Which certifications you need depends on your sector and on what you print on the label. ISO 9001 covers quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management, FSC or PEFC chain of custody is required if you want the FSC or PEFC claim on the label, BRCGS Packaging Materials is common in food and consumer goods supply chains, GMP under Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 applies to food contact materials, and ISO 15378 covers primary packaging for medicinal products. Always check the scope, the site and the validity of each certificate.
- A certificate covers a specific site and scope: check both.
- To print an FSC logo on your label, the label printer itself must hold FSC chain of custody.
- Food and pharma customers often require sector standards beyond ISO 9001.
- Verify certificates in the certification body's or scheme's public database.
- Ask for material documentation (data sheets, declarations) per material, not only company certificates.
Certifications at a glance
| Certification | What it covers | When to ask for it |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system | Basic requirement for most industrial buyers |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management system | When environmental policy or reporting requires it |
| FSC / PEFC chain of custody | Traceability of certified paper through the supply chain | If the label must carry the FSC or PEFC claim |
| BRCGS Packaging Materials | Hygiene, product safety and quality for packaging manufacturers | Food, beverage and many consumer goods retailers |
| GMP, Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 | Good manufacturing practice for materials in contact with food | When labels are part of food contact materials |
| ISO 15378 | Quality management with GMP for primary packaging of medicinal products | Pharma primary packaging labels |
How to verify a certificate
- Check the legal entity and site on the certificate: it must be the plant that will print your labels.
- Check the scope: for example, self-adhesive labels, not only other products.
- Check the validity date.
- Look it up in the public database of the scheme or certification body (FSC and PEFC have public search tools).
- For FSC or PEFC, check that the product group includes the material you will use.
Documents beyond certificates
Certificates describe the company. For each label you also need documentation on the materials: technical data sheets of facestock and adhesive, declarations of compliance where relevant (for example for food contact or specific regulations) and sustainability data. With the EU packaging regulation, documentation per material is becoming more important. See PPWR and labels.
What UltraPixel provides
UltraPixel states certifications per material only when they are documented, and supplies the material documentation available for each proposal. Ask through the specialist contact form.
Frequently asked questions
Does a label printer need FSC certification to print FSC labels?
Yes. To print the FSC claim on a label, the printer must hold a valid FSC chain-of-custody certificate covering that product.
What is BRCGS Packaging Materials?
A global standard for packaging manufacturers covering hygiene, product safety and quality, widely required in food and consumer goods supply chains.
Which standard applies to pharma labels?
ISO 15378 covers primary packaging materials for medicinal products, combining ISO 9001 with GMP requirements. Customers may add their own requirements.
How can I check if a certificate is valid?
Check site, scope and validity on the certificate and look it up in the public database of the scheme or certification body.