What happens if mandatory information is missing from the label?

Missing mandatory information can lead to warnings, sales bans and fines. Missing INCI lists and batch numbers are particularly common findings during inspections.

Do I need a PAO symbol or a best-before date?

Products with a shelf life of more than 30 months require a PAO symbol (Period After Opening, e.g. 12M). For products with a shelf life of less than 30 months, a best-before date (hourglass symbol + date) is required instead.

In which language must label information be provided?

Mandatory information must be in the official language of the country where the product is sold. The INCI list always remains in standardised INCI names.

EU Reg. 1223/2009 Art. 19

Cosmetic Labels with All Mandatory Information

Q: What mandatory information must a cosmetic label have?

A cosmetic label must contain per EU Regulation 1223/2009 Art. 19: function, name and address of the responsible person, nominal content, best-before date or PAO symbol, precautions, batch number and the complete INCI list.

Use our free checker to verify whether your label contains all 12 mandatory items per EU Cosmetics Regulation.

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Key Mandatory Information in Detail

INCI list

All ingredients in descending order by weight percentage. The most important and most frequently challenged item.

Batch number

Unique LOT/batch number for traceability. Required per EU regulation for every single batch.

Responsible person

Name and full address of the person placing the product on the EU market.

Nominal content

Weight or volume at the time of filling. In grams (g) or millilitres (ml).

Common Mistakes on Cosmetic Labels

INCI list missing or incomplete

Batch number forgotten — no traceability possible

PAO symbol missing (open jar with month indication)

Allergens not individually declared, even though above threshold

Information not in the language of the country of sale

Nominal content missing or incorrectly formatted

Create Labels with INCIkit

Mandatory info check

INCIkit automatically checks whether all mandatory information is present.

PDF export

Export print-ready labels as PDF — formatted and EU-compliant.

Batch linking

Each label is automatically linked to the batch number.

Allergens automatically

Declarable allergens are detected from the formula.

INCI list integrated

The INCI list is generated directly from the formula — no manual typing.

Templates

Start with professional templates for soaps, creams, lip balms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmetic Labels

What mandatory information must a cosmetic label have?

Per EU Regulation 1223/2009 Art. 19: function, responsible person, nominal content, best-before date or PAO, precautions, batch number and INCI list. For imports, also the country of origin.

What happens if mandatory information is missing?

Missing mandatory information can lead to warnings, sales bans and fines. During inspections, the INCI list and batch number are checked most frequently.

PAO symbol or best-before date?

Shelf life over 30 months: PAO symbol (open jar + month indication). Under 30 months: hourglass symbol + specific date.

In which language must the information be provided?

In the official language of the country of sale. The INCI list always remains in standardised INCI names.

Do I need a separate label for each batch?

The batch number must be different for each batch. All other information remains the same as long as the formula does not change.

The easiest way to get started with INCIkit

We'll show you by email how to document your first production in minutes — step by step.

Professional Labels in Minutes

With INCIkit you create EU-compliant labels directly from your formulas — including INCI list, batch number and all mandatory information.

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