Important Packaging Laws For Selling Handmade Products

With websites such as Etsy which make it easier than ever to sell handmade products online, there’s no question as to why Etsy has approximately 54 million members and 25 million shoppers. However, there are specific packaging laws that sellers of handmade products must follow. All handmade products require a product label, but the required label information varies depending on which country you live in. To avoid any complications, you’ll want to make sure that you customize labels in accordance with these laws and regulations, depending on the type of product you are selling.

Defining a Cosmetic Product

According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) defines cosmetic products as items that are meant to be applied to the human body through spraying, rubbing, sprinkling, or pouring onto the skin or body. Cosmetics could include nail polish, facial cleansers, lipsticks, perfumes, moisturizers, shampoos, makeup products, or deodorants. Drugs, on the other hand, are products that are meant to diagnose, cure, treat, and prevent a disease. Some products may be marketed as both a cosmetic and a drug, depending on the intended use of the product. According to the FD&C Act, FDA approval is not required for cosmetics unless products contain a color additive. However, drugs do require FDA approval. Products that contain medications such as sunscreens, salicylic acid, and antiperspirants may be labeled as both cosmetics and drugs, which do require FDA approval.

Label Requirements

Even though cosmetics do not require FDA approval, they do need to be labeled a certain way. Cosmetic products must be labeled in accordance with to the Cosmetic Labeling Manual. When you customize labels for a cosmetics product, you must specify the product name and the nature of the product along with the net quantity of contents. You must also include the name and address of the packer, distributor, or manufacturer. Material facts and any warning or caution statements must also be included on all cosmetic labels, as well as the list of ingredients. Ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance.

Packaging Laws for Handmade Products

According to the FDA, it is legal to create cosmetics in your home, but you must follow these guidelines for creating a safe and clean working environment. The packaging must also be safe and of good quality. The packaging should have a homemade look and feel to it, but should also be clean and professional. You’ll want to ensure that the packaging won’t result in leaking or breaking during transport. Making Cosmetics Inc. suggests purchasing packaging containers in bulk and then testing them out as you go to see what works best for you and your product. You can either stick a printed label to the outside of the packaging, or you can have the label printed directly on the product’s packaging. Printed sheet labels, rolled labels, and cut-to-size labels tend to be the perfect solution for labeling handmade products such as cosmetics. SheetLabels.com has many options for your cosmetic label needs.

Customize Labels

Depending on which type of label you plan to use to label your handmade cosmetics, you’ll want to decide which material is best for your product. Weatherproof label materials are an excellent option for eliminating water damage and increasing durability, If you’d rather concentrate on the label’s design artwork or sophisticated packaging, then premium branded labels or metallic paper labels may be for you. The perfect product label will attract new customers to your brand and keep them coming back for more!