The decision to retire a container rests on inspection findings rather than age. Regulation (EC) 852/2004 requires equipment that touches food to be kept in a condition that minimises contamination risk and stays cleanable (Annex II, Chapter V); only non-returnable containers and packaging are exempt from that duty, returnable ones are not.
| Finding | Decision | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Crack in body, corner or base grid | Scrap | The inside of a crack does not clean in a wash, and a broken edge tears packaging |
| Odour that survives washing | Remove from food use | Residue embedded in the plastic; can be reassigned to non-food work |
| Bent crate, stack that no longer seats | Scrap | The stack slides and can topple |
Where to inspect
The inspection point is the exit of the wash line: the container is clean, so damage shows and the scrap rate can be measured. On the form, record container ID, date, finding and a photo; the result is serviceable, in repair or retired. A container that has carried non-food goods needs effective cleaning between loads before it returns to food (852/2004, Annex II, Chapter IV). Break up a retired container for recycling and close its ID in the inventory.