Migration Testing of Packaging and Food Contact Materials

Migration is the transfer of chemicals from packaging to food.

The European Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 requires that such migration must not endanger human health, bring about no deterioration of organoleptics and must not change the composition of food.

For plastic materials, European Plastic Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 defines an overall migration limit of 60 mg/kg for the total sum of all migrating substances as well as specific migration limits for more than 1,000 monomers and additives like Formaldehyde, Bisphenol A, Primary Aromatic Amines (PAA) or Phthalates as the most prominent examples.

Furthermore, the so called non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), chemicals which may occur as impurities of raw materials, degradation or break down products of intentionally added chemicals, need to be considered and assessed due to their toxicological risk according to Article 19.

Overall migration testing 

Overall migration covers all kinds of substances which are transferred from food packaging to food irrespective of the nature and toxicological profile of the substance. Eurofins companies offer overall migration testing according to international harmonized standard EN 1186 for all kinds of food packaging materials, using the food simulants acetic acid, ethanol, iso-Octane, vegetable oil and Tenax®. 

Specific migration testing 

Eurofins companies offer specific migration testing of a wide range of chemicals for all kind of food packaging materials such as for Formaldehyde, Bisphenol A, Primary Aromatic Amines (PAA) or Phthalates, etc. For plastic materials, most of these tests would be according to the standard series EN 13130. A Compliance Test Strategy can identify analytical needs or other ways to prove compliance with the respective specific migration limits.