diff --git a/kong/conf_loader/init.lua b/kong/conf_loader/init.lua
index 29ac8d52a2f..92a9f05e946 100644
--- a/kong/conf_loader/init.lua
+++ b/kong/conf_loader/init.lua
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ local env = require "kong.cmd.utils.env"
 local ffi = require "ffi"
 
 
+local re_match = ngx.re.match
 local fmt = string.format
 local sub = string.sub
 local type = type
@@ -727,7 +728,7 @@ end
 local function check_dynamic_module(mod_name)
   local configure_line = ngx.config.nginx_configure()
   local mod_re = [[^.*--add-dynamic-module=(.+\/]] .. mod_name .. [[(\s|$)).*$]]
-  return ngx.re.match(configure_line, mod_re, "oi") ~= nil
+  return re_match(configure_line, mod_re, "oi") ~= nil
 end
 
 
@@ -771,6 +772,62 @@ local function validate_wasm(conf)
   return true
 end
 
+local validate_labels
+do
+  local MAX_KEY_SIZE   = 63
+  local MAX_VALUE_SIZE = 63
+  local MAX_KEYS_COUNT = 10
+
+
+  -- validation rules based on Kong Labels AIP
+  -- https://kong-aip.netlify.app/aip/129/
+  local BASE_PTRN = "[a-z0-9]([\\w\\.:-]*[a-z0-9]|)$"
+  local KEY_PTRN  = "(?!kong)(?!konnect)(?!insomnia)(?!mesh)(?!kic)" .. BASE_PTRN
+  local VAL_PTRN  = BASE_PTRN
+
+
+  local function validate_entry(str, max_size, pattern)
+    if str == "" or #str > max_size then
+      return nil, fmt(
+        "%s must have between 1 and %d characters", str, max_size)
+    end
+    if not re_match(str, pattern, "ajoi") then
+      return nil, fmt("%s is invalid. Must match pattern: %s", str, pattern)
+    end
+    return true
+  end
+
+
+  -- Validates a label array.
+  -- Validates labels based on the kong Labels AIP
+  function validate_labels(raw_labels)
+    local nkeys = require "table.nkeys"
+    if nkeys(raw_labels) > MAX_KEYS_COUNT then
+      return nil, fmt(
+        "labels validation failed: count exceeded %d max elements",
+        MAX_KEYS_COUNT
+      )
+    end
+
+    for _, kv in ipairs(raw_labels) do
+      local del = kv:find(":", 1, true)
+      local k = del and kv:sub(1, del - 1) or ""
+      local v = del and kv:sub(del + 1) or ""
+
+      local ok, err = validate_entry(k, MAX_KEY_SIZE, KEY_PTRN)
+      if not ok then
+        return nil, "label key validation failed: " .. err
+      end
+      ok, err = validate_entry(v, MAX_VALUE_SIZE, VAL_PTRN)
+      if not ok then
+        return nil, "label value validation failed: " .. err
+      end
+    end
+
+    return true
+  end
+end
+
 
 -- Validate properties (type/enum/custom) and infer their type.
 -- @param[type=table] conf The configuration table to treat.
@@ -1291,7 +1348,7 @@ local function check_and_parse(conf, opts)
     end
 
     if conf.cluster_dp_labels then
-      local _, err = utils.validate_labels(conf.cluster_dp_labels)
+      local _, err = validate_labels(conf.cluster_dp_labels)
       if err then
        errors[#errors + 1] = err
       end
diff --git a/kong/tools/utils.lua b/kong/tools/utils.lua
index 0d67b241a42..0b38d0dab5b 100644
--- a/kong/tools/utils.lua
+++ b/kong/tools/utils.lua
@@ -11,69 +11,11 @@
 local pairs    = pairs
 local ipairs   = ipairs
 local require  = require
-local fmt      = string.format
-local re_match = ngx.re.match
 
 
 local _M = {}
 
 
-local validate_labels
-do
-  local nkeys = require "table.nkeys"
-
-  local MAX_KEY_SIZE   = 63
-  local MAX_VALUE_SIZE = 63
-  local MAX_KEYS_COUNT = 10
-
-  -- validation rules based on Kong Labels AIP
-  -- https://kong-aip.netlify.app/aip/129/
-  local BASE_PTRN = "[a-z0-9]([\\w\\.:-]*[a-z0-9]|)$"
-  local KEY_PTRN  = "(?!kong)(?!konnect)(?!insomnia)(?!mesh)(?!kic)" .. BASE_PTRN
-  local VAL_PTRN  = BASE_PTRN
-
-  local function validate_entry(str, max_size, pattern)
-    if str == "" or #str > max_size then
-      return nil, fmt(
-        "%s must have between 1 and %d characters", str, max_size)
-    end
-    if not re_match(str, pattern, "ajoi") then
-      return nil, fmt("%s is invalid. Must match pattern: %s", str, pattern)
-    end
-    return true
-  end
-
-  -- Validates a label array.
-  -- Validates labels based on the kong Labels AIP
-  function validate_labels(raw_labels)
-    if nkeys(raw_labels) > MAX_KEYS_COUNT then
-      return nil, fmt(
-        "labels validation failed: count exceeded %d max elements",
-        MAX_KEYS_COUNT
-      )
-    end
-
-    for _, kv in ipairs(raw_labels) do
-      local del = kv:find(":", 1, true)
-      local k = del and kv:sub(1, del - 1) or ""
-      local v = del and kv:sub(del + 1) or ""
-
-      local ok, err = validate_entry(k, MAX_KEY_SIZE, KEY_PTRN)
-      if not ok then
-        return nil, "label key validation failed: " .. err
-      end
-      ok, err = validate_entry(v, MAX_VALUE_SIZE, VAL_PTRN)
-      if not ok then
-        return nil, "label value validation failed: " .. err
-      end
-    end
-
-    return true
-  end
-end
-_M.validate_labels = validate_labels
-
-
 do
   local modules = {
     "kong.tools.table",