Current Situation of Plastic Materials Imported from China

Currently, it’s a trend for companies to import a wide variety of materials from Asia, mainly China. Companies now import materials of all kinds and for various applications: electronic devices, garments, household accessories, toys, tools and more. Whether it’s raw materials purchased by manufacturers or finished products bought by distribution companies, the main reason is that it’s the fastest and safest way to maintain business profitability and keep prices competitive.

It’s therefore not surprising that imports of food-contact plastic materials have also increased over the years, such as cutlery, Tupperware, cups and kitchen utensils.

Current European Legislation

However, if you are involved in this industry, you know that these materials must comply with very specific European requirements, specifically:

• Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
• Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practices for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
• Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

It is important to note that if the material is plastic and intended to come into contact with one or more foods, it must comply with all three of the mentioned regulations. However, are you certain that products imported from non-EU countries meet the quality and other requirements you need?

Clients often contact us for help because they have materials, mostly from China, held at customs for not complying with European legislation. At AIMPLAS, we have experience handling these cases, and it is crucial for clients to reach out to us as early as possible.

How Can We Help Ensure Safe and Efficient Imports?

It’s important to verify that the raw material or final product you plan to import is safe and complies with the relevant legislation. To achieve this, we can:

• Review all the documentation provided by the supplier.
• Advise on the types of tests that should be applied in each situation, and even conduct these tests at our facilities before the goods are imported and held at customs.
• Assist with preparation of Declarations of Conformity and ensure they are always up to date in accordance with the relevant legislation.
• If the product is reusable, recycled, biodegradable, etc., we support companies with the certifications required in each case.

At AIMPLAS, we have a specialized team to support clients in these situations by offering advice and personalized attention to those who need assistance.