Food Label Legislation: Requirements, Regulations and Translations Explained
Food labelling legislation defines the mandatory requirements for food labels, including ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and translation rules. As regulations vary by country, businesses must adapt labels to meet local legal, and language requirements. This article answers common questions about labelling and adapting for different markets.

Food labelling legislation FAQs: Expert guidance for regulatory compliance
What information is legally required on a food label?
A legally compliant food label must include several key details presented clearly for consumers. These typically include the product’s legal name, a full nutrition panel, a complete ingredient list and explicit allergen declarations. Labels must also state the country of origin and the product’s net weight. Depending on the country, additional requirements may apply, such as recycling symbols, mandated font sizes, or rules about where specific information must appear on the packaging.
What does it take to adapt food labels for international markets?
Food label adaptations might include anything from the type of information included to the position of information on packaging, and even the font size. It’s also important to continually monitor countries for regulatory updates and changes, which might require recipes to be reformulated and labels to be amended accordingly.
Interpreting changes can be challenging, but our experts can help you unravel complexities, understand exactly how they apply to your business, and what you need to do to achieve and maintain compliance.
What legislation regulates allergen labelling on food products?
The legislation and food standards vary depending on the region. You can get in touch with our regional experts to find out which food legislation applies to you.
Why NSF for food labelling support?
NSF brings over 80 years of trusted expertise in food safety, testing, auditing and certification. Our specialists work globally to support food businesses of all sizes comply with regulations with confidence and credibility.
Connect with our team
Get expert support for your food labelling needs.
What’s New with NSF

iNADO Partners with NSF to Support Members and Athletes
May 27, 2026iNADO is pleased to welcome NSF’s expertise and experience in support of its members and the athletes they serve
NSF Ends UK’s Three-Year Testing Gap with REG 31 Testing Designation
May 20, 2026NSF’s Oakdale laboratory becomes the UK’s sole facility offering comprehensive BS 6920 and REG 31 testing, closing a critical drinking water safety gap.
NSF Annual Review and Impact Report 2025 Now Live
April 20, 2026NSF has published its Annual Review and Impact Report 2025, detailing the organization’s progress over the past year and outlining strategic priorities for 2026.
Visit NSF at Making Pharma 2026
April 10, 2026Connect with our experts to discover how we help leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies achieve regulatory compliance and operational excellence.