Labelling & packaging
Pre-Print Checklist: What to Check Before Your Label Goes to the Printer
Before printing, reconcile the final artwork with the approved recipe, reports, certificates and applicable label requirements. Review the actual-size proof and variable coding. A design approval email should identify the exact file and unresolved conditions, not merely say looks good.
By the MyFoodLicense team Sources checked 2 min read
In this guide
Freeze the source data
Confirm formula, ingredient specifications, allergen assessment, nutrition basis, shelf-life decision, responsible businesses and licence records. Record the version of each source. A last-minute ingredient substitution should reopen affected declarations even if the printer is already booked.
Review the declaration matrix
Check product identity, ingredients, additives, allergens, nutrition, symbols, business details, dates, quantity, price and consumer care as applicable. Review claims separately against their evidence. Use current operative requirements and effective dates. Food-labelling rules; claims criteria.
Inspect the production proof
Check dimensions, contrast, type size, colour, panel placement, folds, seams and material. Plan where the batch and dates will be printed and confirm that the production line can produce readable codes. A high-resolution screen view at 300% does not prove legibility on the finished pouch.
Control approval and printer handover
Assign a file identifier and preserve the reviewed PDF and production file. Record conditions such as variable data or pending certificate confirmation. Avoid sending unreviewed editable files after approving a different proof. Confirm the printer’s version matches the final approved reference.
Check the first printed output
Compare the first production samples with the approved proof before releasing the complete run. Record discrepancies and their disposition. Keep a sample and the decision record with the batch documentation so later complaints or changes can be investigated. Read multi-SKU control.
A worked example
Hypothetical example
A designer sends a final PDF, then corrects an MRP in the editable source without regenerating the approved proof. The printer receives the wrong version. A file-identifier and final-proof check would have made the discrepancy visible before printing.
Your practical checklist
- Freeze formula and supporting data versions.
- Review every applicable declaration and claim.
- Inspect actual-size artwork and coding areas.
- Record the exact approved file and conditions.
- Confirm printer handover versions.
- Check and retain the first production sample.
Download this preparation checklist
For help applying this review to your business, explore our Pre-Print Final Artwork Sign-Off service. Bring the documents described above so the consultation can focus on the decisions still unresolved.
Frequently asked questions
Is design approval the same as regulatory review?
No. Ensure the applicable content and evidence have been reviewed.
Can the printer decide missing legal wording?
Provide controlled, reviewed inputs rather than leaving regulatory decisions implicit.
Should variable dates be in the proof?
Show the coding location and expected format, and verify the production output.
Can a last-minute formula change be ignored?
No. Reassess the declarations and claims affected by it.
What should sign-off identify?
The exact file, reviewed scope, source versions and any unresolved conditions.
Official sources and further reading
Checked on 2 October 2026. Gazette notifications and operative directions prevail over compilations and summaries, including this guide.
- Labelling and Display Regulations compendium, Version VIII, 9 September 2025: Regulation 5: retail declarations, nutrition, dates and allergens. Read alongside later amendments and directions.
- Advertising and Claims Regulations compendium, Version IV, 14 December 2022: Nutrition-claim thresholds and general claim conditions. Protein uses RDA-based alternatives, not a universal percentage-of-energy rule.
- Department of Consumer Affairs: Legal Metrology rules and amendments: Official amendment register including 2026 changes; assess actual product/package applicability.
This guide is general information, not legal advice; the right route depends on your product and business facts. Examples marked hypothetical are illustrations, not client cases. MyFoodLicense is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with FSSAI; applications are decided by the competent authority on the official FoSCoS portal.