Short answer: start with food-contact safety, then add packaging, chemical, labeling, producer-responsibility and end-of-life requirements for each destination. Confirm obligations with the importer and qualified local advisers.
European Union
All food-contact materials placed on the EU market must comply with the general framework in Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, alongside good manufacturing practice and applicable specific or national rules. The PPWR generally applies from 12 August 2026 and adds broader packaging requirements. Procurement teams should track both product safety and packaging-system obligations.
United Kingdom
UK food-contact and packaging requirements are separate from EU market access. Extended producer responsibility guidance covers affected organizations, packaging data, fees and recyclability assessment. Importers should determine who is the obligated producer and what data must be collected for each reporting period.
Australia
Australian buyers should verify food-contact suitability, customer or retailer specifications, packaging claims and state or territory restrictions that affect the intended format. Compostability language should identify the relevant standard and realistic collection pathway. Local legal and industry guidance should be checked at the time of launch.
Middle East
Requirements vary substantially by country and product. Buyers should confirm food-contact documentation, labeling language, importer registration, conformity procedures and any national restrictions before production. A report accepted in one Gulf market should not automatically be assumed valid in another.
Build a compliance matrix
- Country and responsible importer
- SKU, material, color and manufacturing site
- Food type, temperature and conditions of use
- Food-contact legal basis and test reports
- PFAS or restricted-substance requirements
- Compostability or disposal claim and certificate scope
- Label, language and producer-responsibility data
- Document owner, issue date and next review date
Supplier communication
Send the matrix with the RFQ and require written confirmation before sample approval. If a product, fiber recipe, coating, mold or production site changes, trigger a document review rather than assuming the previous evidence still applies.
Primary sources
European Commission food-contact materials · European Commission PPWR overview · UK packaging EPR guidance.