Statutory regulations for printable food contact packaging materials

1 Mandatory information in the artwork files

All traded food contact prepackaging must contain specific mandatory information prescribed by law. The information is specified, e.g., in the regulation on the provision of food information (LMIV) and the fruit juice and soft drink regulation (FrSaftErfrischGetrV)*. The food products offered by Onlineprinters are packed in such food contact prepackaging. Therefore, the legally prescribed mandatory information has to be printed on the packaging.


Such mandatory information includes, e.g., the list of ingredients and additives; it is already included in the print templates under Details on the product pages or will be inserted automatically by us during production. The information must not be changed.

2 Prohibition to advertise nutrition and health claims and apply misleading information.

Basically, you are free to design the printed products. But it is forbidden to integrate advertising content that relates to nutritional and/or health claims. It is also forbidden to place misleading information. Legal bases include the Health Claims Regulation (WCVO/ Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and Council), Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012 and the Food, Consumer Products and Feedstuffs Code (LFGB) **.

2.1 Advertising nutrition claims

Advertising nutrition claims includes all statements that either directly or indirectly suggest or express that the food has special nutritional properties. Formulations such as "rich in vitamins", "low-fat", "sugar-free" or "light" must hence not be used. Exception: They are true, accurate and satisfy the exact statutory requirements for the products labelled as such. Due to the tight regulations, we therefore advise against advertising nutritional claims.

2.2 Advertising health claims

Advertising health claims includes all statements that suggest or express, directly or indirectly, that there is a connection between the food and its ingredients and the health. Formulations such as "a glass of orange juice helps reduce tiredness" or "caffeine boosts your performance" must hence not be used. Exception: They have been approved by the European Commission.

2.3 Applying misleading information

Misleading information includes any information that is suitable to deceive about the food and could create a false impression about the food. This includes:

  • Incorrect information on the properties of a food, especially with regards to the type, properties, composition, quantity, shelf-life, country of origin or provenance and manufacturing method
  • Attributing effects or properties the food does not have
  • Advertising special properties that all comparable foods have as well (advertising matters of fact)
  • Suggesting, either through appearance or labelling, that a food contains certain ingredients that would normally occur in this food but which were in fact substituted with a different ingredient (imitation).

3 Confirmation of conformity of the transmitted artwork files

By transmitting your artwork files you affirm that you have not made any inadmissible changes to the statutory mandatory information and that your artwork files do not advertise nutrition and/or health claims and contain misleading information.

We expressly point out that we do not check your artwork files for such inadmissible changes, information or claims. If you have nevertheless made such changes to the print template or should your artwork files contain inadmissible advertised nutrition and/or health claims or misleading information contrary to your affirmation, you herewith fully exempt us from any third-party compensation claims that can result from the use of such printed food contact packaging.


*in Austria: Fruchtsaftverordnung
**in Austria: Lebensmittelsicherheits- und Verbraucherschutzgesetz (LMSVG)


Last updated: 2017-10-13