Paper and Board Packaging Testing

Food packaging materials made from paper and board are not covered by harmonised European legislation today. Nevertheless, such food contact materials are also covered by the scope of Framework Regulation EC (No.) 1935/2004 and have to fulfil the requirements of Article 3. A range of food scandals in recent years were caused by contaminations induced by migration from food packaging made from paper and board. To prove the suitability of this kind of material with the requirements of the Framework Regulation, other documents can be used as reference, such as:

• German Institute on Risk Assessment (BfR) Recommendations XXXVI on Paper and Board for Food Contact
• EDQM Technical guide on Paper and board used in food contact materials and articles, supplementing Resolution CM/Res(2020) 9 on the safety and quality of materials and articles for contact with food
• Industry Guideline for the Compliance of Paper & Board Materials and Articles for Food Contact
• The Netherlands Commodities Act Regulation on packaging and consumer articles coming into contact with foodstuffs (in its Chapter II)
• Belgium Royal Decree of 11 May 1992 concerning materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (Annex 4)
• French DGCCRF FCM Sheet (also as recommended sheet) DGCCRF Sheet MCDA n ° 4 (V02 - 01/01/2019) Suitability for food contact of organic materials based on vegetable fibers

BfR has issued a number of recommendations on paper and board materials for food contact. These recommendations encompass paper and board for food packaging and paper for use in cooking and baking.

The Industry Guideline compiles the requirements set for the field by different national legislations and gives advice on which substances are recommendable for board and paper for food contact, which tests should be conducted, and which information is to be provided in a declaration of compliance. The recommendations given in the guideline are not statutory, but they should be considered as support for board- and papermaking operations.