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EuPIA issues new guidance on Swiss Ink Ordinance and declaration of conformity requirements
The revised Swiss Ink Ordinance introduces mandatory declarations of conformity across the full value chain. EuPIA and the Swiss association VSLF have now released additional guidance to clarify expectations for ink manufacturers and converters.
The European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA), together with the Swiss association VSLF, has published further guidance relating to the updated Swiss Ink Ordinance (SR 817.023.21). Following the December 2023 revision, all actors in the value chain must provide a declaration of conformity (DoC) for materials used in printed food packaging.
Implications for ink makers and converters
Uncertainty in the supply chain persists regarding which information is required at each stage. EuPIA highlights that ink manufacturers already provide a Statement of Composition (SoC), listing substances with migration potential and their relevant limits. This document remains the key information tool for converters.
According to EuPIA, an SoC prepared in line with industry recommendations meets the requirements set out for the ink production stage in Annex 15 of the Ordinance and can serve as an “ink DoC.” Converters must then prepare their own DoC including application-specific parameters such as substrate type, coating weight or surface-to-volume ratio—information that ink producers typically do not have.
The new EuPIA/VSLF guidance aims to support clearer communication across the supply chain and reduce uncertainty relating to compliance obligations under the revised Swiss rules.
