How can a packaging material can be considered safe for organic food?
Hi All,
I have a customer asking me for a statement regarding our packaging material's compliance to organic requirement. Can anybody help me or give some explanation on how a packaging material can be considered safe for organic food?
He mentioned about compliance to 7 CFR 201.272 b(1) but I don't really have enough information regarding this regulation and cannot find it on the internet. Does anybody have a copy of this?
Thank you!
Loren
Hi Loren,
There may be requirements for recycling performance etc. as well as meeting criteria for food packaging.
I would go back to the customer and ask them to give you specific requirements and the correct reference.
Kind regards,
Tony
Loren,
This code isn't right. It is bringing me to Federal Seed Act Regulations. I agree with Tony on this one. They will need to give you some greater guidance on the the actual code that they are measuring you against.
I did however find this paper on organic food packaging from the International Trade Center. It is long and has a lot of info and also a lot of fluff:
Packaging for Organic Foods.pdf 1.84MB 64 downloads
Hope it helps.
Cheers!
Your link took me to this
7 CFR 205.272 - Commingling and contact with prohibited substance prevention practice standard.
(a) The handler of an organic handling operation must implement measures necessary to prevent the commingling of organic and nonorganic products and protect organic products from contact with prohibited substances.
(b) The following are prohibited for use in the handling of any organically produced agricultural product or ingredient labeled in accordance with subpart D of this part:
(1) Packaging materials, and storage containers, or bins that contain a synthetic fungicide, preservative, or fumigant;
(2) The use or reuse of any bag or container that has been in contact with any substance in such a manner as to compromise the organicintegrity of any organically produced product or ingredient placed in those containers, unless such reusable bag or container has been thoroughly cleaned and poses no risk of contact of the organically produced product or ingredient with the substance used.
So basically your customer is asking whether or not you REUSE containers for any purpose (and BTW in Canada you CANNOT reuse containers from part (1) above) hope that helps
USDA National Organic Program accredited certifying body Oregon Tilth has good information on packaging materials for organic products. https://tilth.org/kn...nd-commingling/
Their website can give you information on obtaining an organic certification.
Good luck!
Loren,
Our certifier CCOF mentioned this in a recent audit. Specifically the b1 statement that no synthetic fungicide, preservative, or fumigant are used. The FDA allows the use in food grade bags, but they would not be organic compliant. If you could get your supplier to provide the statement for the bags/packaging in question, then they would be compliant. I believe this is only required for direct food contact surface packaging. And let me know if you can find a good supplier of drum liners that comply, I'm having a hard time getting them.
Thanks, Amy