On October 20, 2026, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea issued the Guide on Braille Labeling of Cosmetics, etc. The MFDS stated that the newly issued guide is expected to improve information accessibility for people with visual or hearing impairments, and to support the safety management of cosmetics by providing the cosmetics industry with standardized labeling schemes. CIRS Group has now summarized the main contents of the guide for reference.
Background and Legal Basis
The guide is formulated with Article 10 of the Cosmetics Act as its main legal basis, and with reference to the Braille Act, the Korean Sign Language Act, and other laws and regulations. The key points are as follows:
Purpose of formulation: to propose specific schemes for labeling cosmetic labeling items in braille and through voice and sign language video conversion codes, to support the safe use of cosmetics by people with visual and hearing impairments, and to safeguard consumers’ right to know about product information.
Positioning of the document: the guide consolidates the matters that manufacturers and responsible sellers should refer to when labeling cosmetic labeling items in parallel in braille or with voice and sign language video conversion codes, and it is a guidance document issued by the MFDS.
Scope of Application and Users
Scope of application: all or part of the labeling items labeled in parallel on the container or packaging of cosmetics.
Users: business operators such as manufacturers and responsible sellers, as well as container and packaging manufacturers, among others, may all use the guide.
Requirements for Braille Labeling
Chapter 2 of the guide covers the requirements for braille labeling. The main contents are summarized as follows:
Labeling methods: for different methods such as molding, embossing, stickers, and braille hang tags, the guide explains the process characteristics of each and indicates the mainly applicable container and packaging types and precautions.
Labeling position: in principle, braille shall be labeled in parallel at the position where the cosmetic labeling items are labeled in ordinary text; the labeling position may be selected with consideration of consumers’ convenience of recognition, and the guide provides precautions for position selection.
Labeling content: the name of the cosmetic shall be labeled in parallel on a priority basis; in addition to the name, the use method of the product and other information may be additionally considered for labeling together.
Proofreading and verification: it is recommended that proofreading and verification be carried out through facilities with braille printing capabilities, as well as braille translators and proofreaders.
Requirements for Labeling of Voice and Sign Language Video Conversion Codes
Chapter 3 of the guide covers the labeling of voice and sign language video conversion codes. The main contents are summarized as follows:
Labeling methods: the codes may be labeled by methods such as ink printing, engraving, imprinting, and stickers, and the recognition rate of the codes must be ensured; the guide also provides guidance and precautions on setting auxiliary tactile indicators such as embossed borders and raised dots around the codes.
Labeling position: the codes shall be labeled in parallel at the position where the cosmetic labeling items are labeled in ordinary text; the labeling position may be selected with consideration of consumers’ convenience of recognition, and the guide provides precautions for position selection.
Labeling content: the name of the cosmetic, product type, use method, precautions, etc. shall be labeled on a priority basis; the content shall be kept consistent with the labeling items labeled in ordinary text; for content that is truly difficult to interpret in sign language, part of the content may be omitted or replaced with easier-to-understand wording.
Proofreading and verification: it is recommended that proofreading and verification be carried out through sign language interpreters.
CIRS Reminder
For companies of the cosmetics concerned, it is recommended to pay attention to the following matters:
- This guide is a guidance document, but once a company adopts braille or voice and sign language video conversion code labeling, it is recommended to implement the labeling in accordance with this guide;
- For braille labeling, the name of the cosmetic should be labeled first, followed by the use method and other content depending on the packaging space, and processes suited to the container material — such as molding, embossing, stickers, and braille hang tags — should be given priority;
- It is recommended to keep verification records of braille labeling, including information on the braille printing processor and the verification by braille translators and proofreaders, for future inspection;
- When adopting voice and sign language video conversion codes, it is necessary to ensure that the code content is consistent with the labeling items labeled in ordinary text, and to ensure that the size and resolution of the codes reach a recognizable level; if necessary, embossed borders or raised dots should be set around the codes to facilitate tactile location by people with visual impairments.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.
Our Services
- South Korea Cosmetics Product Notification & Registration (General Cosmetics, Functional Cosmetics)
- South Korea Cosmetic Ingredient Database (KCID) Registration
- South Korea Responsible Party (RP) Services
- South Korea Cosmetic Formula Review
- South Korea Cosmetic Label Review
- Quality Inspection
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