(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d) of this section no label shall be used on any product until it has been approved in its final form by the commissioner. For the convenience of the establishment sketches or proofs of new labels may be submitted in triplicate through the officer in charge to the department for approval and the preparation of finished labels deferred until such approval is obtained. All finished labels shall be submitted in quadruplicate through the officer in charge to the department for approval.

(b) In case of lithographed labels, paper take-offs in lieu of sections of the metal containers shall be submitted for approval. Such paper take-offs shall not be in the form of a negative but shall be a complete reproduction of the label as it will appear on the package, including any color scheme involved. In case of fiber containers, printed layers, such as the kraft paper sheet, shall be submitted for approval in lieu of the complete container.

(c) Inserts, tags, liners, pasters and like devices containing printed or graphic matter and for use on, or to be placed within, containers and coverings of product shall be submitted for approval in the same manner as provided for labels in subdivision (a) of this section, except that officers in charge may permit use of such devices which contain no reference to product and bear no misleading feature.

(d) Stencils, labels, box dies and brands may be used on shipping containers and on such immediate containers as tierces, barrels, drums, boxes, crates and large-size fiberboard containers provided the markings are applicable to the product, are not false or deceptive, and are used with the approval of the officer in charge. The inspection legend for use in combination with such markings shall be approved by the commissioner.