Food Contact Materials Testing Services

Food contact materials refer to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food during normal use. This includes not only various types of food packaging, tableware, kitchenware, and processing equipment, but also auxiliary materials used in these products and materials, such as adhesives, printing inks, and colorants.

JJR Lab provides compliance testing for domestic and international regulations in the field of food contact materials, covering major global requirements across the new Chinese National Standards (GB), EU standards, Germany, France, Italy, the United States, and other regions.

Testing Standards

Testing Items

Product Testing Categories

1. Tableware: Knives, forks, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups, plates, etc.

2. Kitchenware: Storage utensils, washing utensils, preparation utensils, cooking utensils, etc.

3. Food Packaging Containers: Paper containers, metal containers, glass containers, plastic containers, plastic packaging bags/films, etc.

4. Kitchen Appliances: Gas stoves, range hoods, ovens, microwaves, sterilization cabinets, dishwashers, juicers, blenders, coffee machines, electric kettles, rice cookers, induction cookers, etc.

5. Children's Products: Baby bottles, pacifiers, baby drinking cups, etc.

Key Terminology

Overall Migration

The total amount of all non-volatile substances migrating from food contact materials and articles into the food simulants they contact. It is expressed as milligrams of non-volatile migrant per kilogram of food simulant (mg/kg), or milligrams of non-volatile migrating substances per square decimeter of contact area (mg/dm²). For food contact materials and articles dedicated to infants and young children, it is expressed in mg/kg.

Overall Migration Limit (OML)

The maximum permitted amount of all non-volatile substances migrating from food contact materials and articles into the food simulants they contact. It is expressed as milligrams of non-volatile migrant per kilogram of food simulant (mg/kg), or milligrams of non-volatile migrant per square decimeter of contact area (mg/dm²). For food contact materials and articles dedicated to infants and young children, it is expressed in mg/kg.

Global Regulatory Requirements

EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on Food Contact Materials and Articles

The framework regulation for the EU food contact system is (EC) No 1935/2004. To date, it covers materials such as plastics ((EU) No 10/2011), regenerated cellulose film (2007/42/EC), ceramics (84/500/EEC), rubber (93/11/EEC), and active and intelligent materials ((EC) No 450/2009). Additionally, European countries like Germany, Italy, France, and the UK have their own unique food contact material systems.

Recent updates to EU food contact material regulations: 4 new authorized substances have been added to the EU food contact plastics regulation (EU) 10/2011.

US FDA 21 CFR Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles

Substances used in U.S. food packaging materials are considered indirect additives and are incorporated into the food additive safety regulatory system, which is uniformly managed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The requirements for U.S. food contact materials and articles are primarily detailed in the US Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR.

German Food Contact Materials Safety Regulation LFGB (LMBG) § 30, 31

LFGB is the new German Food and Feed Law, which replaced the Food and Commodities Law (LMBG). Also known as the Law on the Management of Food, Tobacco Products, Cosmetics, and Other Daily Commodities, LFGB is the most important fundamental legal document for food hygiene management in Germany. It serves as the guideline and core for the formulation of other special food hygiene laws and regulations. Products in contact with food that pass lfgb testing can obtain an LFGB Test Report issued by an authoritative institution, proving them to be "products free of toxic chemical substances," allowing them to be sold in the German market. LFGB is the passport for food-grade contact materials to enter the German market.

French Food Grade Standard DGCCRF 2004-64 for Rubber Products

DGCCRF is the abbreviation for the French food-grade safety regulations. The DGCCRF 2004-64 standard details the testing and control provisions for the suitability of food contact materials and replaced the No. 2000-155 regulation dated October 26, 2000. Since then, products intended to come into contact with food sold in France must comply with the relevant requirements of DGCCRF 2004-64.

Rubber refers to a highly elastic polymer material with reversible deformation. It is a highly elastic macromolecular compound that, after processing, becomes an elastic, insulating, impermeable, and airtight material. Rubber products are widely used in transportation, industrial mining, civil construction, medical and health care, and daily life (such as rubber gloves, rubber tires, rubber shoes, sanitary products, etc.). Food-grade rubber materials are commonly used to make food molds, chocolate molds, candy molds, and other food models.

Italian DM 21373 on Food Contact Materials

The Italian regulation applicable to materials in contact with food is the Italian Decree No. 777 of 1982. This act covers the Ministerial Decree DM 21373 and its subsequent updates as the statutory requirements for food contact materials.

The Italian food-grade requirements applicable to plastic materials are consistent with the requirements of EU Directive 2002/72/EC. Furthermore, the decree includes some country-specific requirements; for example, rubber, silicone, glass, and stainless steel fall outside the scope of the EU directive, but the Italian decree stipulates specific requirements for them.

Canadian SOR/2016-175 on Food Contact Materials

Health Canada has published the latest industry guidelines for glazed ceramics and glassware products intended for food contact. These guidelines apply under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and the Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations (GCGR, SOR/2016-175).

China GB 4806 Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles

China has recently completed the construction of its new food contact regulatory system. The newly released GB 4806.1~11 series of standards specify the general and special requirements for food contact materials and articles made of enamel, ceramics, glass, resins, plastics, paper and paperboard, metals, paints and coatings, and rubber.

Testing Cycle

5 Working Days