Ensuring the Fundamentals of Your Food-Grade PCA

When we talk about food-grade packaging, we mean materials deemed safe for direct contact with food. Packaging plays a critical role in food safety by protecting consumers from contamination, spoilage and damage throughout the supply chain.

Ensuring the safety of food packaging is a multi-faceted process that involves understanding and mitigating microbiological, chemical, physical and allergenic hazards. Adhering to food-grade standards and implementing robust control measures not only protects consumer health but also maintains the integrity of the food supply chain. Packaging materials must be both functional and safe, and should not harm or alter the product.

Essential procedures for food-grade packaging product conformity

Food-grade packaging prevents both chemical and microbiological contamination. Products must be microbiologically safe and physically strong. Thorough testing ensures that harmful chemicals are not released and that regulatory standards are met. The pre-verification of conformity (PVoC) process confirms the packaging is safe for its intended use, enhancing consumer confidence.

Labeling and information on food-grade packaging must include key details like ingredients, nutritional content and storage instructions. This enables consumers to make informed choices and handle the food properly. Proper labeling also supports the preservation of freshness and quality.

Common analyses for food-grade packaging include:

• Migration testing: Ensures chemicals do not leach into food
• Heavy metals testing: Detects toxic metal contamination
• Chemical resistance testing: Confirms material compatibility
• Mechanical properties testing: Assesses packaging strength and durability
• Microbiological testing: Identifies harmful microorganisms

Exporter guidelines for food packaging compliance

Exporting food products requires careful consideration to ensure that packaging meets the destination country’s regulations and protects the food during transit. Key steps include:

1. Assess product type: Understand whether the food is reactive, wet, dry or requires a low temperature. This will help determine the appropriate packaging materials and methods
2. Verify packaging facilities: Ensure facilities adhere to good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good hygiene practices (GHP) standards
3. Select compliant materials: Use materials suitable for food contact that comply with international regulations. For example, use food-grade plastics, certified cardboard and non-toxic inks
4. Apply quality control: Implement regular quality checks to ensure packaging is free from defects and contaminants. This includes testing for chemical migration, microbiological safety and physical integrity
5. Ensure accurate labeling and documentation: Include all relevant product information on packaging, such as ingredients, nutritional content, storage instructions and expiration dates. Maintain comprehensive documentation to comply with export regulations and facilitate traceability
6. Protect against environmental exposure: Use materials that protect against environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen and light to maintain product quality and safety during transit
7. Design for logistics and handling: Choose packaging that supports safe handling and transport without compromising product integrity

How we help

A critical component of ensuring food packaging safety is the expertise of conformity assessment bodies. As an internationally accredited organization, we fulfill a pivotal role in evaluating packaging materials against relevant regulations and standards.

We ensure:

• Compliance with international standards, including Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. We conduct tests to ensure that harmful chemicals do not migrate from packaging materials into food
• Identification and assessment of packaging risks, including chemical, microbiological and physical hazards
• Provision of certified packaging materials, supported by test reports or compliance certificates tailored to meet the import country’s regulations

By following strict regulations, conducting detailed evaluations and enforcing compliance, we ensure that consumers can rely on the safety and quality of food packaging. Our impartial assessments instill trust in both regulators and consumers. With local experts available globally, we support smooth and compliant market access, no matter where you are exporting to. 

This article can also be found in our PCA Newsletter (Q2/2025) – which keeps you up to date with developments in technical barriers to trade and product conformity assessment.

Read more PCA articles (Q2/2025)

• Cameroon Reinforces Market Surveillance Measures
• Service Scope Expansion Under Kuwait's PCA Program
• Securing Product Safety with a New PVoC Contract in Tanzania
• The Benefits of Beautyworld for Saudi Arabian Trade

You can read more articles in our previous editions in the PCA Newsletter Library.