Cosmetic Products Labelling & Packaging Review
An independent audit of your existing label artwork against UK and EU cosmetic law, with a clear fix list.
- Signed by a qualified safety assessor
- Regulator-ready, or we revise it free
- Delivered in 24, 48 or 72 hours
Trusted by brands including
Service details
Everything included, explained
Quick answer
A cosmetic label compliance review is an independent audit of your existing label and packaging artwork against Article 19 of the UK and EU cosmetics regulations, done before you print. You receive a written report listing every non-compliant element and the fix needed. Reviews cost from £25, with Priority Delivery in 24 hours.
What's included in your label compliance review
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Label Compliance Report | The status of every Article 19 particular and packaging check on your artwork |
| Corrective action list | What to change, element by element, before the label goes to print |
| Legal reference for each finding | The article, annex or standard behind every issue we raise |
| Claims and symbols check | Claims tested against Article 20; PAO and other symbols verified |
| UK and EU market check | Language, Responsible Person and origin details checked for each market |
Who this label compliance review is for
- Brands with finished artwork that has not yet gone to print
- Importers checking Responsible Person and country-of-origin details
- Sellers moving from the UK into the EU, or from the EU into the UK
- Brands preparing for an OPSS or Trading Standards enquiry
- Anyone unsure whether a label already on sale meets the rules
What this label review does not include
- Creating or redesigning artwork. We audit and mark up the label you have; we do not produce new design files. New artwork is our Label & Packaging Design service.
- A safety assessment of your formula. The warnings your label must carry come from your Cosmetic Product Safety Report, which is a separate service.
- Laboratory testing of your packaging. We review packaging artwork and photos; evidence that the formula is compatible with its container is our Compatibility Assessment.
- Appointing a Responsible Person or notifying your product. We check the RP details shown; appointing one is our UK Responsible Person service, and portal registration is UK SCPN notification.
Who this label compliance review is for
- Who this label compliance review is for
- Brands with finished artwork that has not yet gone to print
- Importers checking Responsible Person and country-of-origin details
- Sellers moving from the UK into the EU, or from the EU into the UK
- Brands preparing for an OPSS or Trading Standards enquiry
- Anyone unsure whether a label already on sale meets the rules
What is a cosmetic label compliance review?
A cosmetic label compliance review is an independent audit of label and packaging artwork you already have, checked against Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the EU and Northern Ireland, and against the same article of the UK Cosmetics Regulation in Great Britain. Article 19 sets out the particulars every cosmetic container and outer pack must show, in indelible, easily legible and visible lettering.
The review is for existing artwork: we audit it and tell you exactly what to fix. If you have no artwork yet and need it created from scratch, use our Label & Packaging Design service instead.
What our cosmetic label compliance review checks
Article 19 mandatory particulars:
- Responsible Person: the name and address of the UK or EU Responsible Person, plus the country of origin for imported products.
- Nominal content: weight or volume, with figures at the minimum height for the pack size. Packs under 5 g or 5 ml, free samples and single-application packs are exempt.
- Durability: a date of minimum durability if the product lasts 30 months or less, or the Period After Opening (PAO) open-jar symbol if it lasts longer.
- Precautions: warnings required by Annexes III to VI and any special precautions for professional use.
- Batch number: or another reference that identifies the product for traceability.
- Function: stated unless it is clear from the presentation.
- Ingredient list: INCI names in descending order of weight, nanomaterials marked (nano), and fragrance allergens named above 0.001% (leave-on) or 0.01% (rinse-off).
Claims, language and legibility:
- Claims: checked against Article 20 and the common criteria in Regulation (EU) No 655/2013, including wording that implies a medicinal effect.
- Language: English for Great Britain; for the EU, the language set by each Member State where you sell.
- Small packs: correct use of a leaflet, tag, tape or card, signposted by the hand-in-book symbol, where information cannot fit on the pack.
- Legibility: contrast, print size and placement of mandatory text on the actual container.
Packaging presentation:
- Container and outer pack: which particulars must appear on both, and which (such as the ingredient list) may appear on the outer pack alone.
- Symbols and marks: recycling and disposal marks, the optional ℮ mark and any other symbols checked for accuracy.
- Print durability: whether the label stock and print are likely to stay legible through use, judged from your artwork and photos.
Common cosmetic labelling mistakes we find
- No UK or EU Responsible Person address, or an address that does not match the Responsible Person for that market.
- INCI errors: trade names instead of INCI names, the wrong order, or fragrance allergens left off.
- Medicinal claims: words such as 'treats', 'heals' or 'cures' that imply a medicinal effect.
- Wrong durability marking: a PAO symbol on a product that needs a minimum durability date, or neither shown.
- Missing warnings: precautions required by an Annex III to VI entry left off the pack.
- Illegible text: low-contrast or undersized print that is not easily legible.
Legal framework
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19: the mandatory labelling particulars for cosmetics sold in the EU and Northern Ireland.
- UK Cosmetics Regulation: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as amended for Great Britain by Schedule 34 to SI 2019/696; Article 19 applies with a UK Responsible Person and English-language labelling.
- Article 20 and Regulation (EU) No 655/2013: cosmetic claims must not mislead and must meet the common criteria for justification.
- Annex VII: the PAO open-jar, minimum durability hourglass and hand-in-book symbols.
- Directive 76/211/EEC and the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006: nominal quantity marking and minimum figure heights.
- ISO 22715:2006 (Cosmetics – Packaging and labelling): a voluntary international standard we use alongside the law.
In Great Britain, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards enforce these rules; in the EU, each Member State's competent authority does. The Responsible Person is accountable for the label being correct.
Official sources:
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (EUR-Lex)
- Article 19, UK Cosmetics Regulation (legislation.gov.uk)
- GB cosmetics regulation guidance (GOV.UK)
- ISO 22715:2006 Cosmetics – Packaging and labelling (ISO)
Why brands choose Phoenix for cosmetic label compliance reviews
- An independent second check of artwork you already have, before money is spent on print
- Law and standard checked together: Article 19, Article 20 claims rules and ISO 22715 in one review
- A written report you can keep as evidence of due diligence for OPSS, Trading Standards or EU authorities
- Fixes, not just findings: every issue comes with the change needed
- Trusted by 1,400+ brands over 14 years, including The Beard Struggle, The Essence Vault, Parfum Fabric and Junaid Jamshed
- Fast delivery options: Standard Delivery (72 Hours), Fast Delivery (48 Hours) or Priority Delivery (24 Hours)
Get your label checked before it goes to print. Choose your delivery speed above, or message us on WhatsApp on +44 7346 009332 if you are unsure which option you need.
Frequently asked questions
What does a cosmetic label compliance review check?
It checks every Article 19 particular: Responsible Person name and address, country of origin, nominal content, durability date or PAO, warnings, batch number, function and the INCI ingredient list, plus claims, symbols, language and legibility for each market.
Do I need a label review if I already have a CPSR?
Usually, yes. A CPSR assesses the safety of your formula and sets the warnings, but it does not audit your artwork. The label review confirms the printed label carries those warnings and every other mandatory particular correctly.
Is a label review the same as label design?
No. A label review audits artwork you already have and tells you what to fix. Label & Packaging Design creates new, compliant artwork from scratch. Choose the review if your files are finished; choose design if you have none yet.
Can one label be used for both the UK and the EU?
Sometimes. A shared label must name a Responsible Person for each market and meet both sets of language and allergen rules, which have differed since the EU's expanded fragrance allergen list began applying on 31 July 2026. The review confirms whether one label works.
What do you need from me?
Your label artwork as a PDF or high-resolution image, the full ingredient list, the warnings from your CPSR, the markets you sell in, and photos of the container and outer pack.
What do I receive?
A Label Compliance Report showing the status of each mandatory element, the corrective actions needed and the legal provision behind each finding.
How much does a cosmetic label review cost and how long does it take?
A review costs £25 with Standard Delivery (72 Hours), £35 with Fast Delivery (48 Hours) or £50 with Priority Delivery (24 Hours).