EU & UK Market Entry: Labelling & Claims
EU cosmetic labelling is prescriptive: a defined set of elements must appear, the Responsible Person must be identified, and the ingredient declaration follows INCI nomenclature in descending order with fragrance allergens declared individually above thresholds.
At a glance
- Local entity
- Name and address of the Responsible Person
- Durability
- Date of minimum durability, or a period-after-opening symbol
- Ingredients
- INCI names in descending order, with fragrance allergens above thresholds
- Traceability
- Batch code or reference for identification
What the market requires
Mandatory label elements
The label carries the Responsible Person's details, nominal content, the durability date or PAO symbol, precautions for use, the batch code, the product's function unless obvious, and the ingredient list.
Fragrance allergen declaration
Certain fragrance components are declared individually once they exceed a threshold concentration, even though the fragrance itself appears under a single term. This is the requirement most likely to change artwork late.
Language and claims
Wording must be in the language required by the member state of sale, and claims must be substantiated. A claim accepted in one market may need evidence that does not exist yet.
What this means for your brief
Plan artwork as a variant matrix rather than one file: language, allergen declarations and market-specific statements differ, and the ingredient order must match the actual formula rather than a template.
What we provide
- Ingredient declarations in exact formula order with INCI names, for your artwork and assessment
- Fragrance allergen concentrations reported for the dosage actually used
- Label content prepared for your Responsible Person's review before printing
Capabilities above are limited to what is verifiable: GMPC and ISO 22716 certification audited by third parties, cosmetics production licence 粤妆20250206, and FDA MoCRA facility registration. See certifications.
Market questions
When is the PAO symbol used instead of a date?
It is used where minimum durability exceeds thirty months; below that a date of minimum durability must be given. The choice follows the stability data rather than the marketing plan.
Do I need English labelling?
Each member state sets its own language requirement and most require their national language, so English labelling alone is usually not sufficient across the Union.
More on Europe & UK market entry
Regulatory requirements change. Confirm the current position for your product with your local adviser or appointed representative before you place artwork or place an order. See also certifications and compliance and the sourcing glossary.
Sourcing for Europe & UK?
Send your product brief with the destination market — quotation and formula recommendations within 24 hours.
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