A label application apparatus comprises: an input station at which a succession of separate labels are formed; an application station at which each of the labels is applied on a respective article advancing along an article path; a transfer drum configured to retain each label on its outer lateral surface by suction and rotating about its axis to transfer each of the labels from the input station to the application station along a label path tangential to the article path at the application station itself; a glue applicator arranged peripherally with respect to the transfer drum and between the input and application station with reference to the label path so as to apply a given amount of glue on the back side of each label advancing along the label path prior to reaching the application station; and a laser emitter arranged peripherally with respect to the transfer drum and generating in use a laser beam towards the transfer drum to remove dirt and/or glue residues from the outer lateral surface of the transfer drum itself.