What Are the Latest Regulations That May Take Your Product Off the Shelves?
Imagine your fantastic product, ready to hit the shelves, only to be stopped because of a tiny detail on its label. It sounds frustrating, right? But in the world of product compliance, labels are far more than just pretty packaging. They are critical tools for conveying safety information and ensuring regulatory adherence. If you’re a manager or executive responsible for product safety and compliance, keeping up with the latest labelling regulations is paramount to avoiding costly market access issues.
Product labels are the primary way consumers receive crucial information about what they are buying, including safety warnings, ingredients, and instructions for use. Regulators globally rely on accurate and comprehensive labelling to protect consumers and ensure fair trade. Changes in regulations, driven by evolving safety concerns or new environmental objectives, can have a direct impact on whether your product can legally be sold. Failing to comply can lead to products being pulled from shelves, fines, and damage to your brand’s reputation.
Why label compliance is a moving target
Labelling regulations are not static; they frequently evolve to address new scientific understandings, emerging hazards, or policy goals like sustainability. For example, the increasing focus on the circular economy and environmental impact means that product labels may need to include information on reparability, recycled content, or disposal instructions.
One significant area of change is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), particularly under the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). While not a physical label, the DPP will require products to have a digital label or QR code that provides extensive information on their sustainability performance, durability, and reparability. This will effectively become an extension of your product’s “label” in the digital realm.
Another example comes from specific product categories, such as chemicals. Regulations like REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures) require very specific hazard pictograms, warning statements, and precautionary measures on labels to protect users. Even minor changes in a chemical’s classification can trigger a complete label overhaul.
How to keep your labels compliant
Staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Here are some key steps to ensure your product labels comply with the latest regulations:
- Stay informed: Regularly monitor regulatory updates in all the markets where you sell your products. Subscribing to regulatory alerts and working with compliance experts can help you keep track.
- Conduct thorough reviews: Before launching a new product or entering a new market, perform a comprehensive review of all applicable labelling requirements. This includes general product safety labelling, as well as any specific requirements for your product category (e.g., toys, electronics, cosmetics, chemicals).
- Embrace digital labelling: Prepare for the shift towards digital product information, such as the Digital Product Passport. This might involve investing in systems to collect and manage the required data and linking it to your products.
- Engage your supply chain: Ensure that your suppliers provide you with accurate and up-to-date information about components and ingredients, as this data will be crucial for your labelling.
- Invest in expertise: Consider working with product compliance professionals who specialise in labelling regulations. They can provide invaluable guidance and help you navigate complex requirements.
Remember, a compliant label isn’t just a legal necessity; it’s a mark of trust and a commitment to consumer safety. Don’t let a small label oversight become a big problem for your product’s journey to the market. Need support? Contact Alura Group to remove the word “daunting” from your product compliance.
