FCM must not change the food they are in contact with or endanger human health. Globally, different markets maintain their own FCM regulations to stop products being placed on the market that alter our food or bring about a deterioration in its organoleptic characteristics.
FCM are defined as materials or products intended to come into contact with food, are already in contact with food, or may reasonably be expected to come into contact with food. They can be found in the machinery that processes our food, the packaging that carries our food, and the equipment we use to store, cook and eat our food.
SGS’s global network of laboratories can help you comply with the FCM regulations governing your target market.
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Europe
In EU countries, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 provides the general framework for food contact materials. Some products may also come under the scope of targeted regulations, for example, ceramics, elastomers and various forms of plastic. Individual countries may maintain their own standards, which will exceed EU standards.
European countries not in the European Economic Area (EEA) are not bound by EU regulations but may use them as a guide.
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North America
Food contact materials are regulated in the USA by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Stakeholders should also be aware of local prescriptions on them, including state specific requirements on bisphenol A (BPA), other bisphenols, as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and state and county specific regulations on children’s products. Suppliers working in California also need to be aware of settlement agreements reached under California Proposition 65.
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Canada
Food contact materials are regulated in Canada by the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA). To gain compliance, manufacturers should also be aware of regulations relating to asbestos, glazed ceramics and glassware, infant feeding bottle nipples, kettles, phthalates, and surface coating materials.
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South America
Similar to EU and US regulations, food contact materials sold in Mercosur markets need to comply with its general safety requirements, Grupo Mercado Común (GMC) Resolution Number 3/92. They must also conform to resolutions covering glass and ceramics, elastomers, adhesives, polymeric and resinous coatings, metals and alloys, and resolutions for plastic additives and colorants. Comunidad Andina (CAN) is the second-largest trading group, is not fully aligned with Mercosur and has no unified subregional technical regulation for FCMs. Instead, CAN relies entirely on non-harmonized national legislations managed by each country's individual sanitary authority.
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Asia Pacific Region
Food contact material regulations in the Asia Pacific Region are defined by complexity. Without a single common market, jurisdictions maintain localized regulations, some of which are based on international requirements. Stakeholders are advised to consider the regulations that pertain specifically to their target market to ensure compliance.
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Food contact materials requiring designated laboratories and/or certification
Complying with technical specifications alone may not be sufficient to place food contact materials on certain markets. These jurisdictions have implemented strict measures and controls by only recognizing designated laboratories to conduct testing and/or certification bodies (CB) to certify the materials are in compliance before allowing these products to access their markets.
Learn more about food contact regulations requiring designated labs and/or certification >
In all regions, compliance for food contact materials can be a complex process for economic operators. To avoid endangering consumers and costly non-compliance, suppliers are advised to seek professional regulatory assistance for their target market.