The Declaration of Compliance ( DoC) is a document that illustrates a food contact material’s compliance with the relevant EU regulations. The purpose of the declaration is to demonstrate that all the necessary testing has been performed with satisfactory results – and that the material has thus been found safe. With regard to plastic materials, the required testing procedure and the requirements for the DoC are described in regulation ( EU) No 10/2011, also known as the Plastics Regulation.
Measurlabs provides all the food contact material testing services that are required for drafting the DoC. Do not hesitate to contact us to discuss the testing options most appropriate for your material.
Article 15 of the EU Plastics Regulation states that a Declaration of Compliance should be made available at every stage of marketing, except when selling the finished product to a consumer. This means that each business entity within the production chain has to provide the declaration to its direct customers down the chain. In addition, the declaration has to be provided to relevant authorities upon request.
Here are some examples of situations where the declaration is required:
In the example above, the term user refers to a business operator that puts food in contact with the material. This includes, for example, food manufacturers, restaurants, and bakeries.
Providing the Declaration of Compliance at every step of the production chain ensures that each business operator has sufficient information on the composition of the substance or material that they use in their operations. This is key to ensuring the safety and compliance of the finished food contact article.
Content requirements for the Declaration of Compliance are laid out in Annex IV of Regulation ( EU) 10/2011. The requirements are summarized below:
The Declaration of Compliance needs to be backed up with evidence that proves the food contact material’s regulatory compliance. This evidence includes the results of overall and specific migration tests, as well as a description of the testing procedure. The supporting documents must be provided to relevant authorities upon request.
The Declaration of Compliance is a self-issued document. This means that the manufacturer of a plastic food contact material is responsible for writing the declaration in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation 10/2011.
If you are not sure where to start, our experts are happy to help with any concerns relating to the DoC and the tests that are needed to draft the supporting documents. You can contact us using the form below, and we will get back to you in one business day.
References:
Regulation ( EU) No 10/2011 (PDF)
Guidance on Regulation ( EU) No 10/2011 (PDF)
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