Label Compliance Resources

Regulation EU 1169/2011 Food

The primary legislation governing food labeling across the European Union. Directly applicable in all EU member states — no national implementation required.

Mandatory label information

• Name of the food product
• List of ingredients (in descending order by weight)
• Substances and products causing allergies or intolerances (visually highlighted)
• Net quantity
• Best before or use-by date
• Storage conditions and/or conditions of use
• Name/company and address of the responsible operator
• Country or place of origin (for selected categories)
• Nutrition declaration (table)

14 allergens requiring highlighting

Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, lupin, molluscs. Allergens must be visually distinguished (e.g. bold, italic or underline).

Language of labeling

Mandatory information must be provided in a language easily understood by consumers in the country where the product is sold. In Poland this means Polish. A label in a foreign language without translation is grounds for product withdrawal.

Regulation EU 1223/2009 Cosmetics

Governs the safety and labeling of cosmetic products. Requires a safety report and notification in the CPNP system before placing a product on the market.

Mandatory cosmetic label elements

• Name/company and address of the responsible person
• Nominal content (weight or volume)
• Best before date or period after opening (PAO)
• Special precautions for use
• Batch number or reference for identification
• Function of the cosmetic product
• List of ingredients (INCI) preceded by "Ingredients:"

INCI ingredient list

Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Ingredients at ≤1% concentration may be listed in any order after ingredients exceeding 1%. Colorants may be listed in any order after other ingredients.

RASFF System EU Alerts

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is an information-sharing platform for hazards in the food chain. Operating since 1979, covering all EU and EEA countries.

RASFF alert types

• Alert (serious hazard) — requires immediate action, product on the market
• Information for action — risk identified, product may be on the market
• Information for attention — risk identified, product has not reached the market
• Border rejection — product stopped on entry to the EU

GIS and UOKiK in Poland Regulators

Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS)

The authority responsible for food and cosmetics safety. Conducts labeling inspections, issues product withdrawal decisions and publishes public warnings. GIS warnings are public and indexed by search engines.

Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK)

Imposes financial penalties for unfair market practices, including misleading product labeling. The maximum fine is 10% of annual turnover, but in cases of violation of collective consumer interests — up to PLN 60 million.

Sanctions and financial penalties Risk

Cost of a product recall

• Logistics of withdrawing from retail and distribution: PLN 50,000–500,000
• Loss of recalled stock value: depends on scale
• PR and media costs: PLN 50,000–200,000
• Civil damages (in case of health harm): unlimited

Administrative penalties

• UOKiK — for misleading labeling: up to 10% of turnover or PLN 60M
• GIS — for sanitary regulation violations: up to PLN 5,000 per violation
• Criminal sanctions (Food Safety Act Art. 100): up to 5 years imprisonment