Food containers in the EU: checking materials and intended uses
A food container must meet the EU food-contact-material framework and good manufacturing practices. Specific rules depend on its materials. For plastic parts, check composition, migration and declaration-of-compliance requirements in particular; CE marking is not the required evidence for this simple container.
The product and market in scope
A reusable food container without electrical functions. Assess the body, lid, seals, coatings and inks separately. Specify food types, temperatures, contact duration and claimed uses.
Food-contact safety
Materials must not transfer constituents to food at unsafe levels or cause unacceptable changes to food composition or properties. The framework also sets information and traceability requirements.
Sources: European Commission · Food-contact-material legislation ↗
Material-specific requirements
For plastic parts, examine authorised substances, restrictions and migration tests suited to intended use. Other materials may be subject to specific or national measures. A result for the body does not automatically cover the seal or lid.
Sources: European Commission · Food-contact-material legislation ↗
Manufacturing, declaration and claimed use
Document good manufacturing practices and obtain a declaration of compliance where required. Ensure test conditions support sales claims such as reheating, freezing, fatty or acidic food contact and repeated use.
Sources: European Commission · Food-contact-material legislation ↗
Documents to collect
- Material and component list, product references and suppliers.
- Intended-use conditions: foods, duration, temperature and reuse.
- Required declarations and migration testing suited to the product.
- Label, use instructions and batch traceability.
Which documents should you request from a supplier? ↗
Who assesses conformity?
Operators need evidence appropriate to their duties in the supply chain. A laboratory can perform migration testing. A “food safe” sales claim or generic certificate does not replace relevant documentation and covered use conditions.
Developments to monitor
Track changes to authorised substances and restrictions, and national rules for materials that are not fully harmonised. Reassess the file whenever a formulation, colourant, seal or claimed use changes.
A worked example
Fictional worked example.
A container was assessed for cold food storage. The brand wants to advertise microwave use. Check whether the declaration and testing cover the relevant temperature and contact duration before changing the product listing.
How Cleo can help
A product compliance assessment scopes the requirements and evidence for your product. Product monitoring then tracks the changes that affect it.
Have my product assessed ↗ · Explore product monitoring ↗
Official sources
- European Commission · Food-contact-material legislation ↗
- EUR-Lex · Plastic food-contact materials, Regulation 10/2011 ↗
- EUR-Lex · Good manufacturing practices, Regulation 2023/2006 ↗
- Your Europe · CE marking ↗
Sources consulted on 5 November 2026. Product configuration, your business role and destination countries determine the assessment needed.
Frequently asked questions
Which products does this article cover?
- A reusable food container without electrical functions. Assess the body, lid, seals, coatings and inks separately. Specify food types, temperatures, contact duration and claimed uses.
Who is involved in the conformity assessment?
- Operators need evidence appropriate to their duties in the supply chain. A laboratory can perform migration testing. A “food safe” sales claim or generic certificate does not replace relevant documentation and covered use conditions.
Related resources
What documents should an EU importer request from a supplier?
A practical supplier document request for EU consumer products, with checks for model identity, declarations, test evidence and traceability.read ↗