Legislation
Food comes into contact with many materials and articles during its production, processing, storage, preparation and serving, before its eventual consumption. Such materials and articles include food packaging and containers that might be printed.
Constituents of food contact materials that transfer from these materials into the food may affect the chemical safety -as well as the quality of the food, its taste and smell, and its appearance. To ensure a high level of food safety, all food contact materials must comply with Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food when placed on the European market. This is a framework regulation that does not cover yet many materials in detail. In addition to this Regulation, all FCM must be manufactured in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006), and specific Union legislation on certain materials, including on plastic and ceramics, as well as with National legislation on other materials.
A revision of the EU legislation on FCMs was announced in May 2020 as part of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy but despite several preparational steps, a new legal texts is not foreseen before 2027 – with the result that as of 1 January 2026 the German ink ordinance will enter into force and become the most comprehensive EU national law. A Swiss ink ordinance is already in place since more than a decade.
EuPIA has several Q&A documents to address the most relevant issues :
This document provides answers to frequently asked questions related to the legal status of food contact material inks. A special focus is on questions relating to demonstrating compliance of printed food contact materials with the relevant legal provisions
