Food Packaging Supplier Compliance Checklist 2026

Food Packaging Supplier Compliance Checklist 2026: What to Verify Before a PO

Before choosing a food packaging or straw supplier in China, use this food packaging supplier compliance checklist to verify six document sets: EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 compostability certificates; food-contact migration reports to EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR; PPWR-aligned packaging specifications; FSC or bamboo sourcing evidence; a signed PFAS statement; and batch-level traceability. Ask for current, scope-specific PDFs with certificate and report numbers, not logos.

Six Documents to Request Before a Deposit

A credible supplier should send a single document pack within 24–48 hours. Check that every certificate names the exact finished article, resin grade, and factory address; generic certificates are not evidence.

• EN 13432 compostability certification. For European compostable claims, request the certificate, the supporting lab report, and the certification body’s registration number. EN 13432 requires at least 90% disintegration within 12 weeks and 90% biodegradation within 6 months under test conditions. ASTM D6400 is the US equivalent; confirm the report covers the finished product, not only the raw resin.
• Food-grade migration testing. Ask for food-contact migration reports to EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR. For EU 10/2011, verify the overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² or 60 mg/kg, plus relevant specific migration tests. Reports older than three years, or issued before a formulation change, should be refreshed.
• PPWR compliance requirements and packaging specs. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 applies from 12 August 2026, so buyers are already asking for recyclability, minimisation, heavy-metal, and labeling data. Also map single-use plastic restrictions under the EU single-use plastics directive to straws, cutlery, and cups.
• Sourcing evidence. For paper and molded fiber, request FSC chain-of-custody certificate code and scope. For bamboo, ask for species declaration, food-contact suitability, and country-of-origin records.
• PFAS statement. A useful declaration states no intentionally added PFAS in the finished food-contact article, names the test method, and includes a recent test report for total organic fluorine where required by the buyer’s market.
• Batch-level traceability. Confirm lot code, raw-material batch, production date, line, and linked inspection report. Require records retained for at least five years and made available within one business day for audits.

For bagasse-specific document checks, use Bagasse Food Packaging Supplier: 2025 Buyer Checklist. For molded fiber specifications, see the Pulp Molding Food Packaging Supplier Guide 2026.

Three Red Flags in Eco Supplier Claims

Most compliance failures are documentation failures, not factory failures. The following three red flags should stop a PO until resolved.

• Self-declared “eco” with no certificate number. If the supplier says compostable or biodegradable but cannot provide an EN 13432 or ASTM D6400 certificate number, treat the claim as unverified. Ask who certified it, the certificate scope, and the expiry date.
• Expired or mismatched lab reports. Check the report date, lab accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025), sample photo, and factory name. A report for a different thickness, color, or resin is not valid for your SKU.
• No PFAS statement or vague PFAS-free marketing. A logo is not a declaration. Request a signed statement, test method, and report date; if the supplier cannot explain the test, the risk remains open.

How to Use This Food Packaging Supplier Compliance Checklist

Run a seven-day verification workflow before paying a deposit or approving a private-label print run.

• 1. Send an RFQ asking for the full document pack, MOQ, lead time, and Incoterms. State that certificates must match the quoted SKU.
• 2. Cross-check certificate numbers on the issuing body’s public register and confirm the factory address matches the audit report.
• 3. Review lab reports for test standard, migration simulant, temperature/time conditions, and pass/fail result.
• 4. Order a production sample and, for high-risk markets, commission a third-party migration or compostability check.
• 5. Put document delivery, change-notification, and batch traceability into the supply agreement. Make final payment conditional on batch records matching the approved specification.

Done properly, this food packaging supplier compliance checklist turns sustainability claims into auditable evidence and reduces recall, customs, and tender risk.

Checking these documents for a specific item?
Tell us the product and the destination market, and our factory team will point you to the documents on file for that item — you can then verify each one with the issuing body yourself. No obligation.

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FAQ: Food Packaging Supplier Compliance Checklist

Q: Which certificate proves compostability for Europe?

A: EN 13432 is the core European standard for industrially compostable packaging. Ask for the certificate, the accredited lab report, and confirmation that the scope covers the finished article; ASTM D6400 is acceptable for US claims.

Q: How current must food-contact migration reports be?

A: There is no single global expiry date, but reports older than three years or issued before a resin, additive, or process change are weak evidence. Require a new EU 10/2011 or FDA 21 CFR report whenever the formulation or line changes.

Q: What should a PFAS statement include?

A: It should be signed, dated, and specific to the finished food-contact article; state no intentionally added PFAS; identify the test method and detection limit; and be backed by a recent test report where the destination market requires one.

For a supplier document pack, email sales@ztstraw.com or review current specifications at https://ztstraw.com/products/. ZTstraw has manufactured straws and foodservice tableware for 30 years and exports to more than 30 countries; we provide batch-linked certificates, migration reports, and PPWR-aligned specifications before a PO.