Food label requirements by country
The key rule, label language and mandatory allergens for each market, taken from our food label guides. Open a guide for the full checklist, common mistakes and official sources.
| Market | Key rule | Label language | Mandatory allergens | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | – | English; if a foreign language appears anywhere, all required statements in English and that language | 9 | FDA food label requirements for imported food: panels, English, allergens |
| European Union | Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC) | One easily understood by consumers in the Member State where the food is sold; Member States may require specific languages | 14 | EU food labelling rules under Regulation 1169/2011: what the label must show |
| United Kingdom | – | – | 14 | UK food labelling rules: GB address, allergens and what the label must show |
| Canada | – | English and French for all mandatory information; the dealer's name and address may be in either language | – | Canada food labelling requirements: bilingual labels, allergens, FOP symbol |
| Japan | Food Labeling Act (Act No. 70 of 2013) and the Food Labeling Standards | The importer; Japanese labeling is needed by the time the product reaches retail shelves, not at customs clearance | 9 | Japan food labeling for imported food: Japanese label, importer, allergens |
| China | GB 7718-2025, General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (replaces GB 7718-2011) | Chinese label, printed or pasted on, matching any foreign-language text one to one | 8 | China food label rules GB 7718-2025: Chinese label, allergens, dates (2027) |
| South Korea | Food Labeling and Advertisement Act: imported food needs legible Korean-language labels | – | 19 | Korea food labeling for imported food: Korean label, stickers, 19 allergens |
| Vietnam | Decree 37/2026/ND-CP, in force 23 January 2026, consolidating Decree 43/2017 and Decree 111/2021 | Mandatory content missing in Vietnamese goes on a supplementary Vietnamese label matching the original; the original label is kept | – | Vietnam labeling rules 2026 (Decree 37/2026): origin label, Vietnamese sub-label |
| India | Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, plus the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 | – | – | India food labeling for imported food (FSSAI): importer details, logo, shelf life |
| Indonesia | BPOM Regulation No. 31/2018 on processed food labeling, amended by No. 20/2021 and No. 6/2024 | Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) before the food arrives | – | Indonesia food labeling (BPOM): Indonesian label, BPOM number, Nutri-Level |
| Thailand | Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 450, in force 19 July 2024, replacing Notification No. 367 and its amendments | Thai text required; a foreign language is optional | – | Thailand food labeling (Notification No. 450): Thai label, food serial number |
| Philippines | DOH Administrative Order No. 2014-0030, revised rules on labeling prepackaged food | – | – | Philippines food labeling (AO 2014-0030): importer, expiry date, allergens |
| Australia / New Zealand | Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, by FSANZ | Labels legible, prominent and in English | – | Australia and New Zealand food labeling (FSANZ): English label, PEAL allergens |
| Saudi Arabia | SFDA.FD/GSO 9:2022, Labeling of Prepackaged Food Stuffs | Arabic required; other languages may be added if they carry the same information | – | Saudi Arabia food labeling (SFDA, GSO 9): Arabic label, dates, nutrition |
| Türkiye | Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Labeling and Provision of Information to Consumers, Official Gazette 26 January 2017 (No. 29960) | Permanent Turkish sticker attached before official import controls start; the original package may arrive at customs | – | Türkiye food labeling: Turkish Food Codex label rules and Turkish stickers |
| Mexico | NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, amended in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 27 March 2020 | Mandatory information in Spanish | – | Mexico food labeling (NOM-051): Spanish label, warning octagons, importer |
| Brazil | Anvisa RDC 429/2020 and IN 75/2020, in force 9 October 2022 | Mandatory information in Portuguese (RDC 727/2022), other languages allowed | – | Brazil food labeling (RDC 429 and IN 75): nutrition table, "ALTO EM" magnifier |
Each cell is quoted from the guide for that market. A dash means the guide does not give that item in its key facts; allergen numbers are the mandatory lists stated in the guides.
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