Europe Cosmetic Labeling Requirement

 

The EU body for cosmetic label regulation has specified the following requirements for an accepted cosmetic label.

The details that follow must be included and must be imprinted on the label in an “indelible, legible, and visible” wording:

1. Legal name and address of the RP (Responsible person). The Responsible Person is a legal physical persona or entity established within the EU. If you are located outside the European Union, you have to assign an RP to be able to promote your product in the EU market. In case you are a cosmetic company located in the EU, you will be the RP as you are unless you assign another person or entity to take this role.

 

2. Country of Origin. Here you will add the phrase: “Made in X country”. If the cosmetic is manufactured in the EU, the specific reference to your country is optional. Keep in mind that the “made in…” phrase doesn’t need to be translated.

 

3. Nominal content. This refers to measuring units which must be displayed in grams (gr), millimeters (ml) in the first position of the label. Extra measuring units like .oz can aslo be printed in the label.

 

4. Date of minimum durability and Period after Opening (PAO). If the products lasts less or exactly 30 months, you are required to display the “hour glass” symbol and the relevant date in these formats: MM/YYYY, DD MM YYYY, or DD MM YY. If the duration of the product is over 30 months, you are required to specify the PAO date. In this case you have to display the “open jar” symbol with the number of month (M) and year (Y) in the center or next to the open jar symbol.

 

5. Specific precautions and danger warnings. Some cosmetics which may contain hazardous and flammable substances e.g alcohol deodorant sprays and others must display warnings/precautions.

 

6. Batch No. This is a must although no specific format is necessary to indicate

 

7. Product use/function. The main use of the cosmetic e.g facial moisturizer must be indicated to avoid any confusion or misuse of the product

 

8. A list of specific ingredients must be included with the main ingredients listed first by weight and the less used ingredients coming after in nominal order.

 

Also consider:

• In regards to translation, you must translate the content of your label to the EU country/ies you are exporting your products. For example, if you are based in Bulgaria and export to U.K and Greece, you’ll have to translate your labels in English or Greek as well. Austrian, Bulgarian, French, Portuguese, Polish, and Slovakian regulations request the full translation of the product label.

 

• All specifications above must be listed in the product label. In the case your product and packs are not large enough to fit all the above labelling, you must specify them in an extra leaflet/manual that will come with the product, or a card, or a tag. This will act as our SP (Secondary package) label and displayed by the hand in book symbol.