EU Product Labelling Requirements for Consumer Goods
Clear, accurate, and traceable labelling is required for every consumer product sold in the European Union. Under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, a product must show who is responsible for it, how to use it safely, and how authorities can reach the correct contact point during a safety investigation. For a broader overview of EU compliance for sellers, see our EU compliance guide for consumer products.
What an EU Product Label Must Contain
Manufacturer and EU Responsible Person
If the manufacturer is located outside the EU, an EU Responsible Person must be appointed. Their full postal address, website, and email must appear on the product or packaging. This is required under Article 21 of the General Product Safety Regulation. Learn more about appointing an EU Responsible Person here: Appoint an EU Responsible Person.
Batch or Lot Number
Every consumer product must include a batch, lot, or serial number for traceability. This links the item to its technical file and production records. EU guidance is available on the Commission’s Product Safety page. For details on technical files, visit: GPSR Technical File Documentation Guide.
Safety Warnings and Instructions
Warnings must be clear, specific, and provided in the official languages of every EU Member State where the product is sold. For distance sales, warnings must also be shown on the product page before the buyer completes the purchase. Guidance is published on the EU’s Consumer Product Safety site. See examples of compliant warnings: GPSR warning examples.
Product Identification
The label must include a product name, model number, or SKU that matches the technical file. Inspectors compare this information during checks. To understand how this fits into the full technical file, review our EU GPSR technical file guide.
Material or Care Information
When relevant, a product must include material details or care instructions, especially for textiles, coated materials, and items that require specific handling. EU rules on consumer information for distance sales are found in Regulation (EU) 1169/2011. For more on material safety and chemical requirements, read Chemical testing for EU compliance.
Placement and Durability
Information must be legible and permanently attached. It may appear on the product, on the packaging, or on a leaflet inside the box for very small items. For online listings, the same information must be visible before checkout. If you are preparing a new launch, our EU product launch checklist provides a structured approach.
Language Requirements
Labels must use the official languages of the EU countries where the product is placed on the market. A multilingual leaflet is often used when many languages are required. To understand how labelling fits into overall GPSR responsibilities, see Labelling requirements for GPSR compliance.
Common Labelling Errors
- Missing EU Responsible Person address
- No batch or lot number
- Warnings shown only in English
- Product page contains information not printed on the packaging
- Text too small to read comfortably
- Model number on packaging does not match the technical file
Suggested Structure for an EU Compliant Label
- Product name
- Model number or SKU
- Manufacturer name and address
- EU Responsible Person name and address
- Website and email contact
- Batch or lot number
- Safety warnings in required languages
- Material or care information when relevant
If you need a tailored label for your product category, explore GPSR compliance services or contact us directly via Contact EaseCert.
Download the EaseCert Label Template
A structured template is available here:
EaseCert Product Label Template