The foundation of safe packaging

What lies beneath

A Declaration of Compliance may seem straightforward, but it is both legally and technically complex. It requires expertise in:

• Material types and migration limits
• Relevant European regulations and national legislation
• Additional customer requirements and market specific guidelines
• The correct integration into specification management

A well structured Declaration of Compliance prevents discussions, avoids delays, and strengthens your reputation across the supply chain, but only if it is accurate, complete, and up to date.

‍

Leadership in compliance

Packaging is increasingly subject to regulatory scrutiny and supply chain requirements.Leadership means ensuring that all stakeholders, from specification management to QA, understand how a Declaration of Compliance is created, what the risks are, and how changes are controlled. A robust process is not only reactive in case of complaints or inspections, but proactive. It is embedded in procurement, specification management, product development, and customer relationships.

Three levels of development

Compliance | Meeting legal requirements

Maintaining a valid Declaration of Compliance for all packaging materials. Documentation is assessed against applicable legislation and aligned with product use and conditions. The focus is on meeting minimum legal requirements.

‍

Compliance+ | Aligned with customer and market expectations

Extending the Declaration of Compliance with additional information requested by customers, such as PFAS, MOSH and MOAH, or the absence of specific substances not yet formally regulated. The organisation anticipates trends and requirements from retail, foodservice, and industry.

‍

Strategic | Supply chain transparency and future readiness

Using the Declaration of Compliance as an information carrier across the supply chain. In addition to food safety, it includes data on recyclability, waste separation, environmental impact, and origin. The document is actively managed, integrated into specification management, and aligned with partners. Developments are continuously translated into policy and packaging strategy.

‍

What it delivers

A well structured Declaration of Compliance approach provides:

• Confidence in legal compliance
• Resilience during inspections and audits
• Transparency towards customers and supply chain partners
• Control over risks such as PFAS, BPA, MOSH and MOAH
• A strong foundation for safe and sustainable packaging policies

A Declaration of Compliance is not just documentation. It is a critical foundation for food safety and brand trust.

‍

Where do you stand?

Is your Declaration of Compliance up to date? Does it cover both legal and market requirements? Does your team understand how it works? Mérieux NutriSciences | Expert Partners helps you establish and maintain a Declaration of Compliance that is legally sound, technically robust, and operationally effective.