New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 1 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS
Chapter VI - Food Control
Subchapter G - Inspection of Meat, Meat Products and Poultry (Article 5-B Agriculture and Markets Law)
Article 1 - Meat and Meat Products
Part 316 - Marking Products And Their Containers
Section 316.5 - Branding ink; to be furnished by official establishments; approval by department; color

(a) The operator of each official establishment shall furnish all ink for marking products with the official marks at such establishment. Such ink must be made with harmless ingredients that are approved for the purpose by the commissioner. Samples of inks shall be submitted to the department laboratory from time to time as may be deemed necessary by the officer in charge.

(b) Only ink approved for the purpose shall be used to apply ink brands bearing official marks to carcasses of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats and fresh meat cuts derived therefrom. Any ink containing F.D. & C. Violet No. 1 shall not be considered an approved ink within the meaning of this subdivision.

(c) Green ink shall not be used to apply marks to carcasses of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats or fresh meat cuts derived therefrom.

(d) Except as provided in subdivision (b) and (c) of this section, branding ink of any color, approved for the purpose by the commissioner in specific cases, may be used to apply ink brands, bearing official marks, to processed meat cuts derived from cattle, sheep, swine or goats.

(e) Only green ink approved for the purpose shall be used to apply ink brands bearing official marks to carcasses and parts of carcasses and meat cuts derived from horses, mules and other equines.

(f) Ink used must assure legibility and permanence of the markings and the color of ink shall provide acceptable contrast with the color of the product to which it is applied.