Why is there sometimes a numeric code on glass containers?
By: Berlin Packaging Specialist
Date: January 26, 2020
EC Law 178/2002 specifies traceability requirements for food products and the need to be able to retrace every single step of the food supply chain. EC regulation 2023/2006 governs GMP (Good Manufacturing Process) rules. This is why many glass factories - in order to comply with the above rules - print numeric codes on their bottles which indicate the production day, time or other production details even once the container has been filled and separated from the production identification code attached to the pallet. Generally this printing is carried out with special inks which are visible only under UV light or by using laser technology.
The use of traditional indelible ink is very rare. Filler companies - which are directly obliged to make their products totally traceable - print their reference codes on the glass or the lid using inks which are visible to the naked eye.