CPGShield resources · Print artwork requirements
A missing statement is easy to correct in a copy document. The same correction becomes harder after the design is approved, the printer has produced packaging and finished goods have been packed.
A cosmetic label preflight is the last controlled review before the artwork becomes inventory. It should confirm both the words and the measurable properties of the actual print file.
Use this checklist after the formula and claims are stable but before authorizing production.
Write down the exact product, formula, fill size, package component, dieline and artwork version being reviewed.
If the product has several sizes, shades or fragrances, do not assume one review covers all of them. Each variation can change the net quantity, ingredient declaration, available panel area or required warnings.
The preflight record should identify:
A pass on one file should never be treated as approval of a later file.
Confirm that the principal display panel tells the consumer what the product is. The brand name or creative product name may not be enough by itself.
Compare the identity statement with the intended use and directions. A package should not present the item as one type of product while the supporting records and retailer listing describe something else.
FDA's Cosmetics Labeling Guide discusses identity labeling and where the statement appears.
Check the amount, unit, formatting and placement against the actual package.
Do not copy the quantity from a larger size or a marketing mockup. Confirm the filled amount intended for sale and whether the declaration uses the applicable U.S. customary and metric expressions.
The declaration must also be evaluated in the context of the principal display panel and package design. Read Where Net Quantity Belongs on a Cosmetic Label for the placement question.
A polished ingredient list can still describe the wrong version of the product.
Compare the final label line by line with the current formula and raw-material breakdowns. Confirm standardized ingredient names, order of predominance, components supplied inside blends, color additives and any ingredients added or removed during reformulation.
Do not rely on visual memory. Use a written comparison and resolve every difference.
Read Formula-to-Label Ingredient Mismatches for a repeatable comparison method.
Check the name and place of business on the label. Confirm whether qualifying wording such as “Manufactured for” or “Distributed by” is needed based on the relationship between the named company and the manufacturer.
Verify the street information, city, state and ZIP code. Do not let an old address remain in artwork copied from a previous package.
Also confirm the domestic contact information through which the responsible person can receive cosmetic adverse-event reports. FDA's MoCRA materials describe the responsible person's adverse-event obligations.
Determine which warnings apply to the actual product type, ingredients, package and intended use. Do not insert generic warning language merely because another brand uses it, and do not remove a warning to make the layout cleaner.
Review directions for consistency with the product's intended use and safety information. Directions can also affect classification: therapeutic instructions may reinforce a drug intended use.
Distinguish required warnings from voluntary precautions and best practices. The report should say which is which.
Review the product name, taglines, badges, benefit statements, directions and small print.
Look for disease-treatment language and wording that implies an effect on the body's structure or function. Confirm that objective performance claims are connected to the evidence the company intends to rely on.
The artwork review should use the exact final text, not a summary supplied by marketing. See Cosmetic Claims Review Before Launch.
A text-only review cannot determine every artwork property. Use the final PDF and intended physical dimensions to evaluate measurable features such as character height, boldness, contrast and panel placement where supportable.
Check the file at actual size. Confirm that scaling by the printer will not reduce required text. Examine seams, curves, folds, label edges, transparent areas and decorative backgrounds that may affect legibility.
A three-dimensional rendering is useful for appearance, but the print-ready file and assembled package are both needed for a serious preflight.
Confirm that the final artwork agrees with:
Correcting the package without correcting the retailer listing leaves the company with two versions of the product story.
A missing answer is not a pass.
The preflight should clearly list:
This prevents a clean-looking summary from being mistaken for complete regulatory approval.
The final approval record should identify the exact file, product, package, formula and date. Only that approved file should be released to the printer.
If the printer changes the dieline, scale, copy, color treatment or material, determine whether the affected checks must be repeated. If marketing changes a claim after sign-off, return the artwork for review.
Run it after the product facts and formula are sufficiently stable to produce final artwork, but before authorizing the print run. Repeat affected checks whenever the formula, claims, package size, dieline, business information or selling channel changes.
No. A screenshot can support a text review, but reliable measurement and placement checks require the actual print-ready file and intended physical dimensions.
No. An automated preflight can check supported rules and identify potential problems. It does not replace legal advice, laboratory testing, safety assessment, government review or retailer approval.
Check your product free with CPGShield before sending the artwork to the printer. See the overall result and issue summary first, then unlock the detailed findings, cited sources and supported corrections when they are useful.
Free cosmetic label compliance check. No demo required, no card. CPGShield LLC provides independent screening. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any retailer, brand, agency or organization we name.