Five Labelling Mistakes That Delay Customs Clearance

Customs delays on cosmetics are usually about what the label says, not what the product contains.

1. Missing the responsible person

The EU requires an address of a responsible person established in the Union. A Chinese factory address will not do, and the container will sit until it is corrected.

2. Net content in the wrong unit

Some markets require metric, some require both metric and imperial, and some specify where on the panel it must appear.

3. An unsupported claim

“Hypoallergenic”, “dermatologically tested” and “natural” all have different definitions across markets. A claim that is routine at home can be a hold-up abroad.

4. Ingredient names in the wrong format

INCI names are expected in most markets, but the order, the language and the treatment of allergens vary.

5. Warnings that are present but unreadable

Type size and contrast requirements are written into several regulations and are checked on arrival.

How to avoid all five

Send us the destination country before the artwork is finalised. Our compliance desk returns a label checklist for that market, and we review the print file against it.