UK packaging and labelling requirements after Brexit

Selling into the UK means meeting UK rules, and since Brexit those rules have their own path. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland are now treated differently for many products, and some labels that were fine for the whole of the EU single market need changes. This guide covers what usually has to appear on UK packaging for food, cosmetics and general consumer products, and how to plan the space on your pack before design starts.

It is written for brand owners and designers. It is not legal advice, and the rules for your product may include details we cannot cover here. Use it to prepare the right questions for your adviser, and check the official GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency pages linked below.

What changed after Brexit

Before 2021, UK labelling followed EU law directly. When the UK left the EU, most of that law was kept as UK law, so the basic requirements stayed very similar. What changed is who you need to name on the label, which markings apply, and how products move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The main practical changes for packaging are:

• Addresses. Many product types now need a UK address for the business responsible for the product in Great Britain, rather than an EU address. Food sold in Northern Ireland follows EU rules and needs an NI or EU address.
• Responsible persons. Cosmetics placed on the market in Great Britain need a UK Responsible Person, named on the label, in addition to an EU Responsible Person if you also sell in the EU.
• Northern Ireland. Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU product rules. Some goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland also carry specific labels. If you sell into NI, check the latest GOV.UK guidance for your product type.
• Divergence. UK and EU rules can now change separately. Something that is required in the EU may not be required in Great Britain, or the other way round. If you sell in both, plan for both.

Food labelling requirements in Great Britain

Prepacked food sold in Great Britain must carry mandatory information under the retained Food Information to Consumers rules. The GOV.UK guidance on giving food information to consumers is the best starting point. For most prepacked food, the label must show:

1. The name of the food. The legal name if one exists, or a customary or descriptive name that tells people what it is.
2. A list of ingredients, in descending order of weight, headed with the word "Ingredients".
3. Allergens, emphasised within the ingredient list, for example in bold. There are 14 allergens that must be declared.
4. Quantity of certain ingredients (QUID), when an ingredient is in the name, shown in pictures, or emphasised on the label.
5. Net quantity, in metric units.
6. A date mark: "best before" or "use by".
7. Storage conditions or conditions of use, where needed.
8. The name and UK address of the food business operator responsible for the information.
9. Country of origin or place of provenance, where its absence could mislead, and for certain foods.
10. Instructions for use, if the food would be hard to use properly without them.
11. Alcoholic strength for drinks above 1.2% alcohol by volume.
12. A nutrition declaration for most prepacked foods, with energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt.

The name, net quantity and, for drinks, alcoholic strength must appear in the same field of vision, so a shopper can see them together without turning the pack.

Minimum text size

Mandatory food information must be easy to read. The rules set a minimum x-height (the height of a lowercase "x") of 1.2 mm for most packs, or 0.9 mm when the largest surface of the pack is less than 80 cm². In practice, that is around 6 to 8 pt in many typefaces, but it depends on the font. Check the x-height of your chosen typeface, not just the point size.

Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS)

Since October 2021, food that is prepacked for direct sale, such as sandwiches made and wrapped on the premises, must show the name of the food and a full ingredient list with allergens emphasised. This is often called Natasha's Law. If your brand sells through cafés or kiosks, check whether any of your lines fall into this category.

Weights, measures and the ℮ mark

Most packaged goods sold in the UK must show their quantity in metric units, and many are packed under the "average quantity" system. Under this system, packers can use the ℮ mark next to the quantity to show the pack was filled and checked under the rules. The ℮ mark is still recognised in the UK. The GOV.UK guidance on packaged goods explains the rules for packers and importers, including minimum heights for the quantity figure, which depend on the quantity (see our guide to net weight on packaging for the table).

Cosmetic labelling in Great Britain

Cosmetic products sold in Great Britain must follow the UK's cosmetics rules, which are based on the EU Cosmetics Regulation. The label normally needs:

• the name and address of the UK Responsible Person
• the country of origin for imported products
• nominal content by weight or volume (with some exceptions for small products)
• a date of minimum durability if the product lasts 30 months or less, or a period after opening symbol if it lasts longer
• precautions for use, where required
• a batch number or other reference
• the product's function, unless clear from its presentation
• a list of ingredients using INCI names

Products must also be notified on the UK's Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal before they are sold. GOV.UK's guidance on making cosmetic products available in Great Britain explains each step. Our separate guides to cosmetic labelling and INCI ingredient lists go into more detail on panel layout.

General consumer products

Non-food consumer products have their own rules depending on what they are. Toys, electrical goods, chemicals, textiles and many other categories have specific marking and labelling requirements, and some need a conformity marking. For Great Britain the UKCA marking applies to certain product types, while the CE marking is currently also accepted for many goods. These rules have changed several times since Brexit, so always check the current GOV.UK page for your category before finalising artwork.

Packaging itself: EPR and recycling information

Producer responsibility rules for packaging have also changed in the UK. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging requires many businesses to report the packaging they place on the market and pay fees based on it. Recyclability labelling is also part of the reforms. These rules mostly affect how you choose and report materials, but they can influence design choices such as mixed materials, plastic windows and laminates. If you are an affected producer, check GOV.UK's EPR guidance and plan your materials with it in mind.

Planning the space on your packaging

The most common problem we see is not missing information but missing space. Brands design a beautiful front panel, then try to squeeze a long ingredient list, allergen statement, nutrition table, address and barcode onto a small back panel. The result is tiny type, cluttered layouts and last-minute redesigns.

To avoid that:

1. Write the full label text first. Get the ingredient list, allergen statement, nutrition values, address and any warnings from your food technologist or adviser before design.
2. Measure the panels. Use the real dieline or container template and calculate how much area each block of text needs at the minimum size.
3. Decide what lives where. Put the name, net quantity and front-of-pack claims on the principal panel, and plan the back and sides for the rest.
4. Allow for other markets. If you also sell in the EU or Northern Ireland, plan for an extra address, a second language or both.
5. Proof at actual size. Print the label at 100% and read it. If you struggle, so will your customers.

How we help

We design food, cosmetic and consumer packaging for UK and international brands and make boxes in our own factory. We lay out the text you supply so it is clear, legible and in the right place, and we plan panel space for the markets you sell in. We do not decide what your label must say or check it for compliance. That review stays with you and your adviser.

If you are preparing packaging for the UK, see our food packaging design and label design services, or get a free quote with your product details.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Food labelling and packaging
• GOV.UK: Food labelling, giving food information to consumers
• GOV.UK: Weights and measures, packaged goods
• GOV.UK: Making cosmetic products available in Great Britain
• Food Standards Agency: Allergen guidance for food businesses

Need this on your packaging?

• Food Packaging Design →
• Label Design →

Popular box styles: Folding Carton, Window Box, Gable Box

Get a Free Quote

Questions

Do UK food labels need a UK address?

Prepacked food sold in Great Britain needs the name and a UK address of the food business operator responsible for it. Food sold in Northern Ireland follows EU rules and needs a UK (NI) or EU address. Check GOV.UK for your case.

Is the ℮ mark still used in the UK?

Yes. The ℮ mark is still recognised for average-quantity packaged goods in the UK. GOV.UK explains the rules for packers and importers.

Are UK and EU food labelling rules the same?

They started from the same EU regulation and are still very similar, but they can now change separately. Check both if you sell in both markets.

Who is responsible for checking my label?

You are, as the business placing the product on the market. Trading Standards and the Food Standards Agency enforce the rules. A designer lays out the text you supply.