Product labelling requirements in the UK: an overview
An overview of the UK rules that decide what goes on a product label, by product type, with links to where to check the details.
What has to be on a label depends on what you sell. This overview points you to the rules that usually apply in Great Britain. It is a starting point, not legal advice: always check the current guidance on gov.uk or ask your local Trading Standards team. Northern Ireland follows some EU rules, so check separately if you sell there.
Every consumer product
Under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, producers must make products safe and, in practice, the product or its packaging should identify who is responsible for it (name and address) and which product it is (a model, batch or reference number), so it can be traced and recalled.
Rules by product type
| Product | Main rules | What the label typically needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepacked food | Food Information Regulations 2014 | name, ingredients, allergens emphasised, net quantity, date, storage, business name and address, nutrition. See what must go on a food label |
| Cosmetics | UK cosmetics regulation (enforced by Trading Standards; products notified on the government portal) | responsible person, ingredients (INCI), net content, durability, precautions, batch |
| Chemicals and mixtures (cleaning products, paints) | GB CLP | hazard pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, supplier details. See GHS hazard symbols |
| Electrical goods, toys, machinery and other regulated products | product-specific regulations with UKCA marking (CE also accepted for many goods) | conformity marking, manufacturer details, type or batch number |
| Textiles | Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Names) Regulations | fibre composition |
Practical printing tips
- Legibility: text must be clear and indelible; food has a minimum x-height of 1.2 mm.
- Durability: if the product gets wet, oily or cold, use a polypropylene label so the required information survives.
- Variable data: batch numbers and dates can be printed on site with a thermal printer, or we can print sequential numbers for you.
We print product labels, GHS hazard labels, food labels and cosmetic labels on rolls. The wording on the label remains your responsibility; we take care of printing it.
FAQ
What must be on a product label in the UK?
It depends on the product. Most consumer products should identify the producer and the product or batch; food, cosmetics, chemicals and many regulated goods have their own detailed rules.
Do I need UKCA marking?
Only for product types covered by UKCA rules, such as many electrical goods, toys and machinery. Check gov.uk for your product.
Who checks product labels in the UK?
Mainly local Trading Standards, and environmental health for some food matters.