards and their acceptance by manufacturers and courts. The ISO labelling standards will also be discussed. Lastly, practical issues concerning the testing of labels and other safety communications in the US will be discussed.

KeyWords:

• labelling standards
• safety labeling
• liability
• pictorials
• signal words