France Clarifies Regulations for Food Packaging and Contact Materials

France’s consumer authority, the DGCCRF, has issued new guidelines clarifying compliance requirements for food packaging and food contact materials (FCMs) to ensure safety and prevent harmful chemical migration into food. The regulations apply to all materials intended for direct or indirect contact with food, including packaging, kitchen utensils, and infant feeding products.

Under EU legislation, FCMs must be inert under normal usage conditions, ensuring they do not compromise human health or alter food’s composition, taste, or texture. The scope of these materials includes a wide range of items such as bottles, trays, films, and cutlery, while secondary packaging that may contact food is also included.

To identify compliant products, consumers can look for the glass-and-fork symbol or labels indicating suitability for food contact. However, improper use of packaging, such as cooking in freezer bags or reusing single-use items, can increase migration risks and compromise food safety.

Manufacturers are required to provide a declaration of compliance, detailing the types of food the packaging can safely contact, along with specific time and temperature limits. Distributors must retain this documentation and ensure accurate labeling to avoid misleading claims.

The DGCCRF also addressed environmental terminology, clarifying that products labeled as ‘bio-based’ may still be conventional plastics and are not necessarily biodegradable. Non-compliance with these regulations could lead to enforcement actions or product withdrawals from the French market, emphasizing the importance of material selection, migration testing, and clear documentation in the food packaging supply chain.