Artwork can make a compliant product non-compliant
A correct oven can still reach the market with the wrong voltage, importer address, warning, barcode, model number or instruction language. Artwork approval should therefore be a documented project gate, not the last task before printing.
Build one artwork register
List every controlled item: rating label, serial label, carton, gift box, manual, warranty card, energy information where applicable, product sticker, online listing image and accessory label. Record owner, language, market, file name, revision and approval date.
Separate fixed and variable data
Printed artwork may contain stable product information, while lot, date or serial data changes during production. GS1 notes that batch- or serial-level information is dynamic and cannot simply be built into bulk-printed packaging artwork. Decide which data is pre-printed and which is added on the line, then verify legibility and scanning.
Review across functions
Engineering should confirm ratings and technical statements. Compliance should confirm required marks, warnings and languages. The buyer should confirm brand, importer or responsible-person details and commercial claims. Production should confirm print method, application position and variable-data controls.
For EU sales, the General Product Safety Regulation complements product-specific rules and includes obligations around product identification, economic operators, safety information and online presentation. Exact requirements depend on the market and product legislation, so use qualified compliance review.
Lock the released files
Only approved, revision-controlled files should reach printers and production. When a product component, importer, barcode or manual changes, review every affected artwork item rather than editing one file in isolation.
Official references
- [EU General Product Safety Regulation business guidance](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/safety/consumers/consumers_safety_gate/obligationsForBusinesses/documents/GPSR-Presentation-website.pdf)
- [GS1 Global Traceability Standard](https://www.gs1.org/standards/gs1-global-traceability-standard/current-standard)