Certifications Required for Exporting Cutlery to the US and EU Markets

Exporting cutlery to international markets—especially the United States and European Union—requires strict compliance with food safety, chemical restrictions, and material traceability.

Failure to meet these standards can result in customs rejections, fines, or product bans.

Below is a practical guide to the mandatory and recommended certifications for successfully exporting cutlery (especially stainless steel tableware) to these two major regions.

🇺🇸 Certifications for Exporting Cutlery to the United States

1. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Compliance

Requirement: Mandatory for all food-contact materials sold in the U.S.
Scope: Stainless steel grade, plastic parts, coatings, and adhesives.
Key Standard: 21 CFR 175–177 (materials intended for food contact)
Proof: Typically shown via test reports from FDA-compliant labs (e.g., SGS, Intertek)

✅ Tip: FDA doesn’t issue certificates itself—ask suppliers for third-party lab test reports instead.

2. California Proposition 65 (For Some Buyers)

What It Is: Requires warning if products contain harmful chemicals like lead, cadmium, or BPA.
When Needed: For products sold in or shipped to California.
Test Method: Heavy metal and chemical content testing.

3. USDA BioPreferred (Optional for Eco Products)

Applies To: Cutlery made with biobased or eco-friendly materials
Benefit: Qualifies for government procurement or “green” labeling
Optional but favorable for sustainable branding

🇪🇺 Certifications for Exporting Cutlery to the European Union

1. LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch – Germany)

Requirement: Strongly recommended for plastic-coated or colored cutlery sold in the EU.
Scope: Sensory tests, chemical migration tests, and safety evaluation.
Higher standard than FDA, especially for surface coatings or handle materials

📦 Tip: EU importers often prefer LFGB reports over generic food-safe claims.

2. EU Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004

Requirement: Mandatory for all food-contact materials in the EU.
Scope: All raw materials must not transfer harmful substances into food.
Labeling: The product or packaging must carry a fork-and-glass symbol if intended for food contact.

3. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals)

Requirement: Ensures your products do not contain hazardous substances above EU limits.
Applies To: Stainless steel composition, paints, glues, coatings, colorants.
Substances Checked: SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) like lead, phthalates, BPA.

4. Declaration of Compliance (DoC)

Requirement: Required under EC 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011.
What It Includes:
- Product identification
- Applicable regulations
- Supplier/manufacturer declaration
- Test reports reference

🧾 EU buyers will often request a DoC before accepting or importing goods.

🧾 Summary Table: Required Certifications by Market

Certification	Region	Mandatory?	Applies To
FDA	US	✅ Yes	All food-contact materials
Prop 65	US (CA)	⚠️ Case-by-case	Heavy metal or chemical risk items
LFGB	EU	⚠️ Strongly advised	Colored/plastic/printed cutlery
EC 1935/2004	EU	✅ Yes	All food-contact items
REACH	EU	✅ Yes	Materials with coatings or paints
DoC (Declaration)	EU	✅ Yes	Factory-supplied food-contact items
SGS/Intertek Report	Global	⚠️ Recommended	Verifies test compliance

📌 Final Tips for Exporters and Manufacturers

Always request test reports from certified labs (SGS, TUV, Intertek, etc.)
For custom products (e.g. PVD colored cutlery), confirm LFGB and REACH compliance in advance
Clearly label your packaging with food-safe symbols and material identification
For Amazon or retail, prepare a compliance document kit (test report + DoC + factory info)

🌐 Compliance is not just about legality—it’s about building trust with buyers and passing customs clearance smoothly.