A buyer who reads one of our guides and then puts a recyclability claim on 200,000 cups, or registers in the wrong EPR system, is the one who carries the consequences. This policy is written with that buyer in mind. It explains where the information in the 9 Packaging knowledge base comes from, how we date and qualify it, and what to do if you find something wrong.
How is content researched and produced?
Content is researched and drafted with the help of software tools and reviewed before publication. Each page is written around a single buyer question, with its scope fixed in advance so that two pages do not answer the same question differently.
Which sources do we use for regulatory content?
Regulatory statements are checked against the official text or the responsible authority's own guidance. Secondary sources such as law firm briefings and trade association notes help us find and interpret changes, but where a point rests only on a secondary source, the page says so or uses cautious wording.
| Jurisdiction | Primary sources we check |
|---|---|
| European Union | EUR-Lex (consolidated and original legal texts); European Commission guidance, implementing acts and Q&A documents |
| United Kingdom | legislation.gov.uk for statutory instruments; gov.uk guidance from the responsible departments and agencies |
| Germany | gesetze-im-internet.de for the Verpackungsrecht-Durchführungsgesetz (VerpackDG, which replaced the Verpackungsgesetz in August 2026) and related law; ZSVR (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister) publications and LUCID guidance |
| Austria | Austrian federal legal information system (RIS) and the responsible federal ministry's guidance |
| Netherlands | wetten.overheid.nl for legislation; Rijksoverheid (central government) guidance and letters to Parliament; ILT and Verpact publications |
| United States | FDA guidance and the eCFR (Title 21 for food-contact substances); state legislature websites for enacted bill text |
| Standards | Standards bodies such as CEN, ISO and ASTM, cited by standard number; we summarise scope and do not reproduce standard text |
Our regulatory guides are food-contact compliance, PFAS-free food packaging, the PPWR, Germany and Austria, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and recyclable and compostable claims.
How is regulatory status dated?
Every regulatory statement is tied to a date. Pages give the instrument name, the jurisdiction and the dates that matter, such as entry into force, date of application or transition deadlines, and state when the status was last checked ("as of" a given month and year). Entry into force and the date obligations actually apply are often years apart, and we keep them separate.
How do we handle points that are not settled?
Where an implementing act has not been adopted, guidance is still pending, or authorities and advisers read a provision differently, we say so. You will see wording such as "is expected to" or "guidance has not yet been published", and in some cases we leave a specific date out rather than guess it. We do not present a draft or a proposal as adopted law.
Is this legal advice?
No. The guides explain the rules in general terms to help buyers ask better questions. Packaging obligations depend on your role, such as manufacturer, producer, importer or distributor, as well as on the market, the product and its intended use. Confirm your position with the competent authority, your compliance scheme or a qualified adviser before acting.
How are technical figures expressed?
Paper, board, film and coating properties vary by mill, grade and application, so we give typical or indicative ranges and say "typically" where the variation is real. Where we are not confident in a number, we describe the relationship instead (for example, that heavier board generally stacks better) rather than print a figure. Final specifications for any item are confirmed at quotation and technical review.
What does the site not claim?
We do not publish certifications, minimum order quantities, production capacities, lead times, tolerances or customer names for 9 Packaging unless they have been verified, and verified company facts appear on the About page. We avoid environmental claims that the evidence does not support. No US tariff rates are stated, because they change too often to keep accurate on a reference page.
How often are pages reviewed?
A page that has been reviewed shows its updated date.
How do I report an error or request a correction?
Use our contact page, mark the message "Correction", and send the page URL, the statement you believe is wrong and, if possible, the source that shows the correct position. We check reported errors against the primary source. If a correction changes the meaning of a page, the page is updated and its date revised; minor wording fixes are made without a note.
Where to go next
Browse every guide by topic in the packaging knowledge base, or start with the regulatory guide for your main market from the list above.