Declaration of Conformity More Than Just a Package Slip (PDF)




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Title: Declaration of Conformity: More Than Just a “Package Slip”
Author: Lubecki, Magdalena (CVUA-S)

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29.04.2014

Declaration of Conformity:
More Than Just a “Package Slip”
Report from a day in the lab
A declaration of conformity (DoC) is an important document
that must accompany many food contact materials. Unfortunately, however, this declaration was missing from 90 % of our
402 tested samples – that is the sobering record at CVUA
Stuttgart. Without this „package slip“, however, food contact
materials may not be marketed.

Info Box
What is a declaration of conformity?

i

A declaration of conformity confirms that the particular object
was manufactured in accordance with current regulations and
may, therefore, come into contact with foods. It also ensures that
consumer safety information/instructions (e.g. „Do not use in
temperatures over 40 °C“) is conveyed to those in the chain of
manufacturers.

How long has this regulation been in existence?
This rule came into effect in 2004 under EU Regulation Nr. 1935/
2004, which stipulates that some food contact materials must contain a declaration of conformity. Cases not covered by the regulation
are determined individually.

Which articles must have a declaration of conformity?
A declaration of conformity is mandatory for food contact materials
made of plastic, recycled plastic, epoxy derivatives (used in the inner layers of cans), ceramic and cellophane. For all other materials
ADRESSE Schaflandstraße 3/2  70736 Fellbach
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(e.g. paper sacks for baked goods, metal soup ladles, and silicone
ice cube trays) no DoC is required.

Why a declaration of conformity?
Plastic has become one of the most important contact materials for
foods. The manufacturing of plastic requires a wide variety of additives, which protect the plastic from, for example, light and oxygen.
When these substances come in contact with food, they can also
make their way into the food. It is absolutely essential, therefore,
that information regarding potentially problematic substances be
communicated with everyone from the manufacturer of the plastic
granules to the distributor of the material to the users of the packaging. It is thus necessary for food contact materials made of plastic to
be accompanied by a declaration of conformity. This ensures that,
via the supply chain, information can be forwarded and heeded regarding substances which, due to toxicological concerns, are liable
to usage limitations (e.g. softeners). The same goes for “dual-use”
substances that can be used both in food contact materials and in
food itself (e.g. antioxidants such as butylhydroxytoluene) and for
usage instructions such as, „Do not use in temperatures over
40 °C“.
In this way unwanted transfer of substances from packaging into
food can be prevented and the safety of the packaging and, thereby, the consumer can be safeguarded. Moreover, the DoC provides
necessary information for the official controllers who, based on the
commodities stated on the DoC, may need to follow up on potential
risks to the consumer.
As of May 2008 food contact materials made of plastic, such as
drink bottles, must display a declaration of conformity. Without a
completed process of ensuring conformity with current regulations
spatulas and other such kitchen utensils made of plastic may not be
sold.

Disclaimer – Responsibility discretely delegated
So-called disclaimers are often given in the case of lid gaskets,
such as: “The food packaging company is responsible for the con-

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formity of the lid gasket.” That means the packer (in this case the
bottler) must now verify whether the transfer of softeners into the
food is within the legally accepted amount. The disclaimer of the lid
gasket manufacturer is usually not read by the bottling company,
however, in which case the responsibility is not met.
This type of disclaimer is not legally valid because the manufacturer
himself is responsible for testing the quality of his products. If the
product is not suitable for some purposes (e.g. specific temperatures or types of food), the manufacturer must provide this information in his DoC.

Analyses:
In 2013, in addition to analyzing the substances contained in 402
samples of food contact material made of plastic and ceramic, they
were also checked for their DoC. Only 35 of the samples had a declaration that was in accordance with the legal requirements. In 194
samples the information provided was deficient, and the remaining
173 samples contained no declaration at all. Thus, approximately
90 % of the analyzed food contact material samples were judged to
be in violation, on the basis of either a deficient or non-existent
DoC.
While in the first few years after 2008 about 85 % of samples contained no declarations at all, the improved percentage of about
40 % in the following years (2011-2013) has remained fairly constant (see the following illustration).

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100%
90%
80%

46%

39%

43%

70%
60%
50%
40%

42%

49%

48%

30%
20%
10%

12%

12%

9%

0%
2011
Correct DoC

2012

2013

Deficient DoC

Non-existent DoC

Illustration: Analytical Results From 2011-2013

See also:
http://www.ua-bw.de/pub/beitrag.asp?subid=1&Thema_ID=3&ID=1291&Pdf=No

(Prescribed documents (DoC) for food contact materials made of
plastic are only sporadically available (German))

Conclusion
Ultimately, the DoC is there to ensure that all necessary controls
(e.g. compliance with limit values for problematic substances) are, in
fact, carried out. The DoC is therefore much more than simply a
piece of paper.
For many in the industry, however, the presentation of a detailed
DoC is seen as inconvenient and unnecessary. The purpose of the
declaration of conformity doesn’t seem to be understood by many
manufacturers.
The situation is not satisfactory from the perspective of the controllers. In order to change the sobering situation, the work on conformity that is the basis for the DoC is increasingly being monitored.
Regulation (EU) Nr. 2023/2006 (GMP-regulation) provides the official controllers with an effective means of checking the work on conformity, via accompanying documents of proof.

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Info Box
What does Regulation (EU) Nr. 2023/2006 stipulate?
This regulation establishes the validity of the rules of the Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for materials and objects intended
to come (or already are) in contact with food. The manufacturing

i

process is therewith subject to quality management and documentation. This „Supporting Documentation“ elucidates which
materials were used in the manufacturing, which commodities
were added, and how the safety of plastic food contact materials
is guaranteed for consumers. Everyone involved in the manufacturing process is thereby responsible for ensuring that none of
the food contact materials are transferred to food in amounts that
are harmful, that no unreasonable changes to the composition of
the food result, and that no damage to the organoleptic characteristics of the food occurs.

The current sobering situation regarding missing or deficient DoCs
can only be improved with effortful monitoring of the work on conformity.

Author: Magdalena Lubecki
Translated by: Catherine Leiblein






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