Germany has implemented measures to regulate printing inks and varnishes in food contact materials and articles. The provisions for printing inks and varnishes in food contact materials and articles will become effective on January 1, 2026.
On December 7, 2021, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture ( Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, BMEL) published its Twenty-First Regulation amending the Consumer Goods Ordinance (Bedarfsgegenständeverordnung, BedGgstV) to regulate printing inks and varnishes in food contact materials and articles (the Ordinance).
The Ordinance contains, inter alia, several important provisions:
Highlights of the migration requirements for seven metals and PAA are summarized In Table 1.
Federal Law Gazette, Volume 2021 Part 1 No. 82, Page 5068, December 7, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Substance | Requirement |
| 1 | Barium | ≤ 1.0 mg/kg |
| 2 | Iron | ≤ 48 mg/kg |
| 3 | Cobalt | ≤ 0.05 mg/kg |
| 4 | Copper | ≤ 5.0 mg/kg |
| 5 | Lithium | ≤ 0.6 mg/kg |
| 6 | Manganese | ≤ 0.6 mg/kg |
| 7 | Zinc | ≤ 25.0 mg/kg |
| 8 | Primary aromatic amines (PAA) other than those mentioned in Table 1 to Appendix 14 | ≤ 0.01 mg/kg (sum of PAA) ≤ 0.002 mg/kg (each PAA under point 7 to Appendix 1 in BedGgstV) |
Table 1
According to the Ordinance:
There are two important effective dates:
SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials, paving the way for compliance. From overall migration tests to expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Discover more on our website and read our brochure.
For inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: (+852) 2774 7420
Dr. Udo Krischke
Global Technical Manager RSTS
t: +49 6128 744 235
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