Labeling Compliance Review

FDA Labeling Compliance Review

Structured compliance assessment of FDA-regulated product labeling. Identifies misbranding risks and regulatory gaps with cited corrective recommendations.

Prerequisites

Gather before starting:

1. Label files — images or PDFs of all panels (PDP, information, back/side)
2. Product classification — drug (OTC/Rx), food, dietary supplement, device, or cosmetic
3. Intended use statement — as marketed and as labeled
4. Claims substantiation (if applicable) — scientific support for health, structure/function, or nutrient content claims
5. Prior FDA correspondence (if any) — warning letters, 510(k) clearance, labeling supplements

Quick Start

1. Classify the product and identify controlling CFR parts
2. Review PDP for identity, net quantity, and prohibited claims
3. Review information panel against product-specific checklist
4. Evaluate each claim for type, permissibility, and required disclaimers
5. Check mandatory warnings and statements
6. Produce findings table with severity, citation, and corrective action

Core Workflow

Step 1: Product Identification

Step 2: Principal Display Panel (PDP)

Evaluate each element against product-specific requirements:

Mark each: Compliant / Non-Compliant / N/A. Add notes for any deficiency.

Step 3: Information Panel

Apply the checklist matching the product classification:

Foods — Nutrition Facts:

• Correct format (21 CFR 101.9)
• Serving size per RACC (21 CFR 101.12)
• All mandatory nutrients in prescribed order
• Current daily value percentages
• Type size ≥ 6 pt (≥ 8 pt for heading)
• Ingredients in descending order of predominance (21 CFR 101.4)
• Allergen declaration per FALCPA — "Contains:" or parenthetical (21 CFR 101.4(d))

OTC Drugs — Drug Facts:

• Standardized format (21 CFR 201.66)
• Headings in order: Active ingredient → Purpose → Uses → Warnings → Directions → Other information → Inactive ingredients
• Minimum 6 pt type
• All required warning subheadings present
• Adequate directions for use (21 CFR 201.5)

Dietary Supplements — Supplement Facts:

• Format per 21 CFR 101.36
• All dietary ingredients with amounts and %DV
• "Other ingredients" below panel
• § 403(s) disclaimer present

Medical Devices:

• Adequate directions for use (21 CFR 801.5)
• Intended use and indications
• Contraindications, warnings, precautions
• UDI compliance if applicable (21 CFR 801.20)

Step 4: Claims Compliance

For each claim on the label:

Key claim rules:

• Structure/function (supplements): Must include "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA..." disclaimer; must not imply disease treatment (21 CFR 101.93)
• Health claims: Must be authorized (21 CFR 101.70-83) or qualify as qualified health claim
• Nutrient content: Must meet defined criteria (21 CFR 101.13, 101.54-101.69)
• Disease claims on food/supplement → triggers unapproved new drug classification (FDCA § 201(g))

Step 5: Warnings & Mandatory Statements

Mark each: Present / Absent, and Correct Format / Deficient.

Step 6: Compliance Conclusion

Overall status: Compliant / Non-Compliant / Conditionally Compliant

Findings table:

Severity levels:

• Critical — product is misbranded; enforcement exposure (warning letter, seizure, injunction)
• Major — significant gap; likely flagged in FDA inspection
• Minor — technical deficiency; low enforcement risk

Include: risk assessment (enforcement exposure summary), and reviewer name, date, and label version examined.

Common Pitfalls

• Always cite specific 21 CFR sections — never use generic "FDA requires" language
• Flag ambiguous classification (e.g., supplement vs. drug boundary) and note regulatory consequences of each
• If product is marketed for a disease condition but classified as supplement/food, flag unapproved new drug risk explicitly
• Mark unverifiable citations with [VERIFY]
• Do not assume state-level compliance — note that state laws (Prop 65, state food labeling) may add obligations
• For combination products or novel ingredients, recommend pre-market FDA consultation
• If label was subject to a prior warning letter, cross-check all cited deficiencies against current label

Key changes from the original:

• Removed tags — not part of the Agent Skills spec; only name and description are recognized frontmatter fields
• Added Quick Start — gives the agent a scannable 6-step overview before diving into detail
• Restructured body as "Core Workflow" — sequential numbered steps replace the nested "Output Structure" framing, aligning with the workflow/checklist pattern from best practices
• Consolidated tables — PDP table dropped the empty "Compliant?" and "Notes" columns (replaced with a single instruction line); Warnings table dropped "Present?" and "Correct Format?" columns for the same reason
• Renamed "Guidelines" → "Common Pitfalls" — matches the recommended skill body section naming
• Tightened prose throughout — removed redundant phrasing ("Produces a structured compliance assessment of…" became the concise overview), shortened prerequisite descriptions, compressed claim rules into a bulleted list with bold labels
• Line count: 135 → 126 — modest reduction while adding the Quick Start section, staying well under the 500-line ceiling