létiquetage

Létiquetage, often referred to in English as labeling, is the practice of attaching or presenting information on a product or its packaging with the aim of identification, instruction, safety, or consumer information. It covers a broad range of items, from food and cosmetics to chemicals and consumer electronics.

Regulatory frameworks govern what must be stated, how it is presented, and in what languages. In the European Union, for foods, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires the list of ingredients, allergen information, nutrition declaration, quantity, best-before or use-by dates, and the origin where relevant, among other items. Other sectors have their own rules; cosmetics follow the EU’s Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, chemicals the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, and medicines specific labeling requirements. In the United States, the FDA regulates food labeling and requires nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and allergen disclosures, with different rules for drugs and cosmetics.

Label content typically includes product name, manufacturer or importer, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, storage and usage instructions, date marks, and warnings. Labels may be physical on packaging or delivered electronically via QR codes or apps; multilingual labeling is common in multilingual markets. The rise of GS1 barcoding and data standards supports traceability and supply chain efficiency.

Impact and debates: labeling informs safety and choices, supports recalls, and enables sustainability claims, but it also increases production costs and can lead to misleading claims or “greenwashing” if not carefully regulated.