Labeling a smarter future

Good manufacturing practices and ISO 22000 compliant labels

FOOD SAFE LABELING

Consumer safety is of utmost importance to us. With this in mind, we have taken

our good manufacturing practices to the next level. UPM Raflatac is the first self-

adhesive laminate supplier to have all factories in Europe certified according to the

ISO 22000:2005 food safety standard. This certificate ensures that the products are

designed and manufactured according to the European Good Manufacturing Practice

Regulation, EU 2023/2006. The management systems are certified and regularly

audited by a third party auditing company and confirm our continuous effort to build a

food safety culture into the DNA of our operations.

We also constantly follow the European legislation for food safety to make sure our

label material range for food is compliant within the intended use. Partner with us, our

expertise is at your disposal.

FOOD SAFETY EXPERTISE at your disposal

UPM Raflatac is the first self-adhesive laminate supplier to have all factories in Europe certified according to the ISO 22000:2005 food safety standard.

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Our ISO 22000 certificate proves we meet Good Manufacturing Practices requirements.

Our ISO 9001 certificate demonstrates that our systems, processes and tools manage our quality performance and provide the requested traceability of the product.

Our product component level DoCs show required safety information.

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Good manufacturing practice

We operate in accordance with EU 2023/2006 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) on Food

Contact Materials. All our production units in Europe

have a certified food safety management system

which complies with the ISO 22000 food safety

standard. What does that mean in practice?

There are several strict policies and practices that

our European factories follow. Therefore, we have

a food safety team in each one, responsible for

the development of the food safety culture. This

development is supported by setting food safety

targets for each year and providing induction and

periodical refresher trainings for our employees.

We also conduct risk analysis for critical points.

Additionally, our teams test the recall process with

selected printers and brand owners to check the

reaction time needed to block the product in case

of any food safety issue. This ensures best in class

ENSURE food safety and legal compliance with us

Only choose partners who work with Good

Manufacturing Practices and are able to prove their

compliance with a food safety system such as ISO 22000.

consumer safety. The process is highly supported

by our ISO 9001 certificate, that demonstrates our

systems, processes and tools to manage our quality

performance provide the requested traceability of the

product.

On a practical level, food safety is present in

everyday factory life. Eating and drinking is

prohibited in the production area and we use

protective clothing and require hand washing before

entering production. Cleanliness and pest control are

taken very seriously.

All this and more is being assessed once a year by

a third party auditor from Lloyds Register Quality

Assurance (LRQA). Additionally, our food safety

teams in factories conduct internal audits in between

to ensure day to day compliance and to discuss food

safety topics with factory employees.

Consumers expect that food packaging is safe. It is the duty of each business operator

in the packaging supply chain to secure on their behalf that the safety of the packaging

materials are evaluated and that information about the intended use of the material is

supplied to the next business operator. The responsibility of assessing the safety of the

final packaging application is for the packer and brand owner, who know the nature

and quantity of the packed food, storage time and temperature, and the size of the

label and other packaging materials involved, like printing inks, for example.

Place consumer safety first and check if your existing labels have a comprehensive

Declaration of Compliance (DoC) to prove their compliance with food safety

regulations. These documents are essential throughout the value chain helping to

protect consumers and to avoid putting brand owner reputation at risk.

UPM Raflatac supplies best-in-class Declarations of Compliance (DoCs) for food-

labeling materials. Our DoCs for film face materials define the recommended use,

the legal compliance of the product component and listing any potentially migrating

substances based on the definition in the Plastic Regulation EU 10/2011. Also, DoCs

for adhesives and paper face materials use the same format as applicable.

Ask for proof of compliance (a DoC) from your food

packaging supplier.

Declaration of Compliance (DoC) makes the difference

UPM RAFLATAC SUPPORTS PRINTERS AND BRAND OWNERS BY HAVING SOLID FOOD SAFETY PROCESSES IN PLACE:

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European Regulation EC 1935/2004 is the framework regulation which applies

to all food contact packaging materials in the area. This framework regulation ensures

that all materials used for food contact do not transfer substances to the food in quanti-

ties large enough to:

• endanger human health

• cause unacceptable changes to the composition of the food

• weaken the properties of food regarding how it looks, tastes or smells

UPM Raflatac’s label material range for food complies with this regulation.

Ensuring that packaging and label materials are safe for food

Regulation EU 1169/2011 covers mandatory packaging markings and their

correctness and clarity, as well as nutritional information for food. This legislation allows

consumers to make better-informed choices.

• Package markings must be clear, easily readable and understandable. There are

rules about text size, for example, and information must not be blurred in any way.

• Package marking must never be misleading about food properties, origin and

manufacturing method, and must include information such as composition, allergens

and certain critical food ingredients, storage conditions and use by dates.

• Further nutritional information is required, such as serving size and calories, and

recommended daily intake percentages.

More information for better-informed choices

Design your success! Legal obligations for more information on labels do not necessarily mean less space for branding. Innovative and appealing label design is possible to combine with in-depth information using for example peel & read labels.

Put consumer safety first and ensure your food

contact material suppliers are following the EC 1935/2004

regulation

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Regulation EU 10/2011 is a legal obligation that minimizes the risk of food

contamination from any plastic layer of the packaging.

Direct food labels with a plastic layer and all film labels applied to primary packaging

must be supplied with Declarations of Compliance (DoCs) stating the conformance

to relevant legal requirements, the substances controlled by EU 10/2011 and the

recommended use of product. Each company in the packaging supply chain is

responsible for sharing DoCs for its products with key partners. The final responsibility

of assessing the safety of the final packaging application is for the packer/brand

owner.

UPM Raflatac’s film label stock features faces that are food safe including FTC food

top coat and corona films (PP/PE). These products cover most of the food labeling

applications requiring a film label face. FTC label films make legal compliance easy,

provide options to improve your sustainability as well as your productivity, and support

visual appeal that’s on-trend and in demand.

Meeting specific rules for packaging containing plastics

Our film label faces with the food safe FTC topcoat are

compliant with food safety regulations EC 1935/2004 and

EU 10/2011.

Currently there is no common legislation at the EU level specifically for papers or

boards. Paper and board label materials must, however, comply with the Frame

Regulation EC 1935/2004, GMP-regulation, relevant national legislation in EU

member states, for example German law and relevant BfR (The German Federal

Institute for Risk Assessment) recommendations. Other components of the label—like

adhesives and coatings—need to comply with the applicable parts of the Plastics

regulation.

Contact your local UPM Raflatac sales representative for further compliance

information and individual Declaration of Compliance (DoC) documents on each

product component regarding UPM Raflatac paper and board materials for food.

A safety check for label papers and boards

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RETAILER

BRAND OWNER

PACKER

LABEL CONVERTER

RAWMATERIAL SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER

OF SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL MATERIAL

GMP

GMP

GM

P

DoC

DoC

DoC

Plastic raw materials

AdhesivesLabel material (paper, filmic, multilayer)

Provide proof of food safety compliance

Choose partners who provide DoC as a proof of compliance and demonstra

te Good Manu

factu

ring

Prac

tices

Request proof of food safety compliance

Make sure your label material vendor can demonstrate Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the food supply chain and can prove compliance with the relevant legislation. Requesting a ISO 22000 certified food safety management system you can simplify your purchasing process as you don‘t need to separately check how GMP compliance is met.

Ask for Declarations of Compliance (DoCs) from your label material vendor and make sure they are comprehensive.

For a new or changed packaging application, consider the safety assessment before the application is realized.

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WITH SO MANY REQUIREMENTS IT CAN BE HARD TO KEEP UP, BUT THERE ARE SOME BASIC STEPS TO CHOOSING LEGALLY COMPLIANT, FOOD SAFE LABEL MATERIALS:

As a leader in sustainability, we at UPM Raflatac have taken the challenge and brought food safety to the

next level. Our ISO 22000 food safety management system in European factories supports us in building a

food safety culture and is a tool for us to do responsible business. Now is your chance to take the next step.

Food safety can also be the part of your sustainability story.

Consumers are more and more aware about food safety topics. They read labels, they care where the

package comes from and how it interacts with the food.

We not only have the material range compliant to food safety regulations, but also many sustainable

options on the menu. We can help you design recyclable food packaging, minimize food waste, reduce raw

material use and choose renewable sources.

The smarter future will require even more radical solutions. Partner with us to design safe and sustainable

food packaging. Contact your closest UPM Raflatac representative to learn how we can be your partner in

labeling a smarter future.

Labels matter in food packaging.

YOUR ROLE in food safety

Food safety compliance supports your SUSTAINABILITY

Keep your brand fresh, safe and legal

Disclaimer: This information is for guidance only, it is based on our most up-to-date knowledge and experience and we cannot assume any liability for damage caused through its use. Recipient should always ensure that it complies itself with applicable laws. This document does not constitute any warranty, express or implied and is only intended for the intended recipient and cannot therefore be transferred to any third party. We cannot assume any liability for reliaing the information being accurate or up-to-date. Any and all information is subject to change without notice.

The brand owner and packer share the final responsibility for ensuring food contact

material complies with safety regulations.

ALL FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS(EU 1935/2004)

PLASTIC FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS(EU 10/2011)

FOOD LABEL INFORMATION(EU 1169/2011)

NATIONAL LAWS

GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE EC 2023/2006(GMP)

Preventing danger to health or change to food composition, taste or odour.

E.g specific migration limits (SMLs) for restricted substances.

E.g. composition, ingredients, allergens, legibility.

Material-specific national legislation and industry guidelines for e.g. paper, coatings and inks.

Compliance demonstrated by a food safety system such as ISO 22000.

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www.upmraflatac.com