Food Contact Materials

Why Is Food Contact Materials Testing Important?

Food contact materials (FCM) are integral to food safety and quality. These materials, such as packaging, kitchenware, and utensils, accompany food throughout its journey to the consumer. FCMs include metal, plastic, paper, glass, ceramics, and wood, and ensuring their safety is vital to protecting consumers from harmful contaminants.

It’s important that consumers can trust the items that come into contact with the food they eat so it’s no surprise that there are a variety of regulations worldwide governing food contact materials (FCM). 

When it comes to food contact materials, any item which comes into direct contact with food should be tested to ensure they are safe for food contact and that they do not transfer any of their constituents into the foodstuff beyond what is considered acceptable.  

Key Regulations for Food Contact Materials (FCMs)

Strict international and national regulations for food contact materials are designed to prevent the migration of undesirable substances into food. Our service scope includes food contact materials testing to determine compliance with a wide variety of global standards and regulations, including: 

• Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004
• Regulation 10/2011/EU and its amendments
• Directive 84/500/EEC as amended by Directive 2005/31/EC 
• Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food 
• Directive 93/11/EEC 
• Commission Regulation (EC) 1895/2005 
• California Proposition 65 
• GB 4806.1-2016 (General Safety Requirements for food contact materials and articles) 
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR 
• Germany LFGB Food and Feed Law § 30, 31 
• French DGCCRF and French Decree 
• QCVN 12

Our Comprehensive Food Contact Materials Testing Services

Our EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-accredited laboratories provide expert testing for food contact materials, ensuring compliance with both national and international standards, including MSZ, DIN, EN, ISO, and others.

What We Test:

• Raw Materials: Ensuring safety from the outset.
• Intermediate Materials: Verifying safety during production processes.
• Finished Products: Ensuring the safety of final consumer-ready items.

Materials We Cover:

• Paper, Cardboard, and Plastic Food Packaging
• Plastic Kitchenware
• Metal Kitchen Utensils and Cutlery
• Ceramics, Porcelain, Glass, Wood, Rubber, and Silicone

Our experts define the conditions of use for each product, enabling us to provide tailored FCM testing solutions that cover all potential risks.

Why Choose Our Food Contact Materials Testing?

Partnering with Eurofins Softlines & Hardlines ensures your products meet stringent regulatory requirements, minimises the risk of harmful contaminant migration, and upholds the highest standards of food safety. Whether you’re a manufacturer or distributor, our comprehensive testing services protect both your brand and your customers.

Ready to ensure your food contact materials meet rigorous safety standards? Get in touch with us to learn more about our expert testing services and stay compliant in a constantly evolving regulatory landscape.