Can you use a Chinese label sticker on the original packaging

Yes. The Cosmetics Labeling Rules allow a Chinese label to be affixed to the original packaging, provided that the safety and efficacy information on the Chinese label corresponds to the original label, the Chinese text uses standard Chinese characters, and the label remains clear, durable and not easy to peel off. A sticker is not a way to hide inconvenient original text or to create a second, stronger set of claims.

Published 11 November 2026 · Updated 11 November 2026

How to judge whether a sticker is acceptable

Article 6 of the Cosmetics Labeling Rules states that if a Chinese label is affixed, its content about product safety and efficacy claims must correspond to the original label. Other text on the same visible panel, except a registered trademark, should not be printed in a type size larger than the corresponding Chinese characters. The label as a whole must be easy to read and must not suffer from peeling print or weak adhesion.

A sticker that covers original safety information so thoroughly that reviewers or users can no longer check the correspondence creates unnecessary risk. Keep a way to compare the original warnings and the Chinese text.

What to prepare

Prepare artwork that shows exactly where the sticker will sit, a complete translation, and photographs or layouts of the original pack. The same artwork should be used in the filing or registration file and on the goods that later arrive. If you change the sticker, treat it as a label change.

Cautions

Do not use the sticker to add medical claims, to upgrade a description into sun protection or whitening, or to display a different product name from the one on file. Online listing images should show the same Chinese label that appears on the shipped pack.

Questions we are often asked

Can we leave the original language and only add a small Chinese name?

No. Cosmetics sold in mainland China need a Chinese label that contains the mandatory items, not only a translated brand name.

Is a hang tag enough if the bottle itself has no Chinese?

The smallest sales unit must have a label. If the product has a box, the inner container that directly holds the contents should also show the Chinese name and the period of use. A loose tag that is easy to lose is a poor substitute for a durable Chinese label.