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European Union (EU): Directive on Plastic Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Foodstuffs
 

The European Commission (EC) has adopted a Directive consolidating rules on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (2002/72/EC). The aim of the measures is to ensure that plastic materials and articles, in their finished state, must not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in quantities, which could endanger human health or bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs.
Measures relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (Silicones should be excluded from the definition of plastic materials) were established in 1990 – 90/128/EEC. In view of the amendments made on various occasions, the Directive was adopted to provide a consolidated set of rules on the products concerned for the sake of clarity and rationality.
Compliance to this directive can be verified by testing the migration of the constituents of plastic materials and articles with the following four food simulants at specified conditions.
Simulant A: Distilled water
Simulant B: 3% acetic acid
Simulant C: 10% ethanol
Simulant D: Rectified olive oil
Plastic materials and articles shall not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in quantities exceeding 10 mg/dm2 or 60 mg/kg.
 
United States: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) on Products Come into Food Contact
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides regulations for products come into food contact. The Title 21 of CFR (Food and Drugs) specifies the requirements on certain food contact substances. The following is the summary of some general test categories:
  1. Resinous and polymeric coatings: 175.300
  2. Components of paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods: 176.170
  3. Closures with sealing gaskets for food containers: 177.1210
  4. Melamine-formaldehyde resins in molded articles: 177.1460
  5. Nylon resins: 177.1500
  6. Olefin polymers (e.g. PE/PP/PP-copolymer): 177.1520
  7. Polycarbonate (PC) resins: 177.1580
  8. Polystyrene and rubber-modified polystyrene (PS): 177.1640
  9. Rubber articles intended for repeated use: 177.2600
 
Germany : LMBG paragraph 30 and 31
 
The German Food and Commodities Law (LMBG) governs the safety of food and consumer products. In its paragraph 30, it mentioned that commodities should not bring in any toxic and hazardous substances to consumers. In addition, commodities used for manufacturing and treating food should be suitable for human consumption of food.

Under paragraph 31, food contact articles should not adulterate and transfer their constituents from their surface to the food, unless such constituents are harmless and technically unavoidable.

We will perform applicable tests from, but not limited to, the following documents, as a way to demonstrate fulfillment of §30 and 31 principles of food contact articles,
  • DIN 10955
  • 2002/72/EC
  • 84/500/EEC
  • 80/766/EEC
  • EN 1186
  • BfR recommendations on plastic materials
  • COE “Poly statement concerning paper and board materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs”
For the details of the test methods, please click here.
 
 
 
 
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