Our CE/UKCA Marking Service Includes
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Selection of Directives
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Determination of Regulations
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Inspections
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Assessments
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Testing
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EU Examinations
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Compliance
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Regulatory Consulting
Canning & Food Processing Equipment
Canning and food processing equipment used in the EU requires CE marking. If the equipment is intended for the market in Great Britain, then it will need to be UKCA marked, which is essentially similar to CE marking in terms of the conformity assessment procedure with differences on the Declaration of Conformity.
If it’s being sold in those markets, UKCA and CE Marking for food processing equipment is mandatory. The following types of equipment fall under this category:
- Ovens
- Can sealers
- Conveying equipment for bulk ingredients and finished products
- Pelleting machines
- Wrapping machines
- Inspection machines
- Ingredient mixing equipment for all types of mixer
- Intermediate storage tanks and similar
- Labeling machines
- Lifts
- Proving stage machines
- Bowl lifting and tilting machines
- Slicing machines
- Waste compacting machines
- And many others
The CE Marking Process
Canning and food processing equipment has powered moving parts, so the safety aspects are addressed by the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). The EMC Directive addresses the EMC aspects (2014/30/EU) and substance restrictions by RoHS (2011/65/EU). Depending on the equipment’s size, it may be exempted from the requirements of RoHS.
The UKCA Marking Process
The UKCA regulations are similar to the CE ones. However, the actions a manufacturer will need to take for compliance depend upon the specific applicable UK regulations. There are a few similar steps manufacturers will need to follow for the GB market:
- Amend existing EU compliance documentation (e.g., Technical Files and Declarations of Conformity) to reference current UK Regulations and Standards
- Affixing UKCA Marking for canning or food processing equipment
- Obtaining third-party approval from a UK Approved Body when required
Is CE/UKCA Marking Mandatory?
In short, yes, if the equipment falls within the scope of any one of several of the above directives and UKCA legislation.
Annex I of the Machinery Directive lists the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) which need to be addressed in your equipment before it can be considered safe. They are laid out in six sections which cover general remarks common to all products in scope.
Within Annex I, there are supplementary Essential Health and Safety Requirements for foodstuffs machinery.
Machinery intended for use with foodstuffs must be designed and constructed in such a way as to avoid any risk of infection, sickness, or contagion.
In particular, these aspects need to be addressed:
- Cleaning
- Surfaces in contact with foodstuffs to be smooth
- Adequate disinfection processes
- Design should not allow insects or other forms of contamination
- No contamination possible by the equipment
As a manufacturer, you have to assess your equipment against these EHSRs to ensure that under all conditions of use the safety is maintained.
While not compulsory, the harmonized standard BS EN ISO 12100:2010 Safety of machinery – General principles for design – Risk assessment and risk reduction provides fundamental guidance and an overall framework for designers making decisions during the development of machinery to enable them to design machines that are safe for their intended use.
Where foodstuffs are processed, the equipment must comply with the appropriate Type C standards for safety. These are specific machinery standards for particular machine types. The two most significant standards are below:
- EN 1672-1:2014 Food processing machinery. Safety requirements
- EN 1672-2:2005+A1:2009 Food processing machinery. Hygiene requirements
There are many Type C standards, and you should ensure your equipment complies with the appropriate ones. The standards cover all the different foodstuff processes, from dough mixers, ovens, dough sheeters, band saws, animal products processing, and more. Click here for an updated standards list.
There is additional EU legislation related to materials coming into contact with foodstuffs in addition to the Directives listed above.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 provides a harmonized legal EU framework. It sets out the general principles of safety and inertness for all Food Contact Materials (FCMs).
The principles set out in Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 require that materials do not:
- Release their constituents into food at levels harmful to human health
- Change food composition, taste, and odor in an unacceptable way
You need to consider all stages of food processing and all of the potential contact points ensuring that the food remains in a hygienic condition and materials used do not affect the food in any way. Click here for additional guidance on this regulation.
If RF heating or cooking is part of the process, then the EMC standard EN 55011 should be used. BS EN 55011:2016+A11:2020 Industrial, scientific and medical equipment. Radio-frequency disturbance characteristics. Limits and methods of measurement. Note there is a 2020 amendment which, at the time, has not yet been published or harmonized.
For the general EMC compliance requirements, the EN 61000-6-X family of standards should be used depending on the environment you intend the equipment to be used in. As you can see, with canning and food processing equipment, there are other issues to be considered as well as all of the CE conformity assessment requirements.
Choose Technology International for CE and UKCA Marking for Canning and Food Processing Equipment
At Technology International, we can guide you through every step of CE and UKCA Marking for canning and food processing equipment. We’re very familiar with the CE/UKCA certification process, whether a system is mechanical, electrical, or a combination of both.
Our manufacturing industry experience gives us the expertise to:
- Determine which EU/UK Directives apply to an item
- Select the correct conformity modules
- Assess design and build per standards
- Aid with testing and risk assessment
- Carry out the necessary product inspections
- Compile the required documents for the Technical File
Contact us for support from the beginning to the end of the CE and UKCA Marking process. We can optimize the path to CE and UKCA certification success, navigate decision trees, and analyze the range of options that work for your unique product.
We know your industry—from the most massive machines to the smallest components, we’re ready to assist with every step to obtain a CE or UKCA Marking for your canning and food processing equipment.