Cosmetic Label Requirements by Country: A Checklist for Export Brands

Cosmetic label requirements are among the cheapest details to get right and the most expensive to fix. Once cartons are printed, a missing address, the wrong language or a disallowed claim can mean stickering, reprinting or a delayed launch.

Cosmetic labeling requirements by country differ in language, in the company named on the pack and in the words you can use. This checklist covers the shared core, the regional differences and space planning.

It is a planning guide, not legal advice: confirm your final label with the authority in your market, your importer or a regulatory consultant.

Why One Label Rarely Fits Every Market

Four things usually change:

• Language: which language is mandatory
• Responsible company: who must be named on the pack
• Claims: wording that is cosmetic in one market may need registration in another
• Codes and marks: symbols or tracking codes some markets add

For example, a toner sold in Malaysia and Indonesia may share one formula, but Malaysia accepts Bahasa Malaysia and/or English, while Indonesia requires the benefits, directions for use and warnings in Bahasa Indonesia.

The Common Core of Cosmetic Label Requirements

Start with a base label that carries what most regulators ask for:

• Product name and function
• Ingredient list in descending order
• Net content
• Batch or lot number
• Expiry date or period after opening (PAO)
• Precautions where they apply
• Responsible company name and address
• Country of origin for imported products

Cosmetic ingredient listing rules deserve extra care. Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, the list is headed "ingredients", runs in descending order of weight, and ingredients below 1% may follow in any order. Fragrance appears as "parfum" or "aroma", with certain allergens named individually. ASEAN asks for full listing by INCI name.

Language and Responsible-Company Rules by Region

This is where labels need local versions:

• United States: US cosmetic label requirements, set out in the FDA labeling guide, include required statements in English, identity and net quantity on the principal display panel, the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor, and the English name of the country of origin for imports.
• European Union: Each Member State sets the language. The label names the EU Responsible Person and its address, and states the country of origin for imports.
• Great Britain: UK cosmetic label requirements call for the UK Responsible Person’s name and UK address, plus the country of origin for imports.
• Malaysia: Label information must be in Bahasa Malaysia and/or English.
• ASEAN generally: The label names the company responsible for the local market, shows an expiry or manufacturing date, and states the country of manufacture at all times.
• Japan: Labels are in Japanese and carry the marketer’s name, product name, lot number and, in principle, a full ingredient list. The marketer is the Marketing Authorization Holder licensed in Japan.
• EAEU: Label information must be in the official language(s) of the member state of sale; your importer can confirm which. The manufacturer’s name and address and the product name may stay in Latin letters.
• Saudi Arabia: The country of origin must be written in full, such as "Made in Korea". Ask your importer early what your Arabic cosmetic label must include.
• Indonesia: Benefits or uses, directions and warnings must be in Bahasa Indonesia; other details may use another language in Latin script. The label names the notification holder, the local company that files the BPOM notification.

Halal marks follow their own rules. In Malaysia, a halal logo is voluntary and allowed only on products certified by JAKIM or an Islamic body it recognizes. In Indonesia, the halal agency BPJPH states that mandatory halal certification under Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 covers cosmetics, imports included, from 18 October 2026. Confirm your route with BPJPH or your importer.

Claims on the Label: The Words That Trigger Registration

Under FDA rules, intended use decides whether a product is a cosmetic, a drug or both, and other markets draw similar lines:

• Whitening or brightening: a functional cosmetic needing MFDS review or a report in Korea, a quasi-drug claim in Japan and a registered special cosmetic in China; whitening products can also require state registration in the EAEU.
• SPF: sunscreens are OTC drugs in the US and functional cosmetics in Korea. EU guidance advises against "sunblock", and FDA notes that no sunscreen is waterproof.
• Anti-wrinkle: a functional claim in Korea. In Japan, a cosmetic’s wrinkle wording is limited to making fine lines caused by dryness less noticeable.
• Hair loss: hair-loss symptom relief is a functional claim in Korea that needs a "not a medicine" statement; hair growth or hair-loss prevention is a drug claim in the US.
• Acne: a functional type limited to wash-off cleansers in Korea, and a drug claim in the US.

ASEAN leaves claims to each country, and Saudi Arabia does not accept medical claims. If a claim is essential, plan its testing or registration per market before artwork is final.

Codes, Symbols and Space Planning

Multilingual panels take more room than one language, and several markets add marks or codes:

• EU nano labeling: nanomaterials are followed by "(nano)" in the ingredient list.
• EAC mark: in the EAEU, it goes on each unit (packaging, label or tag) and/or the accompanying documents.
• Russia DataMatrix: the "Chestny Znak" system requires DataMatrix marking codes on most cosmetics, and importers must register in the system, so leave a clear area.
• Indonesia 2D barcode: BPOM’s labeling regulation lists a 2D barcode among the required label details.
• Barcodes: if retailers require one, reserve a flat, readable spot.

A small tube has far less flat area than a carton, so compare options in the Package Library with your text in mind. Choosing between a label sticker and direct printing also affects how easily one design adapts across markets.

Common Mistakes

• Abbreviating the country of origin. Write "Made in Korea" in full on every version.
• No local responsible company. An overseas manufacturer’s address alone is usually not enough in the EU, Great Britain, ASEAN or Japan.
• Untranslated warnings. Language rules cover precautions too.
• Claims that change the category. Brightening, SPF or hair-loss wording copied from a Korean version can make the product a registered or drug product elsewhere.
• No room for codes. Edge-to-edge artwork leaves nowhere for a DataMatrix code or barcode.
• Reusing old EU artwork. The EU has extended the list of fragrance allergens that must be named individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use one English label for several markets?

Only in a few. English works in the US and Malaysia, but EU Member States set their own languages, Japan expects Japanese, the EAEU uses its member states’ official languages, and Indonesia requires key sections in Bahasa Indonesia. Localize one base design with each importer.

Do I need the country of origin on the label?

In most markets here, yes. The US, EU and Great Britain require it, ASEAN requires the country of manufacture at all times, and Saudi Arabia rejects abbreviations.

Who checks my label before printing?

The company legally responsible in each market, such as the EU or UK Responsible Person or Japan’s Marketing Authorization Holder, should review the final artwork. A regulatory consultant can add a second check.

Final Thoughts

Labels share a common core, but the details change by market. Build one compliant base label, then localize it with your importer before anything is printed.