Certified food packaging: safety and up-to-date regulations

Safety, traceability and regulatory compliance are key aspects for those working in the food sector. Packaging must not just contain the product: it must protect it, store it properly, and ensure that any material in contact with food is safe and controlled.

For delis, restaurants, large-scale retailers, and distributors, choosing certified food packaging means reducing risks, complying with legal requirements, and offering end customers a reliable product.

Why certifications matter

Packagings intended for food contact must comply with precise requirements. Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 states that materials and articles intended to come into contact with food must not transfer components in quantities that pose a health hazard, alter the composition of food or alter its organoleptic characteristics.

This means that every container, tray, film, pouch or accessory must be designed and manufactured from suitable materials, accompanied by technical documentation and declarations of conformity.

The main regulations to know

The food packaging industry is governed by multiple regulatory references. Among the most important we find:

Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, governing materials and articles intended for contact with food.

Regulation (EU) 10/2011, specific for plastic materials and objects intended for food contact, essential for plastic trays, films and containers.

Directive (EU) 2019/904, known as the SUP Directive, was created to reduce the environmental impact of certain single-use plastic products.

Regulation (EU) 2025/40, introducing updated requirements on packaging and packaging waste, with a focus on sustainability, labelling, waste reduction and the circular economy.

Knowing these regulations is essential to choose food packaging that truly complies with and is suitable for the current market.

Food safety and material quality

Certified packaging ensures that the material has been tested for contact with food and that it complies with specific migration limits. This is especially important for fresh, hot, fatty, or acidic products, which may interact more with the container.

For this reason, it is essential to evaluate:

• suitability for food contact;
• declaration of conformity;
• lot traceability;
• resistance to temperature, humidity and fats;
• compatibility with heat sealing, vacuum sealing or ATM/MAP.

Certification is not just a formal requirement, but a concrete guarantee for the entire supply chain.

Sustainability and new responsabilities

The latest regulations are pushing companies towards packaging that is recyclable, reusable, or made from materials with a lower environmental impact. EU Regulation 2025/40 establishes sustainability and labelling requirements across the entire packaging life cycle, from production to waste management.

This makes it increasingly important to choose solutions that combine food safety and environmental responsibility: recycled, compostable materials, recyclable plastic, certified cardboard, and bioplastics suitable for food use.

GoPack: certified packaging for the food sector

GoPack supports food, food service, and large-scale retail companies with a full range of certified food packaging: heat-sealable trays, films, vacuum-sealed bags, take-away containers, plates, glasses, and disposable accessories.

Each solution is designed to ensure safety, convenience and compliance, with the possibility of free sampling and technical advice in choosing the most suitable product.

Choosing certified food packaging means protecting the product, complying with regulations, and building customer trust. With GoPack, packaging becomes a guarantee of quality.