Epson Commercial Label Printer Inks Reach Major Milestones in Food Contact Materials Compliance

Published: April 10, 2019

Epson recently announced that ink used in its SurePress^® digital inkjet label presses and ColorWorks^® on-demand color label printers are compliant with EU Regulation framework (EC) No. 1935/2004, Good Manufacturing Practices Regulation (GMP) (EC) No. 2023/2006, Plastics Implementation Measure Regulation (EU) 10/2011 and included in Swiss Ordinance (RS 817.023.21) on Food Contact Materials for food packaging printing inks. Epson reportedly demonstrates its long-term commitment to the food and beverage label and packaging industry by the level of investment it has applied in its pursuit of regulatory compliance.

“Epson’s SurePress and ColorWorks printers are used worldwide by converters and end-users for the food and beverage industry,” said Victor Gomez, director of industrial labels, Epson America, Inc. “Our customers can continue to deliver jobs with confidence knowing that the printers they have installed in their manufacturing facilities are compliant with Food Contact Materials regulations. Gaining compliance is an important milestone that further demonstrates Epson’s leadership in the digital production of food and beverage labels and packaging.”

Unique among digital inkjet press and printer manufacturers, Epson produces its own ink.  Epson invests directly in systems and hygienic processes to produce ink for its SurePress and ColorWorks solutions. Our facilities meet the internationally recognized Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards (EC) No. 2023/2006 EU Regulations and corresponding United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cGMP. In addition, Epson SurePress and ColorWorks inks are manufactured with food grade hygiene management, implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) risk assessment at each stage of production.

Epson’s inks comply with Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (RS817.023.21) and their ingredients have been registered or submitted to the Swiss Positive Lists A and B, published by Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) approved for food labeling and packaging printing.

Epson is a member of EuPIA and adheres to the guidelines on printing inks applied to the food packaging materials and articles, according to GMP (EC) No. 2023/2006 under European Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004.

In compliance with EU Regulation framework (EC) No. 1935/2004, Epson SurePress and ColorWorks inks are not intended for direct food contact applications. When using Epson SurePress and ColorWorks inks, it is recommended the non-food contact side of pressure-sensitive food labels is separated by aluminum, glass, plastic or other materials that acts as a functional barrier, as defined by local regulations, preventing migration of the ink components to the food.

For more information, visit  www.epson.com/surepress, or www.epson.com/colorworks.