Are your food labels legal? Labels and Regulation in the Food Packaging Chain: What you need to know

WHAT YOU NEEDTO KNOW

Labels and Regulation in the Food Packaging Chain

NEW EU REGULATION– DO YOU KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

The new regulation EU 10/2011 on plastic food packaging materials now also includes labels. This affects the whole food packaging chain so we decided to compile a guidebook to support ensuring your labellling chain compliance.

The new regulation dictates that end-users and brand owners have the final responsibility to check the compliance. This brochure has been produced to help you with this task. So let’s start with quick facts.

EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic food packaging materials• ValidsinceJan1st2013

• Labelnowclassifiedasbeingpartofthefoodpackage

• Allpackagingmaterials,includingself-adhesivelabels applied to food packages need to comply with the FrameRegulationEC1935/2004.

• Inaddition,filmsandadhesivesmustcomply with the Regulation EU 10/2011 on plastic food packaging materials.

HOW DOES THE NEW REGULATION AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

Under the new regulation each company is responsible for passing the documents related to its own products to the next step in the value chain. Take a look below how the responsibility is chained.

CHEMICAL SUPPLIER PACKAGING / LABEL MANUFACTURER

PRINTING HOUSE FOOD PACKAGING COMPANY

Declaration of Conformity (DoC) regarding chemicals

DoC regarding packaging materials

DoC regarding printed packaging materials

Final responsibility on compliance (based on DoCs and/or migration testing with final packaging materials)

Information on restricted components

Information on restricted components

Information on restricted chemicals

Information on overall migration Information on organoleptic roperties

Information on overall migration Information on organoleptic properties

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITYTHE WHAT,WHY AND HOW

A Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is a formal document confirming that the particular product is compliant with the requirements of the regulation. A DoC is needed for both direct and indirect food contact packaging scenarios. The indirect scenario means a possibility for the packaging substances to transfer into the food.

ForUPMRaflatacproducts,DoCs have been drawn up for quick and convenient distribution.Justcontact your local UPM Raflatac representative to get the DoC you need.

ARE YOUR LABELS COMPLIANT?

Unlessyouguaranteecompliance,youriskhavinga costly recall and damaging your brand and customer relations. Product recalls might mean huge associated costs – not to mention possible stains on reputation.

KEEPING YOUR BRANDFRESH,SAFE AND LEGAL

UPM Raflatac has many products and solutions crafted to meet the needs of the food segment and tested to comply with regulations and standards. All food end-use solutions have a DoC available uponrequest,whichinturnexpeditesanagileadoption to a compliant packaging chain.

BEST EXPERTISE IN THE MARKET

UPM Raflatac is a part of UPM -- The Biofore Company. That means wearecommittedtobringingsafer,betterandmoreresponsiblesolutions to all business segments we operate in. Our company values,visionandexpertisegiveusdecisiveadvantageinexplainingbusiness implications of new regulations to our customers. Working withUPMRaflatac,youreceiveagloballevelofservicebyourcustomer-oriented and highly qualified professionals.

Visit www.upmraflatac.com and contact your local UPM Raflatac representative to get started.