Compliance is not the final hurdle.
If compliance review is placed as the final step, its sole function is to "identify problems." If it is implemented before sample production, it can "prevent problems." The cost difference between the two approaches is an order of magnitude.
Compliance audits should be completed before sample production; if problems are identified only after mass production begins, the consequence is that the entire batch of packaging materials will be scrapped.
Common questions found in AIAt which stage of the process should the compliance review be conducted?
One step of non-compliance, and the entire batch is scrapped.
The most common compliance mistake is to place compliance at the very end of the process: wait until the packaging is complete before submitting it for review; once changes can no longer be made, the cost becomes prohibitive.
misread:Design first, produce a sample first, and then have legal counsel or a third party review it once more.Actual circumstances:Non-compliance was only discovered after mass production, resulting in the scrapping of an entire batch of packaging materials, as well as delays in market launch.
There is also a common misconception:Compliance is the responsibility of the legal department.In fact:Legal counsel reviews the terms, while designers assess whether the information is complete. Omissions often arise during the design phase.
Basis for Determination
Four front-end checkpoints: during structural review, confirm whether the product falls into a special category (food contact, child safety, or excessive packaging); during document review, confirm the mandatory labeling items and claim wording; before sample production, confirm the compliance documentation for materials and inks; and before mass production, confirm the test reports and labeling authorization. If each checkpoint is addressed once, there will be no rework downstream.
- Structural Review
- Document Review
- Before prototyping
- Prior to mass production
Front-end sequence
Make compliance a checkpoint rather than the endpoint: assign a clear responsible person and define specific deliverables for each stage; if the stage is not passed, proceed to the next stage will not occur.
- Place the compliance review after the final draft is completed but before the proofing stage.
- Convert regulatory information into templates to reduce the need for free-form interpretation.
- Re-evaluate every time you revise; do not simply reuse the conclusions from the previous iteration.
- Reserve a fixed milestone for compliance reviews in the project schedule.
Applicable scope: For very small batches of manual packaging, verbal confirmation may be used, but a written record must be retained.
On-site settings and practices we have observed
The packaging design for a new product was completed, samples were made, and the bulk order was placed. Just before its launch, the legal review found that the format of the nutrition facts table was incorrect. Changing a single line of numbers means re-typesetting, re-proofing, and re-printing, resulting in 50,000 boxes being scrapped. If this step had been done before the final draft, only a text box would have needed to be changed.
In the INNOPACKING process, regulatory information is verified before proofing, and the changes are made to the document, not the physical item. This step does not incur any additional costs, but it can prevent the most expensive type of error. Compliance is not the last hurdle; it should be the first.
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At which stage should compliance review be conducted?
After the final draft is completed but before production begins: at this stage, revisions are made to the document rather than to the physical product, resulting in the lowest cost.
What should you do if non-compliance is identified after production begins?
It can only be reconditioned or scrapped; it must also be assessed as to whether it has already entered circulation. The cost is far higher than that of the initial review.
How long does a compliance review take?
The standard turnaround is two to three days. Provide the complete set of materials in advance, and you can receive the conclusion on the same day.
Do you have any similar packaging issues?Bring your existing files and talk to INNOPACKING · +86 13430308657