EU Food Contact Material Testing

1. EU Food Contact Materials

The purpose of establishing a unified regulatory system for food contact materials in the European Union is to protect consumer health while eliminating unnecessary trade barriers.

The management of EU food contact materials includes three types: framework regulations, specific regulations, and individual regulations. The framework regulations set out the general principles for managing food contact materials, specific regulations detail the special requirements for each category of substances listed in the framework regulations, and individual regulations provide specific provisions for individual substances.

The safety management and legislation of food contact materials in the EU began with the 1976 Directive 76/893/EEC. To date, it has developed into a multi-layered regulatory system covering various materials. The following diagram comprehensively illustrates the entire regulatory framework for EU food contact materials.

Framework Regulation: (EC) No 1935/2004

Good Manufacturing Practice: (EC) No 2023/2006

Control requirements for different materials:

lRegenerated cellulose film: 2007/42/EC

lCeramics: 84/500/EEC Amendment history: 2005/31/EC

lPlastics: (EU) No 10/2011 Amendment history: (EU) No 321/2011 (EU) No 1282/2011 (EU) No 1183/2012 (EU) No 202/2014 (EU) No 865/2014 (EU) No 174/2015

lRubber: 93/11/EEC

lActive and intelligent materials: (EC) No 450/2009

2. Product Information Required for EU Food Contact Material Testing

(1) Material of the food contact material;

(2) Conditions of use of the product;

(3) Category of food contacted;

(4) Duration of contact with food;

(5) Temperature of contact with food.

3. EU Testing Process

(1) Consultation---The applicant provides product information, images, and descriptions to the testing agency.

(2) Quotation---Based on the information provided by the applicant, the testing agency's engineers will evaluate and determine the required test items, then provide a quotation to the applicant.

(3) After accepting the verbal quotation, the applicant fills out the test application form and submits it along with the test samples to the testing agency.

(4) Upon receiving the application form and samples, the testing agency issues a written quotation to the applicant, who then arranges payment based on the written quotation.

(5) Sample testing---Testing will be conducted according to applicable standards.

(6) Upon completion of testing, the laboratory issues a relevant EU food contact material test report.

(7) After the project concludes, the report and invoice will be mailed out---case closed.