Food Contact Materials Testing Services for Packaging Compliance

WHY IS FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS TESTING IMPORTANT?

Food safety and quality goes beyond the manufacturing process which is why food contact materials testing is important. Food contact materials (FCM) is the packaging material or objects that accompany food along its journey to the final consumer and could be metal, plastic, paper, glass, ceramics or wood.

The main aim of the strict international and national regulations on food contact materials is to prevent the transfer and migration of undesirable substances into food. Regulations may vary from country to country, so manufacturers and distributors need to ensure that products comply with the requirements of their target market. This also requires extensive technical experience with complex materials such as melamine plates, polyamide utensils or other food storage containers, which may pose a risk to consumers under certain conditions of use.

Regulations for food contact materials (FCM)

The quality and safety of products are the responsibility of both the manufacturer and the distributor, so all actors in the supply chain need to ensure that products are fit for purpose - for example, that the products they manufacture do not contain harmful contaminants that could migrate and pose a risk to users.

Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004: the guideline on food contact materials for substances and articles intended to come into contact with food
Regulation 10/2011/EU and its amendments: on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
Regulation (EC) 282/2008: on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and amending Regulation (EC) 2023/2006
Regulation (EU) 284/2011: regulating polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware from China 
9/2002. (X.17.) ESzCsM (Ministry of Health) regulation: regulating components - e.g. nitrosamines (pacifiers and bottles)

OUR FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES

In our accredited laboratories, we conduct complex food contact materials product testing according to the requirements of the country of destination includes:

raw materials
intermediate materials
finished product

Our experts' knowledge of the product and the definition of the expected conditions of use of the end products allow us to carry out a full range of FCM tests covering all risks. 

FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES

In our EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accredited laboratories, we carry out complex physical, chemical and sensory tests on food contact materials and products according to MSZ, DIN, EN, ISO and other international standards, such as:

paper, cardboard and plastic food packaging
plastic kitchenware
metal kitchen utensils and cutlery
products made of ceramics, porcelain, glass, wood, rubber and silicone

Chemical tests for food contact materials
- Overall Migration Limit test (OML)
- Specific Migration Limit test (SML)
- Phthalates
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- Primary aromatic amines (PAA)
- Bisphenol-A (BPA)
- Migrating element content (lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, etc)
- Material-specific tests:
- Peroxide residue - eg for PP, PE, PS materials
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - eg from polystyrene
- Formaldehyde - eg from melamine
Other tests:
- Nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances - silicone
- Poly- and perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS - PFOS, PFOA etc) - paper, Teflon
- Metal content (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc)
Contact our FCM experts to discuss your product
Physical tests for food contact materials
- Microwave heat resistance
- Dishwasher resistance
- Thermal shock resistance
Expert services for food contact materials
We check your products against the testing and compliance requirements of European and national regulations and standards to ensure they meet legal and market requirements.
- Issuing test reports
- Compliance assessment
Audit services
- Carrying out site audits for our partners
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) verification

Your benefits

	Minimising risks - Full product testing to ensure compliance with quality and safety requirements helps prevent fines, product recalls and reputational risks.
	Competitive advantage - By using our complex testing and expert services, you can assure your customers of the quality and safety compliance of your product, thereby increasing your company's marketability and competitiveness.
	Strengthening your brand reputation - TÜV SÜD test reports and expert opinions are a symbol of reliability at national and international level, which can increase customer engagement and strengthen your brand reputation.

WHY CHOOSE TÜV SÜD?

Decades of professional experience
A client-oriented approach
Innovative laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment
Testing according to international standards
Extensive test coverage
Continuous reduction of detectability limits

TÜV SÜD is one of the world's leading certification companies, providing its customers with high-quality technical, quality and safety solutions for inspection, verification, auditing and certification.

Contact our experts today