Marking and Labeling Adoptions Process

Leverage convenience with our label adoption process

Label adoption allows you to quickly demonstrate your labels meet our safety requirements while gaining quick market access, greater product acceptance and a faster return on investments. Additionally, label adoption is the most convenient way for you to establish UL Solutions recognition indicating your labels meet the requirements of UL Solutions' Marking and Labeling Systems Program.

The label adoption process is designed for label printers and converters that use recognized label materials. If you use (adopt) recognized label materials, e.g., label stocks, laminating adhesives and overlaminations, you can receive the benefit of the recognition established for the label material when establishing recognition for the printed labels made from those materials.

The Conditions of Acceptability of the materials used, as indicated in the iQ™ for Labels Database are passed on to the label converter. Overall, the label adoption process reduces costs, decreases time-to-market of the recognized label by eliminating redundant testing, and cuts follow-up service costs.

Printing inks

Printed labels made from recognized label materials are not automatically considered recognized printed labels. To establish recognition for a printed label, the label converter/printer must submit the complete printed label system for evaluation. Testing of representative samples is typically necessary depending on several factors, including the Conditions of Acceptability desired for the label and the label materials used.

Some label material manufacturers have submitted their materials to us with printing to determine the compatibility of specific inks. The benefit of such print testing can be passed along to label printers during initial label certification if so requested. The list of inks that have been evaluated with specific label materials and the ink colors that have met our requirements are not published on our website. Therefore, the label printer must work with the label material supplier to determine which inks and/or colors, if any, have been previously investigated and found compatible with their label materials. If you wish to adopt a label stock, you’re encouraged to contact UL Solutions Customer Service to discuss options.

Benefits of our marking and labeling adoptions process

Since 1894, our expertise in safety science and in-depth experience across numerous industries has uniquely positioned us to provide a complete view of how products function within a given system. This is particularly critical in the plastics and components industry where interactions between substances, parts, systems and the environment in which they are expected to function can cause a significant number of hazards and failures. These issues are rarely apparent when components are tested individually.

Our technical experts can also help you align your products to the appropriate UL Certification category and the applicable Standards, enabling manufacturers of UL Certified products to easily source components that demonstrably meet their compliance needs and project specifications.

Our worldwide presence allows us to provide local services with a global outlook and facilitates access to a network of experts in your target markets. We support your mission to protect public safety and brand value, helping to mitigate your risk with quality assurance and supply chain compliance services. Our trustworthy reputation provides an important product differentiator in a crowded marketplace, communicating safety and quality to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), purchasers and regulatory authorities.

Why UL Solutions for label safety requirements

Our comprehensive testing, certification, assessment and regulatory compliance services are designed to foster innovation, enhance product and process quality, enable safety, and ultimately help you meet your business goals.

Our broad capabilities and capacities enable us to help address a wide variety of key business needs that may arise throughout your product development life cycle and deployment phase. Working with one provider allows you to take advantage of cost- and time-saving service bundles, as well as integrated testing and certification plans. These plans can help you to react quickly to changes in suppliers and raw materials, meet deadlines, and achieve your go-to-market plans.