Delivering real business benefits across key segments
Delivering real business benefits across key segments
Access to safe and nutritious food has always been of paramount importance to consumers around the world. However, changes in the practice of food preparation and consumption indicate food packaging and food contact materials also have a major contribution to the goal on providing safe and nutritious food to consumers. As a result, food packaging and food contact materials are subject to regulations in most major markets. These regulations ensure that packaging and materials which come in direct contact with food are not a source of harmful contaminants, and that they provide adequate protection against microorganisms, pests and other forms of contamination.
TÜV SÜD performs a complete range of food grade tests and identification tests on most types of food contact materials. We can also conduct compositional analyses, microbiological tests, toxicology assessments, ingredient reviews, packaging adhesive tests, raw material tests, environmental impact tests, transportation simulation and migration testing.
In addition to our testing services, TÜV SÜD can certify food contact materials to industry standards approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), such as those of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and FSSC 22000. We can also provide mandatory and voluntary inspection and auditing services to assure compliance with applicable regulations or procurement requirements.
TÜV SÜD offers extensive testing and certification for a range of food contact materials including:
Containers
Cutlery and dishes
Materials and articles in contact with water for human consumption
Packaging materials
Processing machines
Materials that come into contact with food, like manufacturers’ packaging, crockery and cutlery, glassware, ceramics and storage containers, need to be tested before they come in contact with food. Food contact testing ensures that they are not harmful and do not transfer their constituents to the food in excessive quantities.
Food contact materials testing works in different ways and according to various food contact materials regulations for different countries, for example:
In the United States of America:
US legislation for food contact materials is governed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Ceramic and glass materials in California are impacted by California Proposition 65
In the EU, for:
All materials – Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004
Ceramics – Directive 84/500/EEC as amended by Directive 2005/31/EC
Regenerated cellulose film – Directive 2007/42/EC
Plastics – Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and No 64/2011 on plastic materials and articles bound to come into contact with food
Nitrosamines – Directive 93/11/EEC
BADGE, BFDGE & NOGE plastics – Commission Regulation (EC) 1895/2005
In Japan, materials must meet the Food Sanitation Law part II.
TÜV SÜD performs a complete range of food-grade tests and identification tests on most types of food contact materials. We can also conduct:
In addition to our food contact materials testing services, TÜV SÜD can certify food contact materials to industry standards approved by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), such as those of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and FSSC 22000.
Apart from food contact materials testing certification, we can also provide mandatory and voluntary inspection and auditing services to assure compliance with applicable regulations or procurement requirements for the food contact materials certification.
Materials that are safe for direct food contact are "food contact compliant." These substances are also known as food contact substances (FCS). Any material that is used to manufacture, pack, package, transport, or hold food is considered to be an FCS.
The food contact materials used in packaging are referred to as being "food grade." These materials need to be non-toxic and suitable for consumption in order to be considered food-grade. Different plastic types can be made food-grade to handle various products or settings. The simplest way to determine the type of plastic material is to look for the Resin Identification Code or recycling number.
When a material is considered "food grade," it basically means that it doesn't contain any toxins or other harmful substances. A substance must be easily cleaned and prevent the introduction of any foreign particles into food in order to be considered food grade. On the other hand, when a product is deemed safe for use for the specific purpose for which it is intended, it is said to be food safe. This includes considering factors such as the temperature at which it will be used, whether it can be cleaned, and how long it will be in contact with food.
The purpose of packaging testing is to guarantee the safety of the goods it contains during storage and transportation. Both new food packaging designs and food ingredients are put through a variety of testing procedures. To ascertain whether chemical substances are transferred from food packaging and production equipment to food, migration testing for food contact materials is performed in food production facilities.
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