Label rules › Label law updates
Label law updates
Every change in label and packaging law that a designer or exporter has to act on — food, cosmetics, electronics, batteries, energy labels, alcohol, recycling — newest first, with the date it applies and the official text it comes from.
Last checked: 4 November 2026
EU: Toy Safety Regulation replaces the Toy Directive
Published on 12 December 2025 and in force since 1 January 2026, the new Toy Safety Regulation replaces Directive 2009/48/EC and applies in full from 1 August 2030; toys that meet the old directive may be placed on the market until then. Each toy gets a digital product passport, reached through a data carrier such as a QR code, in place of the paper declaration of conformity — plan its place on the pack — and chemical limits are tightened.
EU: CLP hazard labels get minimum font sizes
The CLP revision (in force since 10 December 2024) sets a minimum font size by pack volume, line spacing and a set label format for hazard labels on chemicals. Regulation (EU) 2025/2439, published on 3 December 2025, moved these format rules from 1 July 2026 to 1 January 2028. Digital labelling of some information stays allowed. Check new artwork for detergents, paints and other mixtures against the size table now.
Official text · Regulation (EU) 2024/2865 · postponed by (EU) 2025/2439 ↗Country rules →
EU: vague green claims banned
The Empowering Consumers Directive applies from 27 September 2026. Words such as “eco-friendly”, “green” or “climate neutral” that cannot be proven are banned on packs, and so are sustainability labels not based on a certification scheme or set up by public authorities. Remove them from artwork for the EU unless the client has the proof.
EU: new labels on every battery
Under the Batteries Regulation, batteries sold in the EU carry a label with general information — maker, type, chemistry, weight, capacity, the separate-collection symbol — from 18 August 2026. A QR code linking to more data follows from February 2027. Devices with built-in batteries need the battery pack labelled too.
EU: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation applies
The PPWR replaces the old packaging directive and applies from 12 August 2026. Harmonised sorting labels, limits on empty space and on substances, and recyclability rules are phased in over the following years. Plan new EU artwork with room for the harmonised sorting label.
Official text · Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) ↗Country rules →
Vietnam: new nutrition table rules
Circular 30/2026/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health replaces Circular 29/2023 from 10 July 2026. The table must give energy (kcal), protein, carbohydrate, fat and sodium per 100 g/ml or per serving; total sugars for sweetened foods and drinks; saturated fat for fried foods. Single-ingredient foods, plain tea and coffee, bottled water and alcohol are exempt.
Vietnam: Decree 37/2026 replaces the label decrees
Decree 37/2026/ND-CP of 23 January 2026 replaces Decrees 43/2017 and 111/2021 on goods labels. New: English origin wording (“Made in”, “Product of”) is allowed, the production date is mandatory for food, electronic labels (QR, NFC) are recognised, and labels already printed under the old rules may be used until January 2028.
Canada: “High in” symbol now mandatory
From 1 January 2026, prepackaged foods high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium must carry the black-and-white magnifying-glass symbol on the front, in English and French. Packs designed before 2026 without it must be redrawn if the recipe crosses the thresholds.
Official text · Food and Drug Regulations — front-of-package nutrition symbol ↗Country rules →
Mexico: final phase of the warning seals
The third and final phase of the NOM-051 nutrient limits started on 1 October 2025. More products cross the thresholds for the black octagon seals; a pack designed without seals in 2023 may need them now, and packs with seals may not use characters to appeal to children.
Official text · NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 (modified) ↗Country rules →
EU: energy label on smartphones and tablets
Since 20 June 2025, smartphones and tablets sold in the EU carry an energy label: an A–G efficiency class, battery endurance per charge and in cycles, drop and repairability scores, and a QR code to the EPREL database. Leave room for it on the box or the shelf card.
Official text · Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 ↗Country rules →
US: FDA proposes a front-of-pack nutrition box
The FDA proposed a “Nutrition Info” box on the front of most packaged foods, rating saturated fat, sodium and added sugars as Low, Med or High. It is a proposal, not law yet; no date to comply has been set. Leave front-of-pack space in long-life US artwork.
Official text · FDA proposed rule — front-of-package nutrition info ↗Country rules →
US: cosmetics labels need a contact for adverse events
Since 29 December 2024, cosmetics sold in the US must carry a domestic address, phone number or electronic contact (a website or email) through which the responsible person can receive reports of adverse events. Products for professional use must also say so on the label.
Official text · Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) ↗Country rules →
EU: USB-C and the “charger included” pictogram
Since 28 December 2024, phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, speakers and other small devices sold in the EU charge by USB-C. The pack must show a pictogram saying whether a charger is in the box, and a label with the power the device needs to charge.
EU: General Product Safety Regulation
Since 13 December 2024, non-food consumer products sold in the EU — including online — must show the maker’s name and postal and electronic address, a type, batch or serial number, and, for makers outside the EU, a responsible person in the EU. Warnings and safety information must be in the language of the country of sale.
Official text · Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (GPSR) ↗Country rules →
US: OSHA HazCom update and small-container labels
OSHA’s updated Hazard Communication Standard, aligned with GHS Revision 7, took effect on 19 July 2024, with compliance phased in over the following years. It writes the small-container rules into the standard: containers of 100 mL or less may carry an abbreviated label, and those of 3 mL or less only the product identifier when a full label would get in the way of use.
Official text · OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 (2024 update) ↗Country rules →
EU: ingredients and nutrition on wine labels
Wine produced from 8 December 2023 and sold in the EU must declare its ingredients and its nutrition. The energy value must be on the label; the full list may be given by a QR code or link, as long as the page carries no marketing. Allergens stay on the label itself.
South Korea: use-by date replaces sell-by date
Since 1 January 2023, food packs in Korea show a use-by date (소비기한) instead of the sell-by date (유통기한), with milk products given longer to change. Artwork with the old wording must be redrawn.
Official text · Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods (amended) ↗Country rules →
France: Triman and sorting instructions
Under the AGEC law and décret 2021-835, recyclable household packaging sold in France has carried the Triman logo with the Info-tri sorting instructions since 2022, after a period to use up old stock. Use the official files and keep them legible at the minimum size.
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Summaries to help designers plan artwork, not legal advice. Always read the official text and confirm with the client before printing.
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