Ceramic Ware at Christmas Markets – Ask for a Declaration of Conformity

Ein Bericht aus unserem Laboralltag

Magdalena Köhler

 

Photo: Christmas Market in Stuttgart, Andri Peter, pixelio.de, Image-ID 208120

 

Cups, plates, bowls and many other ceramic items are sold every year at Christmas markets. But what consumers don’t know is that every sale of a ceramic food-contact product must be issued with a so-called declaration of conformity (DoC). In reality, this rarely happens. In 2015, 37 out of 38 investigated samples had no declaration of conformity included. Without a DoC these products cannot be legally sold.

 

Legal requirements

According to the Consumer Goods Ordinance, ceramic food contact materials that are professionally marketed may only be sold if a written declaration in German is included. This certifies that the product is in compliance with legal prescriptions, which provide value limits for cadmium and lead solubility.

 

DoC must be issued to consumers

It is also legally required for the owners of stalls at Christmas markets to provide consumers of the popular ceramic ware with a declaration of compliance, because the term “marketable” covers all levels of marketing. There is no exception for any retailers.

 

 

Photos: CVUA Stuttgart

 

Info Box

What should a declaration of conformity for ceramics contain?

The declaration must be issued by the manufacturer or, when not located in the European Community, by the importer located in the European Community, and must contain the following information:

 

  1. Name and address of the manufacturer and, in case this is not located in the European Community, also the importer;
  2. Identification of the ceramic food contact material;
  3. Date of preparation of the declaration and confirmation that the product was manufactured in compliance with the requirements of the Consumer Goods Ordinance and Regulation (EC) 1935/2004.
  4.  

Info leaflet: "Manufacture and Labelling of Ceramic Food Contact Materials"

 

Reality check

Every year we analyze ceramic cups, bowls and casserole dishes for cadmium and lead solubility. Compounds of cadmium and lead can be used in the glaze of ceramic ware and are a health risk. The analytical results of our investigations from 2013 to 2015 are presented in the following graph.

 

 

Graph: Number of analyses conducted (per year): 57 (2013), 59 (2014), 38 (2015)

 

The test results revealed no problem with the lead and cadmium solubility in ceramic ware. Nevertheless, there continues to be no or very few declarations of conformity handed out to customers. The reason is usually a lack of information in the declaration regarding the manufacturer.

 

Sources:

[1] LFGB: (Food, Consumer Goods and Feedstuff Code) as amended and published on 3 June, 2013 (BGBl. I p. 1426), last revised through Article 2 of the Act on 5 December, 2014 (BGBl. I p. 1975).


[2] Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and Council on 27 October, 2004 regarding food contact materials, and the repeal of directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC (OJ L 338/4), last revised through regulation (EC) No. 596/2009 on 18 June, 2009 (OJ L 188/14).

 

[3] Consumer goods ordinance (BedGgstV) as amended and published on 23 December, 1997 (BGBl. 1998 I, p. 5), last revised through Article 1 of the regulation on 24 June, 2013 (BGBl. I, p. 1682).

 

Artikel erstmals erschienen am 18.08.2016