There is no defined category of “animal cosmetics” in the regulatory field, so pet care products are classified according to their properties, product composition, risks associated with use, etc. In practice, pet care products are classified as substances and mixtures, pet hygiene products, or biocidal products.
All products related to pet care that are supplied to the market must be labelled in the official language and comply with European Union and national requirements. Compliance must be ensured both when introducing a new product to the market and when importing or exporting a product to new markets.
Product labelling refers to words, data, trademarks, and registered brand names related to the product. The definition of labelling also includes pictograms or symbols presented on packaging, in a document, an information leaflet, or a label accompanying the product.
When planning to supply products to different EU countries, it is necessary to prepare a regulatory translation of the label text into the national language of the target countries. By using correct labels of pet care products, you will avoid risks such as product withdrawal from the market, the need to re-label packaging, damage to reputation, etc.
Considering regulatory standards and best practices in target markets, we advise you to:
- Apply relevant legislation.
- Formulate labelling instructions and claims.
- Avoid challenges inherent in the labelling process.
If necessary, we assist clients in various stages of labelling pet care products:
- We assess whether all product ingredients are permitted for use in target markets.
- We assess the legal compliance of packaging layouts with EU and national requirements.
- We inform about possible risks and non-compliance.
- We prepare regulatory label translations into various EU languages in accordance with applicable legal and linguistic requirements.
- We check product labelling texts.
- We unify label texts adapted to different markets.
- We participate in the creation of packaging layouts and label designs.
Countries where we provide this service
The labelling of pet care products is closely linked to both EU and national requirements. We perform regulatory translations into national languages and ensure legal compliance of products in the Baltic States and other countries (subject to separate agreement). Compliance is ensured separately for each market where the product is distributed.
Marketing pet care products: what to look out for?
When labelling pet care products, it is important to indicate that the product is intended for animals (e.g., “dog shampoo” or “cat ear cleaner”). The packaging must also include safety warnings, instructions for proper use of the product, and other information.
Mandatory labelling information also depends on the category of products to which a particular product belongs. For example, if the product is intended for pet hygiene (shampoo, conditioner, etc.) and does not contain any hazardous chemicals, the labelling process will most likely follow the general labelling requirements.
- If the product contains hazardous chemicals, it will be labelled as a chemical mixture. For more information on this topic, see here.
- If the product is intended to repel or destroy fleas or other parasites, it will most likely be classified as a biocidal product. For more information on this subject, see here.
- If the product is intended to treat an animal disease or condition, it will likely be classified as a veterinary medicine.
