A warning label is a label attached to a product, or contained in a product's instruction manual, warning the user about risks associated with its use, and may include restrictions by the manufacturer or seller on certain uses.^[1] Most of them are placed to limit civil liability in lawsuits against the item's manufacturer or seller (see product liability).^[2][3] That sometimes results in labels which for some people seem to state the obvious.

Government regulation

In the United States warning labels have been instituted under a number of different government organizations. For instance the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938.^[4] Cigarettes were not required to have warning labels in the United States until in 1965 Congress passed the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA).^[5] Other organizations that create label standards in the U.S. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) govern their use. The U.S. organizations pull from international organizations such as the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and the International Standards Organization (ISO)

In the EEA, a product containing hazardous mixtures must have a Unique formula identifier (UFI) code. This is not a warning label per se, but a code that helps poison control centres identify the exact formula of the hazardous product.

Hazard level warning labels

In the US or elsewhere

• Danger! - Highest level of hazard
  • Indicates severe injury or death certain to occur if not avoided.
  • reserved for the most severe situations, often accompanied by symbols or pictograms that are universally recognized to quickly convey the risks involved even if the language is not recognized by the viewer.
• Warning! - Medium level of hazard
  • There is a potential hazard that could result in serious injury or death but is less immediate or severe or probable than those marked with "Danger."
  • This label signals a need for caution and awareness of the potential risks, and, like "Danger," is often paired with symbols to facilitate quick recognition.
• Caution! - The lowest level of hazard.
  • There is a potential hazard that could result in minor or moderate injury, or there is a risk of property damage.
  • This label is used for situations where the risks do not typically result in serious injury or death but where attention and care are still required. It advises individuals to proceed with caution to prevent accidents.

The terms Danger, Warning and Caution are regulated by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) ANSI Z535. Graphic symbols are regulated by ISO 7010.

Abnormal warning labels

Warning labels have been produced for different items. In some cases, rumors have developed of labels warning against some very strange occurrences, such as the legendary microwave warning that allegedly states 'do not dry pets in microwave'.^[6]

Some companies hold 'strange warning label competitions' such as the former M-law^[7][8] wacky warning labels competition.^[9]

While many safe products intended for human consumption may require warning labels due to the health risks associated with using them, it is only tobacco products that have strongly worded warnings on their health risks.^{[citation needed]}