Food

Are your food labels legal?

All food packaging materials including self-adhesive labels applied to food packages need to comply with the Frame regulation EC 1935/2004. Materials intended to come into contact directly or indirectly with food must be sufficiently inert to prevent the transfer of substances to food in quantities large enough to endanger human health, and to prevent unacceptable changes to the composition of the food and how it looks, tastes or smells.

While EC No 1935/2004 applies to food packaging generally, the EU 10/2011 regulation specifically concerns all components of any primary food packaging containing plastic, with labels considered an integral part of such packaging.

Both direct food labels with a plastic layer and all labels applied to plastic primary packaging now require Declarations of Conformity (DoCs). The correct documentation...

• reduces the risk of supply of non-compliant labels.
• minimizes possibility of migration into the foodstuff.
• increases confidence of health and safety throughout the packaging chain.
• cuts down on possibility of negative publicity / loss of reputation.
• minimizes chance of product recall.

There must be documentation available on the components used in food packaging materials throughout the whole production chain. The components of a food packaging material need to comply with EU or national legislation, unless the food packaging is deemed as being a functional barrier.

UPM Raflatac supplies DoCs featuring high-quality information in full regulatory compliance with EU 10/2011 for a large range of face materials and adhesives. Label printers are welcome to contact their local UPM Raflatac technical sales or sales offices for assistance obtaining the necessary documentation, advice and support.