(a) General. Each hand-held rocket-propelled parachute red flare distress signal shall be legibly marked or labeled as follows:

(Company brand or style designation) Hand-Held Rocket-Propelled Parachute Red Flare Distress Signal—20,000 candela—30 seconds burning time. Use Only When Aircraft or Vessel Is Sighted. Directions—(In numbered paragraphs, simply worded instructions for firing the device). Service Life Expiration Date (date to be inserted by manufacturer) (Month and year manufactured) (Lot No. __) Manufactured by (Name and address of manufacturer) U.S. Coast Guard Approval No. __.

(b) Marking of expiration date. The expiration date must be not more than 42 months from the date of manufacture.

(c) Other marking.

(1) On each hand-held rocket propelled parachute red flare distress signal there shall be die-stamped in figures not less than 3 mm ( 18 in.) high, on the signal, numbers indicating the month and year of manufacture, thus: “6-54” indicating June, 1954.

(2) The pyrotechnic candle shall be legibly marked with the month and year of manufacture.

(3) In addition to any other marking place on the smallest packing carton or box containing signals, each carton or box shall be plainly and permanently marked to show the service life expiration date, date of manufacture, and lot number.

(4) The largest carton or box in which the manufacturer ships signals must be marked with the following or equivalent words: “Keep under cover in a dry place.”

Note: Compliance with the labeling requirements of this section does not relieve the manufacturer of the responsibility of complying with the label requirements of 15 U.S.C. 1263, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.


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