All food contact materials (FCMs) sold, imported, or manufactured in the EU must comply with the Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Some FCMs, including plastics, regenerated cellulose, and ceramics, are covered by additional EU regulations that set specific rules for the material in contact with food. Here we give an overview of the testing requirements concerning plastics.
If you want to discuss the testing requirements in more detail or get your materials tested for certification, email info@measurlabs.com and we'll get back to you within one business day!
What is the regulation and what does it concern?
The EU Commission Regulation No 10/2011 lays the principles for manufacturing, testing, and assessing the safety of plastic food contact materials. It includes the list of raw materials allowed in the production of plastic food contact materials and the test methods that must be used to demonstrate the compliance of plastic FCMs.
The regulation states that FCMs may not release any constituents into the food in such quantity that could endanger human health or cause an unacceptable change in the composition, taste, or smell of the food. In addition, all FCMs should be manufactured by good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that are given in Regulation (EC) 2023/2006. A specific testing plan must be prepared for each material specifically, based on the intended end use of the product and the raw materials used to manufacture it. The testing consists of overall migration tests, specific migration tests, and tests for heavy metals and primary aromatic amines.
Overall migration testing by EU regulation
The overall migration limit (OML) is the sum of all the compounds that might migrate from the material into food. The OML shows how inert the material is towards food, and is most often tested by placing the FCM in contact with a specific solvent that mimics food. You can find more information about the solvents and testing specifications in our article about overall migration testing. The total amount of migrated substances is then determined and compared to the limit given in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Overall migration testing is performed according to EN 1186 standard.
Specific migration testing by EU regulation
Specific migration limits (SMLs) apply to individual substances or groups of similar substances that are used as raw materials in plastic FCMs. The limitations for each allowed raw material substance are given in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. These limits are based on the toxicological risks that different substances cause.
Specific migration is tested according to EN 13130 by placing the material in contact with a specific food-mimicking solvent, after which the migration of each substance is determined using suitable analytical techniques. The migration of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), such as contaminants and breakdown products, should also be assessed.
Heavy metals and primary aromatic amines
Raw materials used in plastics, such as colorants and pigments, might contain traces of heavy metals or primary aromatic amines (PAAs). Possible migration of these substances into food must be tested and the compliance assessed according to the criteria given in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011.
Do you need tests for food contact materials?
Measurlabs offers all the tests required for writing the Declaration of Compliance for food contact materials, and our experts are happy to help you define the correct testing conditions.
A good way to start is to check out our comprehensive testing packages for single-use and reusable plastic food contact materials. These packages include the most commonly required tests and may be combined with additional analyses based on the composition of your material. If you have any questions at any point during the process, don't hesitate to contact us at info@measurlabs.com.
Expert consultation for complex FCM testing projects
In addition to the testing, Measurlabs offers consultation services at an hourly rate for complex food contact material testing projects. Choosing the correct tests and testing parameters for traditional plastic materials and other routine samples is included in our testing prices. In the case of novel biobased materials or especially large FCM product development projects, however, formulating a testing plan that ensures compliance with all relevant EU regulations takes up more time.
In such cases, we may recommend a consultation with one of our experts to agree on the best way to proceed with the testing. When purchasing FCM consultation from us, you will get a dedicated material expert working on your case and providing you with tailored advice and guidance throughout the process. The need for consultation is always agreed upon beforehand, so you will never receive a surprise invoice.