Global Food Contact Materials: A Guide to Safe and Compliant Packaging

Jun 23, 2025

Selling food worldwide means following a lot of different food safety rules for packaging. It’s not just a good idea – it’s a must to sell your products, keep customers safe, and protect your brand. For food companies, these rules can look complicated. That’s where your packaging and your packaging partner become super important.

Why Following Local Food Packaging Rules is a Big Deal

Every major place – like Europe (EU), the USA, China, and Japan – has its own laws for "food contact materials" (FCMs). That’s just a fancy term for anything that touches food, like your packaging. These rules are there to make sure nothing bad from the package gets into the food and makes it unsafe or changes its taste.

If you don’t follow these rules, you could face big problems: products sent back, fines, and a bad name for your brand. So, knowing and following these local rules is key.

A Quick Look at Food Packaging Rules Around the World:

European Union (EU): The main rule is (EC) No 1935/2004. It says packaging must not transfer anything to food that could harm health or spoil the food. Important supporting rules include one for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and a very detailed Plastics Regulation (EU) No 10/2011) with a "Union List" of safe-to-use plastics and limits on how much can transfer. A "Declaration of Compliance" (DoC) document is essential.

United States (USA): The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is in charge. Packaging materials must be approved, meaning they are either "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), officially approved, or cleared through a "Food Contact Notification" (FCN). You'll find these details in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

China: The main law is the Food Safety Law, supported by many National Food Safety Standards (called GB standards). For example, GB 4806.1 covers general safety, and GB 9685 lists approved additives. These standards cover everything from raw materials to how much can migrate into food.

Japan: The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) enforces the Food Sanitation Act. A big change recently is a "Positive List" for plastic packaging – only materials on this list can be used.

It's Not Just These Big Players: More Rules to Know

The list above is just a starting point. Many other places have their own specific food packaging rules that businesses must understand:

Canada: Health Canada makes sure packaging doesn't transfer harmful substances. New materials might need a "Letter of No Objection" (LONO).

Australia & New Zealand: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) sets the standards. While they often look to EU or US rules, they focus on ensuring packaging doesn't contaminate food or make it unsafe.

South America (e.g., Brazil, Argentina): Countries here have their own regulations. For example, Brazil's ANVISA and Argentina's INAL have specific rules and lists of approved materials, sometimes similar to EU/US models but with local differences.

Southeast Asia (ASEAN countries): Rules can vary a lot from country to country. Some are developing their own standards, while others might follow international guidelines. It's important to check the specific rules for each country you plan to sell in.

What’s the Common Goal? No matter the country, the main goal of all these rules is the same: to stop harmful stuff from moving from the package to the food and to keep consumers safe.

Maxpack: Your Partner for Safe Packaging Worldwide

Figuring out all these rules can feel like a maze. At Maxpack, we get it. We’ve built our knowledge and our products to help you meet these challenges.

How Maxpack Helps You Sell Safely and Successfully:

Safe Materials, Smart Choices: We carefully pick top-quality, food-grade raw materials (like PVDC and EVOH for our best barrier films) that meet major international standards. We keep up with approved lists and rules in key markets.

Modern Making & Good Practices: Our factories (using advanced W&H lines) follow strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). This means consistent quality, and you can trace every package – whether it's our High-Barrier Shrink Bags, Vacuum Pouches, VSP Skin Films, or MAP Lidding/Forming Films.

Packaging That Protects and Performs:

• Our High-Barrier Shrink Bags (with PVDC/EVOH) are amazing at blocking oxygen and moisture. This is key for keeping foods like meat, poultry, and seafood fresh longer, meeting safety rules, and keeping quality high.
• Our VSP Skin Films make your products look great on the shelf AND keep them fresh and safe, which customers and regulators love.
• Our Vacuum Packaging Films and Pouches seal tightly to protect against spoilage.

Custom Packaging, Still Compliant: We can make packaging just for you – any size, material, or print. We’ll work with you to make sure even custom designs follow the rules for labeling and materials in the countries you sell to.

Paperwork & Support: We know paperwork is important. We can give you the info you need to help create your "Declaration of Compliance" (DoC) when required, showing you’ve done your homework.

Quick and Flexible: We offer small order options (like bags from 1,000 pcs, film from 1,000 kg) and fast delivery (10-15 days). This helps you stay current with market demands, while still utilizing safe, rule-following packaging.

Safety Packaging Solution: Keep Your Products Safe & Selling

Dealing with global food safety rules doesn't have to stop your business from growing. When you choose Maxpack, you get quality packaging that follows the rules and is designed to protect your product, your brand, and your customers.

Let us help you make these rules work for you. Contact Maxpack today to talk about your packaging needs and how we can help you sell safely around the world.