Guide
Packaging artwork compliance checklist: what to check before print
A 10-point label compliance checklist for any industry: mandatory text, warnings, claims, symbols, barcodes and version checks to run before print.
· 6 min read
A missing allergen on a cookie box. An outdated disposal statement on a weed killer. A Supplement Facts panel that lists last year's formula. Different products, different regulators, same failure: the artwork went to print without anyone checking it against the rules one last time.
It happens more than you'd think. In the first half of 2026, undeclared allergens alone caused 105 of 266 FDA food recall events. In chemicals, the EPA fined PBI-Gordon $79,000 for selling products with outdated labels that were missing required storage and disposal directions. Nothing was wrong with the products. The labels had simply fallen behind.
A packaging artwork compliance check confirms, before print, that every required statement is present and correct, every claim and symbol is allowed, the text is legible, the barcode scans and the file is the approved version. The 10 checks below work for any regulated product: food and beverages, supplements, cosmetics, OTC drugs, household and industrial chemicals, pesticides, alcohol and pet products. The rules change from industry to industry. The checks don't.
Who is this checklist for?
Anyone who signs off a label: regulatory and quality teams, packaging and brand managers, designers and agencies, and private-label buyers checking supplier artwork. Every industry has its own rulebook, but each one asks the same 10 questions of your artwork. Here is where the rules live for the most common categories.
Industry | Main label rules | What most often goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
Food and beverages | FDA 21 CFR Part 101; EU Regulation 1169/2011 | Undeclared allergens after a recipe change |
Dietary supplements | FDA 21 CFR 101.36 | Supplement Facts out of date; claims without the required disclaimer |
Cosmetics and personal care | FDA 21 CFR Part 701; EU Regulation 1223/2009 | Ingredient list order or names; claims that make the product a drug |
OTC drugs | FDA 21 CFR 201.66 (Drug Facts) | Drug Facts format, warnings and directions |
Pesticides and disinfectants | EPA 40 CFR Part 156 | Label drifts from the EPA-accepted version |
Industrial and household chemicals | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200; EU CLP Regulation 1272/2008 | Missing pictograms or hazard statements |
Alcohol | TTB 27 CFR Part 16 (health warning) and the COLA process | Health warning wording or type size |
The 10-point label compliance checklist
Run these checks on every new artwork and every revision, in this order. The examples show how each check plays out in different industries.
Check | What to look for | Examples across industries |
|---|---|---|
1. Mandatory statements | Everything the rules require is there: product identity, net quantity, responsible company, ingredients, ID numbers | EPA registration number on a pesticide; manufacturer address on a cosmetic; Drug Facts on an OTC pack |
2. Warnings and hazard text | Required warnings appear in the exact required wording | Allergen statement on food; GHS hazard statements on a cleaner; government warning on beer |
3. Claims | Every claim is approved, substantiated and worded as approved | "Clinically proven" on a serum; "kills 99.9% of germs" on a disinfectant; health claims on a snack |
4. Net quantity | Right units, placement and minimum type height | US consumer goods need both metric and US units |
5. Panel placement | Items required on the front panel are not hidden on the back | Product identity and net quantity on the principal display panel |
6. Legibility | Minimum type sizes, contrast, no required text over images or folds | Small print on round bottles and tubes is the usual weak spot |
7. Symbols and marks | Recycling, certification and eco marks are allowed in each market | Generic "eco" labels are banned in the EU under Directive 2024/825 |
8. Language | If any required text is translated, all of it is | French on Canadian packs; Spanish on US pesticide labels |
9. Barcode | Correct GTIN, size, quiet zone and contrast | See the GS1 General Specifications |
10. Version | The file matches the latest approved text, formula and registration | Old ingredient list left on one panel after a reformulation |
Why do labeling errors still reach the shelf?
Rarely because nobody knew the rule. Most errors come from one of three gaps:
- A change that never reached the artwork. The formula, supplier or registration changed, but the label didn't.
- A review against old rules. The checker used last year's requirements, or another market's.
- A late edit nobody re-checked. A small design tweak after approval moved, cut or covered required text.
That is why the checklist ends with a version check, and why it should run on every revision, not only the first.
How to run the review, step by step
Work from the checks that carry the most risk to the ones that are easiest to fix, and give each step an owner.
- Regulatory text (regulatory affairs). Compare every mandatory statement and warning with its source: the regulation, the approved label or the specification.
- Claims (regulatory or legal). Confirm each claim is approved and substantiated for every market on the pack.
- Symbols and marks (regulatory or sustainability). Check recycling, certification and eco marks against what each market allows.
- Brand (marketing). Check logo use, colors, product names and tone against brand guidelines.
- Technical print checks (prepress or QA). Barcode, type sizes, bleed, dielines and panel placement.
- Final version compare (packaging lead). Compare the print-ready file with the last approved version and confirm only the intended changes moved.
Record who approved what, on which version and against which rules. That record is your audit trail when an inspector, retailer or customer asks a question.
Where to go next: our other guides
This checklist is the overview: what to check on any label, before print. The guides below each go deeper into one part of the job. Pick the one that matches where you are.
Guide | How it differs from this checklist | Read it if |
|---|---|---|
Covers the workflow around the check: stages, roles and sign-offs | You are setting up or fixing who approves what, and when | |
Covers the physical side after print: materials, color and print quality | Your files are approved and you are checking samples or production runs | |
Goes element by element through pesticide labels | You sell pesticides, disinfectants or other EPA-registered products | |
Explains each GHS element on a chemical label | You label chemicals for workplaces or export | |
Shows the allergen errors behind most food recalls, with fixes | You make food or beverages | |
Lists what a supplement label must carry | You sell supplements | |
Covers TTB rules for beer, wine and spirits | You produce or import alcohol |
How Inspack runs this checklist
Inspack checks artwork against regulatory, brand and retail rules in one pass, for any industry, and points to the exact element and rule behind each finding, such as a missing EPA establishment number or a net quantity without metric units. Catchmaster, which reviews 7 to 10 packaging SKUs a month, now catches 10+ compliance issues per artwork before QA and avoids reprints that cost $25,000 to $100,000. See how it works on our regulatory compliance page.
Run this checklist on every artwork, automatically.
Inspack checks mandatory text, claims, symbols and versions in one review, for any industry, with the rule behind each finding.
Frequently asked questions
Does this checklist work for my industry?
Yes, if your product carries a regulated label. The 10 checks apply to food, supplements, cosmetics, OTC drugs, chemicals, pesticides, alcohol and pet products. What changes is the rulebook behind each check, so pair the checklist with the rules for your category and market.
What is the difference between artwork proofreading and a compliance check?
Proofreading looks for spelling, grammar and typography errors. A compliance check confirms the artwork meets the regulations, approved claims and brand rules for each market where it is sold. A label can be free of typos and still be non-compliant, for example if a required warning is missing.
When should the compliance check happen?
On the final artwork before files go to the printer, and again on every revision, however small. Late edits are a common source of errors because they often skip the full review the first version received.
How do I check artwork for several countries at once?
Build a market matrix that lists the rules for each country, then check each market version against its own column. Pay extra attention to language, symbols and claims, which differ most between markets.