In cosmetic products the label is as regulated as the product itself. How ingredients are to be written, which claims may be used and which warnings must appear are defined. In this field translation works at the point where marketing language and regulatory language meet.
Ingredient lists
Ingredients are written under the common international nomenclature and in descending order of concentration. These names are not translated and the order is not changed. The list is carried over exactly.
The nomenclature system
Ingredient names rest on a specific system, and their national equivalents are not used. The system is shared internationally. The spelling is preserved.
Allergen declarations
Certain substances are indicated separately on the label when they exceed a threshold value. This declaration is mandatory and is not skipped. Names are written in the standard form.
The product information file
The file demonstrating the safety of the product is kept and presented in an inspection. The file contains a safety assessment. Its structure is preserved.
Safety assessment
The expert assessment rests on exposure calculations and contains a conclusion section. The calculation tables are carried over with their structure. The conclusion text is not shortened.
Claim files
Every claim made on the product must be capable of substantiation, and the evidence is kept in the file. The claim text matches the evidence. The match is preserved.
Claims that are not permitted
Some expressions cannot be used on cosmetic products because they imply a medical effect. This limit applies in translation too. No strengthened wording is produced.
Efficacy tests
The tests supporting the claims are reported with their method and number of participants. The method information determines how the result is interpreted. The information is carried over.
Directions for use
How the product is to be used appears on the label and the packaging and is written in plain language. The order of the steps is preserved. Warnings are carried over in full.
Warning statements
In certain product groups there are mandatory warnings, and their texts are defined. These texts are given with their established equivalents. They are not changed.
Quantity and unit indication
The net content is shown on the packaging in a specific form. The unit and the value are given together. The form is preserved.
Batch number and date
The traceability of the product is ensured by the batch number, accompanied by date information. The number is carried over exactly. The format is not changed.
Period after opening
On some products the period of use after opening is shown by a symbol. The symbol and the period have meaning together. The information is preserved.
Responsible person details
The person or company responsible for placing the product on the market is indicated on the label. The trade name and address are carried over. The information is not skipped.
Origin information
Information on the place of manufacture is mandatory in some markets and appears on the label. The name of the country is translated. The format is preserved.
Marketing text
Promotional text may be adapted, but it stays within the regulatory limits. A claim is not strengthened between the two languages. The scope is set in the job definition.
The costliest mistake in this sector
Strengthening a marketing expression in translation makes the cosmetic product carry a medical claim, and the product may be withdrawn from the market. The text in the target language cannot be more assertive than the source. Claim wording is checked separately.