EU Guidelines for Packaging Industry

Hi

Can anyone tell me what certificates do we need to sell packaging with food contact within Europe? Is HACCP enough or do we need something els?

Thank you for your comments.

I Work for a packaging company, we need to have our products tested in line with the EEC Directive 2002/72/EC including amendments relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs and the more specific EC Directive 90/128/EEC including amendments which lays down requirements relating to specific levels of migration?

Hi Kaz,

many tks for your comment. Can you tell whether HACCP would fulfil the requirement you mentioned above? If no, we steps should we take? Thank you for your reply.

Rgds,
arbon

Hi Arbon
no the HACCP will not fulfill the requirements. All packaging that comes into direct contact with food needs to be sent for analasis and certified (PIRA/ migration) the link below is to BERR site ( you can find all EU directives there)

http://search.berr.g...r... 2002/72/EC+

We have our material certified by PIRA
Kaz

Hi Arbon,

Just to add to what Kaz has already told you. A HACCP system will help you to identify the risks and control measures necessary for you to provide packaging materials that are safe and hygienic for the end user. HACCP is a requirement of standards like the BRC Packaging Standard. Your customers will want to ensure that the packaging products you supply are safe and will likely ask that you have a HACCP based system and in the UK especially your customers will specify the BRC Standard.

Outside of the above customer requirements your customers will also expect that the packaging materials you supply comply with all relevant EU legislation. In fact if you supply packaging materials that do not comply with EU legislation you are breaking the law.

The legislation that applies to food contact materials can be found here:

http://ec.europa.eu/...isl_list_en.htm

If you have further questions please ask.

Welcome to the forums.



Regards,
Simon

Hi Simon,

Thank you for the reply. We tested our materials for 2002/72/EC, 94/62/EC, and we understand that we need to fulfil 1935/2004 EC and 20023/2006 EC as well. First, do you know which company would do the test and secondly, what would roughly be the costs to do the tests / certifications.

Thank you for your feedback.

Greeting Arbon

What would roughly be the costs to do the tests / certifications.

Hi Arbon,

Costs depends very much on what needs to be tested and who is testing.
You are mention the 1935/2004, if it are polymers you do migration testing.
Common procedure is to use a certified lab and to ask them to do migration testing.
They can advice how to do the test. Large labs can also apply models which lowers the cost.
Secondly they can contact your supplier under confidentiality to find out what specific components there are in the raw materials and need to be tested.
Than about cost, if you test for lets say 3 substances I would estimate costs would be 5000 - 8000 Euro.

Have a nice day or maybe not with these prices, Okido

In my experience the price is similar to that which Okido states. There are lot's of companies that do it, however, my recommendations would be in the UK and I think you would be better served using a testing company in your own country.

Regards,
Simon

thank you Okido and Simon,

Will try to find companies to do the migration etc.

Best regards, Arbon

Hi
My Name Alaa
I think you can use the BRC Standard For packing

Thanks

Hi,

EC Regulation 1907-2006 exempts packaged foods but can some one with experience dealing with this regulation advise me if there is a need to deal with the chemicals (i.e. printing ink etc) on food packagings.

Hi,

EC Regulation 1907-2006 exempts packaged foods but can some one with experience dealing with this regulation advise me if there is a need to deal with the chemicals (i.e. printing ink etc) on food packagings.

YES.

REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (EC 1907/2006). It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. The new law entered into force on 1 June 2007.

http://ec.europa.eu/...reach_intro.htm

Reach in Brief

YES.

REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (EC 1907/2006). It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. The new law entered into force on 1 June 2007.

Simon, Are you confirming that the enforcement of REACH covers chemicals present in food packaging materials because I am unable to locate the specific section of the regulation with this regard. The legal fratenity I referred to seems unsure of this implication and as such throws me off balance.

However on the other hand, I do know recently about a huge shipment of "paper cups" (which are not processed food packaging materials) was barred from entry into EU because of REACH!

Simon, Are you confirming that the enforcement of REACH covers chemicals present in food packaging materials because I am unable to locate the specific section of the regulation with this regard. The legal fratenity I referred to seems unsure of this implication and as such throws me off balance.

However on the other hand, I do know recently about a huge shipment of "paper cups" (which are not processed food packaging materials) was barred from entry into EU because of REACH!

I think maybe I was wrong after reading this:

http://www.defra.gov...mentation.htm#4

Under the substances exempt from REACH are materials in contact with foodstuffs. That means food packaging. However, if printing inks are used then REACH would apply to those, I’m pretty sure of that.

Regards,
Simon

However, if printing inks are used then REACH would apply to those, I’m pretty sure of that.

Me too!