In the dietary supplement industry, labels play a much greater role than just providing information. They are also a tool for communicating with consumers, an element that builds brand credibility, and – crucially – a legal document that must meet specific requirements. Incorrect labeling can lead to serious consequences: from the need to correct labels, through administrative penalties, to product withdrawal from the market.
That is why professional label verification is not an additional feature-today – it is a safety standard and proof of the manufacturer’s responsibility.
Why is correct labeling so important?
Unlike medicines, dietary supplements do not undergo a registration process with an efficacy assessment. This makes reliable information for consumers all the more important, as it must comply with regulations and be supported by expert knowledge.
A correctly prepared label:
- protects the product from objections by regulatory authorities,
- prevents misinterpretation by consumers,
- reduces the risk of legal disputes,
- strengthens the credibility of the manufacturer and seller,
- ensures that the declarations are consistent with the facts.
The label thus becomes an integral part of safety – just like purity and microbiology testing or the labeling of active ingredients.
What do the regulations say? Key requirements that a supplement label must meet
The labeling of dietary supplements is regulated in parallel by:
- Regulation 1169/2011 (FIC) – general rules for consumer information;
- Directive 2002/46/EC – specific requirements for supplements;
- Regulation 1924/2006 – nutrition and health claims;
- Guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and national legislation.
Key mandatory elements include:
- correct category name (“dietary supplement”),
- list of ingredients with form and source,
- active substances given in appropriate units,
- recommended serving size,
- method of use and warnings,
- information on maximum permissible levels,
- appropriate health claims,
- prohibited content: suggestions of therapeutic effects, promises of treatment, declarations inconsistent with EFSA.
In reality, many errors are not due to the bad faith of manufacturers, but to a lack of up-to-date knowledge about changing regulations. It is in this area that a professional audit provides the greatest value.
How does label verification work at J.S. Hamilton?
Labeling audits are conducted by a team of food law specialists and food technologists who analyze labels from both a legal and practical perspective.
We check among others:
- Compliance with current EU and Polish regulations
Each element of the declaration is compared with the applicable regulations.
- Compliance of declared values with laboratory test results
The label cannot declare values that are not confirmed by analyses.
- Correct use of nutrition and health claims
We verify acceptable wording in accordance with the EFSA register.
- Correctness of active ingredient labeling
Units, chemical forms, conversions, extract standardizations.
- Mandatory warnings and instructions for use
In accordance with dietary supplement requirements and good industry practice.
- Visual communication elements
We avoid suggesting medicinal properties, risky associations, and inconsistent graphics.
The result is a complete expert opinion that the manufacturer can use as part of their quality documentation, including in the event of an inspection.
The most common errors we detect:
- health claims that are not allowed to be used,
- incorrect calculations of active ingredients,
- lack of mandatory warnings,
- incorrect naming of chemical forms,
- use of illegal marketing claims,
- inadequate contact details and incomplete information about the manufacturer,
- graphics suggesting therapeutic effects.
Most of these problems can be avoided by performing an audit before printing the label.
Professional label verification — what does the manufacturer gain?
✔ Minimization of legal risk
A correct label means less risk of penalties, inspections, and recalls.
✔ Solid marketing foundation
Health claims are legally compliant but still attractive to the customer.
✔ Consistency between declaration and composition
We verify the label based on the results of supplement composition tests.
✔ Time and cost savings
Correcting a label after printing can be several times more expensive than auditing it before the product is launched on the market.
✔ Protection of brand reputation
Transparency and credibility are becoming a distinguishing feature in a competitive market.
A supplement label is more than just a product’s calling card. It is a document that must be accurate, legally compliant, and reliable. Professional verification helps avoid errors, builds consumer trust, and ensures legal security for the manufacturer.
If you are planning to launch a new dietary supplement or want to assess the compliance of existing labels, J.S. Hamilton’s experts will prepare a comprehensive, professional labeling assessment for you.