If your cargo is bound for the US market, FDA compliance isn't optional. Here's what it means in practice for flexitank users.
The United States is one of the world's largest importers of bulk food-grade liquids — edible oils, fruit concentrates, wine, dairy products, and a wide range of non-hazardous chemicals that fall under food contact material regulations. And if your cargo is bound for the US market, FDA compliance isn't optional. It's the price of entry.
For bulk liquid shippers, FDA compliance means something specific: the container your product travels in must be manufactured from materials that are safe for food contact, tested to recognised standards, and free from any substance that could migrate into the cargo and pose a health risk. A flexitank that doesn't meet this standard won't just create regulatory problems — it can result in cargo rejection, detention, and significant financial loss.
The good news is that for shippers working with a quality flexitank supplier, this isn't a difficult box to tick. FDA-compliant flexitanks use virgin, food-grade polyethylene — not recycled material, not general-purpose plastic — manufactured under controlled conditions and tested prior to use. Sun Flexitanks has held FDA compliance across its product range for years, as part of a broader certification framework that includes ISO 9001, ISO 14001, COA FQL listing, and SGS verification.
What's less well understood is that FDA compliance covers the entire food contact surface — not just the inner film, but the valve components, the seals, and any additional barrier layers. Sun's valves are manufactured from virgin, food-grade polypropylene with glass-filled reinforced handles, and pressure-tested at both low and high pressure before dispatch. Every element that comes into contact with the cargo meets the standard.
For exporters selling into the US market for the first time, it's worth requesting full compliance documentation from your flexitank supplier before the shipment departs. Customs and FDA inspectors can and do request this documentation at port of entry, and having it ready avoids delays. Sun Flexitanks provides full certification documentation as standard with every order.
The broader point is this: FDA compliance is a signal of overall product quality. A manufacturer that has gone through the process of achieving and maintaining FDA compliance has demonstrated a level of investment in materials, testing, and process control that goes well beyond the minimum. After more than 20 years in the industry, it's a standard Sun Flexitanks has never compromised on — because our customers can't afford for us to.
Talk to the Sun Flexitanks team about the right solution for your cargo.