No matter how wonderful your product is, its success will largely depend on factors aside from its quality, such as its packaging and marketing. A product’s packaging and labeling plays an important role in pulling new customers in and helping returning customers recognize the brand. What’s more, it’s crucial to follow labeling regulations in order to stay legally compliant and protect the reputation of your brand. Avoid having your products pulled from the shelves as a result of noncompliance. Learn about labeling regulations in the U.S. for a variety of product types.
Labeling Regulations for Different Industries
Every industry comes with its own set of labeling regulations. Some are very simple, while others are intricate and strict. In all industries, it’s important to include only accurate, factual information on your product labels and avoid any false claims. In every case, following labeling regulations is critical for the health of your consumers and the legal safety of your brand.
- Food and Supplements: Labeling on all food and supplement products is regulated by the FDA. Nutrition labeling regulations state that food items need thorough labels that list ingredients, state the net quantity of the product’s contents (such as net weight) and include any applicable allergy declarations.
- CBD: CBD labels must include information such as date tested, test number confirmation, marijuana strain name, brand name and business address, and net weight. Because state laws for THC and CBD vary, it’s important to look into local regulations as well as nationwide requirements.
- Cosmetic Products: FDA regulations require that cosmetic product labels state the product’s name, net weight, and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
- Other Consumer Goods: The FTC requires other consumer products, such as detergents and other household goods, to state information about the product’s name and purpose, the net weight, and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
By digging into the specific label requirements for your particular product type, you can communicate efficiently with your consumers and remain in compliance with legal regulations.
FDA Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works to ensure the safety of many types of consumer products. FDA regulations apply to various types of products, including:
- Food
- Beverages
- Drugs
- Cosmetics
- Supplements
FDA labeling requirements state that product labels should include the following:
- Nutrition Facts: Packaged food products should include a Nutrition Facts panel where information on serving size, calories, nutrients, and ingredients are all clearly communicated. Nutrition labeling regulations also dictate specific formatting guidelines.
- Allergen information: Any product that contains common allergens such as peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, shellfish, fish and soy must be clearly labeled with a clear warning about the potential allergens.
- Drugs facts: Drug and supplement labels must include information about active ingredients, directions for use, dosage, and applicable warnings.
- All products: Basic information such as product name, net weight, and the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor is included in FDA labeling requirements for all product types.
FTC Regulations
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces truth-in-advertising policies to protect consumers from misleading claims on product labels and advertisements. In order to meet regulations, it is important to avoid making unsubstantiated claims about your product’s benefits, ingredients, or efficacy.
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), enacted in 1967, directs the FTC and the FDA to regulate labels on consumer commodities. This act requires that household goods include the following factors on their labels:
- Identifying statement: This should tell consumers exactly what the product is, e.g. dishwasher detergent.
- Manufacturer, packer, or distributor name and address.
- Net quantity: Depending on the product, this may be a measurement of weight, numerical count, or other metrics.
State Regulations
In some cases, individual states have their own specific label requirements. For example, products like THC, CBD, and other supplements are governed by different regulations and laws depending on the state. Likewise, regulations for labeling organic products and locally produced products differ from state to state. Taking the time to research the specific nutrition labeling regulations for every state you plan to sell your product in is the best way to ensure you are in compliance.
International Regulations
If you find your business growing and you’re ready to bring your products to an international scale, you’ve reached an undeniably exciting stage of your business! At the same time, it’s important to keep in mind that labeling requirements may vary between countries. Most labeling requirements will include information like the country of origin and product description.
In some cases, international regulations may require an entire overhaul of your branding. For example, in Mexico, products with added sweeteners or caffeine cannot include cartoon characters or other child-geared branding elements. On top of these types of adjustments, you’ll also need a reliable translator to help ensure your label is easy for your target audience to read and understand.
While following FDA labeling requirements may feel overwhelming, it’s worth it to dig into these regulations and ensure your product launch goes smoothly. Instead of leaving these requirements up to chance, perform a deep dive into your state and local laws, then design your label around these specific laws. Then, partner with Maverick Label to ensure that your label’s designs and fonts are legible and beautiful. Get started today!
