What Must Be Written on the Back of the Container | Legally Required Cosmetics Labeling

The smallest print on a cosmetic container or box. What is written there is decided not by designers, but by law.

What the PMD Act requires

The PMD Act (Article 61) sets out the items that must be written on the immediate container or packaging of cosmetics. The main items are as follows.

• Name and address of the marketing authorization holder -- This is the party responsible for the product.
• Name (product name)
• Manufacturing number or manufacturing code -- This allows the lot to be traced.
• Names of all ingredients
• Expiration date -- Only when required.

In addition, matters such as the display of net contents are required under the fair competition code. Laws and industry voluntary rules overlap, each playing its own role.

Manufacturing numbers are surprisingly useful

If a product does not suit your skin, or something seems different than usual, you will usually be asked for the manufacturing number when you contact the maker. Knowing which lot the item came from makes it possible to check more things. If you throw away the box, this number may be the one piece of information that disappears from your hands.

Legally required labeling is not a space for advertising. It is a place to leave information about whom to contact, and about which product, if something happens. It is written there even though many people are expected to skip over it.

The concept of expiration dates is here summarized here.

References: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Japan Cosmetic Industry Association; Fair Trade Council of the Cosmetic Industry

—The Value Village Editorial Team