The European Union’s food-safety regime is among the world’s most demanding, and its rules for pet food and packaging have become one of the more complex barriers to trade. As stricter limits on PFAS and tighter controls on plastic migration take effect in 2026, exporters face a higher risk that shipments will be detained or returned if compliance documentation is incomplete.
In EU law, pet food packaging is not treated as ordinary industrial packaging. It falls under food contact materials (FCM), a category governed by rules intended to prevent chemical transfer into food and feed. Exporters must show that materials do not release components that could endanger human or animal health under normal use.
The core framework rests on three regulations:
Together, these rules require more than a physically sound package. Exporters must be able to document material composition, testing conditions and manufacturing controls across the supply chain.
Starting in 2026, the EU is tightening restrictions on PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Packaging containing PFAS above the permitted limits will be barred from the EU market. At the same time, migration testing for plastic materials is becoming more precise.
A common error is to rely on test reports prepared for packaging intended for human food. Pet food often has different fat, moisture and protein profiles, and those differences can alter chemical migration. Testing conditions and simulants must reflect the actual composition of the product.
Customs and market surveillance authorities are increasingly focused on the compliance chain rather than only on the finished package. A product may meet physical standards and still be stopped if the exporter cannot provide complete test reports, declarations and traceability records.
Compliance files generally need to connect each batch to the relevant EU rules. Missing documents, or documents that do not distinguish pet food packaging from human food packaging, can lead to findings of noncompliance.
| Compliance document | Core requirement |
|---|---|
| Declaration of Compliance (DoC) | Must clearly identify the applicable regulations and testing standards. |
| PFAS documentation | A PFAS content test report issued by a third-party laboratory. |
| GMP certification | Evidence that the production environment follows good manufacturing practice and remains traceable. |
One recurring problem is the assumption that a supplier’s self-declaration is sufficient. For PFAS and migration performance, third-party laboratory results are often needed to substantiate claims. Another is a declaration of compliance that is generic rather than tied to a specific product or batch.
Exporters also risk treating the declaration of compliance as a formality. EU authorities expect it to list the applicable regulations and testing standards clearly, and to align with the evidence in the supply chain.
The European Union’s food-safety regime is among the world’s most demanding, and its rules for pet food and packaging have become one of the more complex barriers to trade. As stricter limits on PFAS and tighter controls on plastic migration take effect in 2026, exporters face a higher risk that shipments will be detained or returned if compliance documentation is incomplete.
In EU law, pet food packaging is not treated as ordinary industrial packaging. It falls under food contact materials (FCM), a category governed by rules intended to prevent chemical transfer into food and feed. Exporters must show that materials do not release components that could endanger human or animal health under normal use.
The core framework rests on three regulations:
Together, these rules require more than a physically sound package. Exporters must be able to document material composition, testing conditions and manufacturing controls across the supply chain.
Starting in 2026, the EU is tightening restrictions on PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Packaging containing PFAS above the permitted limits will be barred from the EU market. At the same time, migration testing for plastic materials is becoming more precise.
A common error is to rely on test reports prepared for packaging intended for human food. Pet food often has different fat, moisture and protein profiles, and those differences can alter chemical migration. Testing conditions and simulants must reflect the actual composition of the product.
Customs and market surveillance authorities are increasingly focused on the compliance chain rather than only on the finished package. A product may meet physical standards and still be stopped if the exporter cannot provide complete test reports, declarations and traceability records.
Compliance files generally need to connect each batch to the relevant EU rules. Missing documents, or documents that do not distinguish pet food packaging from human food packaging, can lead to findings of noncompliance.
| Compliance document | Core requirement |
|---|---|
| Declaration of Compliance (DoC) | Must clearly identify the applicable regulations and testing standards. |
| PFAS documentation | A PFAS content test report issued by a third-party laboratory. |
| GMP certification | Evidence that the production environment follows good manufacturing practice and remains traceable. |
One recurring problem is the assumption that a supplier’s self-declaration is sufficient. For PFAS and migration performance, third-party laboratory results are often needed to substantiate claims. Another is a declaration of compliance that is generic rather than tied to a specific product or batch.
Exporters also risk treating the declaration of compliance as a formality. EU authorities expect it to list the applicable regulations and testing standards clearly, and to align with the evidence in the supply chain.
