# Prohibited labeling.

**Citation:** 49 CFR 172.401  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may offer for transportation and no carrier may transport a package bearing a label specified in this subpart unless:

(1) The package contains a material that is a hazardous material, and

(2) The label represents a hazard of the hazardous

## Document text

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may offer for transportation and no carrier may transport a package bearing a label specified in this subpart unless:

(1) The package contains a material that is a hazardous material, and

(2) The label represents a hazard of the hazardous material in the package.

(b) No person may offer for transportation and no carrier may transport a package bearing any marking or label which by its color, design, or shape could be confused with or conflict with a label prescribed by this part.

(c) The restrictions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, do not apply to packages labeled in conformance with:

(1) The UN Recommendations (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(2) The IMDG Code (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(3) The ICAO Technical Instructions (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter);

(4) The TDG Regulations (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(5) The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(d) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to a packaging bearing a label if that packaging is:

(1) Unused or cleaned and purged of all residue;

(2) Transported in a transport vehicle or freight container in such a manner that the packaging is not visible during transportation; and

(3) Loaded by the shipper and unloaded by the shipper or consignee.

[Amdt. 172-9, 41 FR 15996, Apr. 15, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 172-75, 47 FR 44471, Oct. 7, 1982; Amdt. 172-77, 47 FR 54822, Dec. 6, 1982; Amdt. 172-94, 49 FR 38134, Sept. 27, 1984; Amdt. 172-100, 50 FR 41521, Oct. 11, 1985; Amdt. 172-123, 55 FR 52594, Dec. 21, 1990; Amdt. 172-132, 58 FR 50501, Sept. 27, 1993; 66 FR 8647, Feb. 1, 2001; 66 FR 45379, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 75741, 75742, Dec. 31, 2003; 74 FR 2252, Jan. 14, 2009]

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-172.401>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `63ab6da3372949021f2f7f00df9480356f7fae416d1ce10754338ecea149ccbb`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:45:59.130Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T21:15:48.431Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-172-401`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "172",
  "section": "172.401",
  "subpart": "Subpart E—Labeling",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```