K-beauty label language requirements in the EU: a country guide for trade buyers

Every cosmetic product sold in the EU needs an EU CPNP notification and an EU Responsible Person. On top of that, most member states require the key label particulars to be in their national language. In several countries the rule is written as a condition for making a product available: if the language is wrong, the product should not be sold. Some countries also place the duty on the trader. In Austria, for example, the consumer health portal states that before making a cosmetic product available, a trader checks that the labelling is in German. In Czechia, if the Responsible Person has not provided Czech labelling, the Czech distributor must add it to comply with national law.

The particulars most often named in national rules are those of Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d) and (f) of Reg. 1223/2009. Some countries go further and also include Art. 19(2) to (4). For the full EU picture, see our guide to EU labelling requirements for Korean cosmetics.

The list below covers the member states for which we have a documented national rule. Each country name links to our wholesale page for that market.

• Austria: German. Before making a cosmetic product available, a trader checks that the labelling is in German.
• Belgium: the language of the region where the product is sold: French and Dutch in Brussels, Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, German in German speaking Belgium. This applies to the function of the product and the instructions for use.
• Bulgaria: Bulgarian. According to the Ministry of Health, cosmetic products may be made available in Bulgaria only if the mandatory information is on the primary and secondary packaging in Bulgarian.
• Czechia: Czech. Per Art. 19(5) of Reg. 1223/2009 as applied in Czechia, the mandatory particulars must be in Czech.
• Denmark: Danish. The Danish Cosmetic Products Executive Order (Kosmetikbekendtgorelsen) requires the mandatory Reg. 1223/2009 label information to be in Danish.
• France: French. Code de la santé publique, Art. R5131-4, requires the particulars of Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d) and (f) in French. Other languages may be added.
• Germany: German. Sec. 4 ("Sprache") of the Kosmetik-Verordnung (KosmetikV) requires the Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d), (f) and (2) particulars to be given "in deutscher Sprache".
• Hungary: Hungarian. 246/2013. (VII. 2.) Korm. rendelet a kozmetikai termekekrol, together with Reg. 1223/2009, requires specified label particulars in Hungarian for products marketed in Hungary.
• Ireland: English, or Irish and English, according to the HPRA.
• Italy: Italian. According to the Ministero della Salute, the label is in Italian for products placed on the Italian market. On a multilingual label, the particulars of Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d) and (f) must also appear in Italian.
• Luxembourg: at least one of the official languages: French, German or Luxembourgish.
• the Netherlands: Dutch. According to the NVWA, the mandatory particulars must also be on the label in Dutch for products sold in the Netherlands.
• Poland: Polish. According to GIS (Chief Sanitary Inspectorate), cosmetic products made available in Poland are labelled in Polish, on the outer packaging and on the container.
• Portugal: Portuguese. Art. 10 of Decreto-Lei n.º 23/2025, de 19 de marco, requires the Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d) and (f) particulars in Portuguese on the container, packaging, leaflets or labels.
• Romania: Romanian. The Art. 19(1)(b) to (d) and (f) particulars and the Art. 19(2) to (4) particulars, including the minimum durability date, must appear in Romanian on the primary and secondary packaging. Other languages are not excluded.
• Spain: Spanish. Real Decreto 85/2018, Art. 6, requires the particulars of Art. 19(1)(b), (c), (d) and (f) and 19(2) to (4) in Spanish ("Deberá figurar en español").

Selling in another member state, such as Sweden, Finland, Greece or Slovakia? Ask us about labels for your market, and check the national rule with your adviser. This page is a practical overview, not legal advice.