Food contact materials
There are safety and compliance requirements for food contact materials imported both from outside the EU and from within the EU.
- More information on food contact materials (ruokavirasto.fi)
- Summaries of the legislation on food contact materials (mmm.fi)
Food contact materials are materials and articles that come into contact with food, for example, food packages, cutlery, saucepans and mugs.
How products are controlled
Customs can take samples from the product batch for examination. The examinations of food contact materials depend on the material of the product. For example, heavy metals in metal cutlery and plastic plates made from melamine can be examined to find out how much formaldehyde and melamine is released.
The products may also be subject to intensified import controls, when the batch is imported from outside the EU and declared in Finland.
What to do when importing from outside the EU
The restriction is shown in the Fintaric service, when you view the restrictions according to the community code and the country of origin.
Example: You are importing melamine plastic tableware from China
Since the product is subject to intensified controls by the EU, the restrictions by the community code include a documentation requirement “C060 - Declaration to be provided for every consignment of kitchenware falling under the provisions of (EU) Regulation 284”. The regulation concerns the import of polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware originating in or consigned from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A declaration form and a laboratory report in accordance with the regulation are required for importing tableware made from melamine plastic. The laboratory report must show that the products do not release too much formaldehyde. Submit the required documents to Customs in advance. Read more instructions about importing goods under intensified controls.
Customs may take a sample of the product.
When asked, you must present the product-related Declarations of Conformity (DoC) and test reports. Read more about documents that demonstrate compliance (ruokavirasto.fi)
Advance inquiry on taking samples
In order to speed up the import clearance, you can make an advance inquiry on taking samples, if there is an invoice and a packing list for the batch to be imported.
Completely prohibited food contact materials
The import of plastic food contact materials containing vegetable fibres (e.g. bamboo or rice flour) is completely prohibited. Read more about plastic products containing unauthorised vegetable fibres (ruokavirasto.fi).
What to do when importing from within the EU
- Customs also has the right to take samples of products on the internal market. When asked, be prepared to provide information about the goods to Customs. Read more about sampling on the page Imports of foods and consumer goods
- When asked, submit the documents regarding the product to the Customs Laboratory.