SOP – Label Verification
Wrong label, wrong allergen declaration, wrong date – mislabelling recalls are embarrassingly common and entirely preventable. This SOP makes the start-of-run label check a habit nobody skips.
SOPs only work if people actually read them. Train each operator, get the read-and-understood signature, and keep the language as plain as the job allows – this isn’t the place to show off vocabulary.
1. Document control
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Document title | SOP – Label Verification |
| Document no. | [QA-SOP-015] |
| Version | [1.0] |
| Effective date | [YYYY-MM-DD] |
| Prepared by | [Name / Title / Date] |
| Approved by | [Name / Title / Date] |
| Review date | [YYYY-MM-DD] |
2. Purpose
To ensure every product run carries the correct label, allergen declaration and date code.
3. Scope
Applies to all packing and labelling operations at [site name].
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Packing operators | Perform label checks per this SOP. |
| QA / Supervisor | Approves first-off labels; investigates mismatches. |
5. Materials and equipment
- Approved label artwork / specification for the product
- Label verification log
- First-off label retention file
6. Safety precautions
- Keep label rolls and packaging off the floor and away from allergen zones.
7. Procedure
Follow the steps in order. Steps marked [CHECK] are the ones people skip under pressure – don’t.
- Before the run, pull the approved label specification for the product – not last week’s leftover roll. [CHECK]
- Check the label against the spec: product name, ingredients, allergens (bolded per local rules), net weight, business name/address, date code format and storage instructions.
- Print/apply the first labels and get QA or supervisor sign-off on the first-off – keep it as the retained sample. [CHECK]
- Verify the date coder prints the correct date/lot; check legibility on the pack.
- Re-check after every reel change, product change, and [frequency] during long runs.
- Destroy obsolete labels and packaging – don’t leave them where they can be picked up by mistake. [CHECK]
- On any mismatch: stop the line, quarantine product since the last good check, and notify QA immediately.
8. Records
- Label verification log
- First-off retained labels
- Obsolete label destruction records
9. Revision history
| Version | Date | Change description | Changed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | [YYYY-MM-DD] | Initial issue | [Name] |
Approval and control
| Role | Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared by | [Name] | [Signature] | [Date] |
| Reviewed by (QA) | [Name] | [Signature] | [Date] |
| Approved by | [Name] | [Signature] | [Date] |
Keep completed forms for [Define retention period, e.g., 2 years beyond shelf life] at [defined location] – and make sure someone besides you knows where that is.