Our team of highly skilled scientists, toxicologists, and compliance specialists perform Product Label Reviews to ensure labeling accuracy, truth-in-advertising, and regulatory compliance. Here’s some information about product labeling and why label reviews are critical to you, your operations, your brand, and your reputation
What is product labeling?
Product labeling is a major component of branding. How a product is presented becomes vital in spreading brand awareness and making a product more desirable to the public. A label can help increase a brand’s visibility, help customers differentiate a product from other similar products, and help create trust between the brand and the consumer.
Product labels contain the necessary information to help set the product apart from other products. Distinguishing a given product from the competition helps customers decide their choice.
Labeling a product is much more than listing what it is, what it does, and what it contains. At its best, a label provides the necessary information for consumers to feel safe and sure in their choice. At its worst, a label can be misleading and dangerous to those who trust what a company is selling to them.
Ultimately, product labels help protect customers from buying the wrong product. This means that a product label must contain all the correct and pertinent information to ensure that customers get precisely what they are looking for, without any guesswork or taking any chances.
Why is product labeling necessary?
A large percentage of product rejections and detentions result from improper labeling. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and various other government agencies all have requirements and expectations that need to be fulfilled to have a compliant label.
The FTC regulates all forms of advertising. The FDA regulates the content and form of labels for food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, medical devices, and drugs. Labels are a special form of advertising, so both FTC and the FDA regulate them. The FDA reviews labels for compliance and to see that the labels meet the basic requirements for the associated product to be in the market. Agencies that regulate product labeling also have various enforcement options available, including detaining products at the border, issuing recalls, seizing products, and issuing restraining orders to halt distribution.
According to the FDA and FTC, the manufacturer, distributor, or importer must understand these rules and regulations and take the necessary actions toward compliance. Irrespective of the company’s size, whether it is based outside or within the U.S., or the number of products manufactured, it is imperative that product labels accurately follow the specific conditions for labeling compliance to be distributed to the consumer. Label information must be easy to find and read and contain any disclaimers or warnings necessary to keep consumers safe. Manufacturers, distributors, and importers are held responsible for ensuring advertising claims and labeling claims are truthful and not misleading.
What types of products require labeling?
Again, the FDA regulates labels for food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, medical devices, and drugs. The FTC regulates all forms of advertising. With product labels serving as a special form of advertising, both FTC and FDA regulate them.
Therefore, all the products mentioned above and product types require compliance in labeling – food, cosmetics, dietary supplements, medical devices, and drugs.
There are differences in what information is included on the labels within each product category. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the manufacturers, distributors, and importers to know, understand, and meet the regulations on label compliance for their products.
As one of these entities (manufacturer, distributor, importer), this is where the concept of Product Label Reviews becomes critical to you, your operations, your brand, and your reputation. This is where true expertise is needed to ensure your compliance and product brand success in the marketplace.
Which organization do you turn to for trust and transparency in conducting your product label reviews?
Ellipse Analytics is led by highly skilled scientists, toxicologists, and compliance specialists who will perform your Product Label Reviews to ensure labeling accuracy, truth-in-advertising, and regulatory compliance for your products.
