International Food Product Labeling Services
Creation of food labels for all types of food products that meet regulations based on Country.
Currently our services are available for:
o USA (English and Spanish)
o Canada (English and French)
o UK (English, French and Spanish)
o EU (English, French and Spanish)
o China (English or Traditional Chinese)
o Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan (English or Traditional Chinese)
We use software called Nutritionist Pro™ to create nutrition labels for food products that are compliant to local regulatory requirements. These requirements differ based on Country, commodity, product type, packaging type and package size. This is the same software used by the USDA.
• Creation and evaluation of Food Product Labels including:
o Nutrition fact panels for packages in a variety of legally compliant formats
o Bilingual or single language labels of varying sizes and layouts that are compliant with local regulations
o Ingredient and sub-ingredient lists for foods that meet local regulatory labeling requirements
o Rounding rules and Daily Value % calculations based on regulations, these differ depending on Country
o Claims (verification and addition of possible claims to increase market value):
- Nutrient Content (e.g. “Sugar Free”, “Trans Fat Free”, etc.)
- Structure and Function (e.g. “Supports Immune Health”)
- Health (e.g. "Soluble fiber from foods such as oats, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease")
- Certified/Verified (e.g. “Gluten-Free”, “Certified Organic”)
o Product Name based on Standards of Identity and Qualifying Statements
o Allergen Declarations – the mislabelling of allergens is the number one cause of product recalls globally
o Net weight statements
o Ad copies and label sketch prototypes to be “graphics design ready”
o Label Process Audits (e.g. “Certified Organic”, “Raised Without Antibiotics”)
o Pet Food Labelling
Dual Declaration - Canada
Standard - China & Hong Kong
Standard - English UK-EU
Dual Column - USA
Tell us about your product and we will manage all labelling activities from inception to commercialization!
o Full-Service Labelling Consultations include:
- Label formulation, naming, nutrition, claims & approval
- An interface with your expert labelling consultant about your project with no time limit
- A dedicated regulatory consultant as an account manager with no expiration date
- Complete electronic record of labels and approvals
- Mock-up review with edits *this includes one round of revisions; further revisions subject to fees based on circumstances
- Strict confidentiality
- Direct consultation with your regulatory authority when/if required
• Full Label Compliance Review of Food labels by our Experts that have already been created by the customer against all local relevant regulations to ensure 100% regulatory compliance; we provide a compliance report for your product to have on hand for any regulatory enforcement activities, reviews, audits or commercialization activities
Label translations:
• Applications and submission for USDA label approvals using the legally required ‘FSIS Form 7234-1’ using the ‘FSIS Labeling and Approval System (LSS)’ which are a legal requirement in the USA for the following commodities: meat, poultry, processed egg, catfish, fruits & vegetables.
• USDA generic label approvals for common products with uniform attributes
• Canadian label approval submissions for High-Risk Products (e.g., health claims, novel foods, supplements):
o If your product includes health claims (e.g., “helps lower cholesterol”) or falls under the Natural Health Products Regulations, you may need approval from Health Canada before labeling.
• UK label approval submissions for food products requiring additional approvals (particularly those with health claims or novel ingredients):
o Health Claims: Any product making a health claim (e.g., "reduces cholesterol") must be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
o Novel Foods: If your food contains a novel ingredient (something not commonly consumed in the UK or EU), you may need to submit the product to the FSA or FSS for approval before it can be sold.
o Organic Claims: If your product is organic, you must be certified by an accredited body to use the "organic" label.
• EU label approval submissions for food products requiring additional approvals, (particularly those with health claims or novel ingredients):
o Health Claims: Any product making a health claim (e.g., "reduces cholesterol") must be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or Food Standards Scotland (FSS).
o Novel Foods: If your food contains a novel ingredient (something not commonly consumed in the UK or EU), you may need to submit the product to the FSA or FSS for approval before it can be sold.
o Organic Claims: If your product is organic, you must be certified by an accredited body to use the "organic" label.
Submissions:
• EU pre-market notification submissions; in some cases, you may need to submit a pre-market notification to the competent authority in the country where your product will be sold.
o For food supplements or dietary supplements, for example, some member states may require pre-market notification to ensure compliance with national food safety laws.
• China Approval of Special Claims Submissions: If your food product makes any health claims, nutrition claims, or contains genetically modified (GM) ingredients, these claims must be pre-approved by SAMR. The approval process involves:
o Submitting relevant documents and scientific evidence to support health claims or nutritional statements.
o Conducting safety assessments for any GM ingredients.
• China Product Registration Submissions for certain food products, particularly those with special ingredients or new formulations, require registration with the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). This is a more extensive process that involves:
o Providing full product documentation, including ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, and safety evaluations.
o Approval is required for certain categories such as health foods, special dietary foods, and imported foods with novel ingredients.
• Hong Kong Special Claims Approval Submissions for any health or nutrition claims (such as "low-fat," "high in protein"), these claims must be substantiated. Additionally:
o For any Health Claims: claims regarding the effect of the food on health (e.g., "helps reduce cholesterol") must be supported by scientific evidence and approval from the CFS may be necessary.
• Hong Kong pre-market approval submissions for Imported Foods. Imported foods must meet the same labeling and health standards as locally produced foods. Additionally:
o For certain categories (e.g., novel foods, health foods, dietary supplements), you may need to register or seek approval from the CFS before placing your product on the market.
Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help your business.
