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China Food Contact Material Testing

from CIRS by

Updated on 15 August 2016

In accordance with Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (2015 version), food contact materials and articles (hereinafter referred to as FCM) shall be compliant with Chinese National Standards (GBs).

First of all, all FCM should comply with additive requirements according to GB 9685-2008 Hygienic standards for uses of additives in food containers and packaging materials. According to GB 9685, if some specific additives are added, the Specific Migration Limit (SML) test or Maximum Residue (QM) of some substances is necessary to conduct to guarantee the safety of the added additives. Based on the GB 9685-2008, companies are suggested to check if you have added the specific food contact additives into FCM and confirm the required test items.

Examples for some food contact additives:

Additive name

CAS No.

Required Test

Dibutyl phthalate(DBP)

84-74-2

0.3 mg/kg (SML)

Bisphenol A(BPA)

80-05-7

0.6 mg/kg (SML)

Ethylene oxide

75-21-8

1.0 mg/kg (QM)

1,3-butadiene

106-99-0

ND (SML, DL=0.02mg/kg) or 1.0 mg/kg (QM)

In the second place, FCM including plastics, silicone rubber, glass, enamel, ceramics, glass, metal, coating, bamboo products, paper and paper products, etc. has corresponding requirements according to commodity standards (GBs). Therefore, all FCM shall also comply with commodity standards (GBs). Meanwhile, it should be noticed that plastic has two standard requirements, one is for plastic resins and the other one is for finished plastic products. FCM companies are encouraged to test according to GBs to guarantee the product quality.

Examples of some relevant standards (GBs) for food contact material and articles:

Index

Specific FCM

GB No.

GB Name

Plastic resin

1

Polyvinyl chloride resin

GB 4803-1994

Hygienic standard for polyvinyl chloride resin used as food container and packaging material

2

Polyethylene resin

GB 9691-1988

Hygienic standard for polyethylene resin used as food packaging material

3

Polystyrene resin

GB 9692-1988

Hygienic standard for polystyrene resin used as food packaging material

4

Polypropylene resin

GB 9693-1988

Hygienic standard for polypropylene resin used as food packaging material

5

Polyethylene glycol terephthalate resin

GB 13114-1991

Hygienic standard for polyethylene terephthalate resin used as food containers and packaging materials

6

Polycarbonate resin

GB 13116-1991

Hygienic standard for polycarbonate resin used as food containers and packaging materials

7

Vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer resin

GB 15204-1994

Hygienic standard of vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer resins for food containers and packaging material

8

Nylon 6 resin

GB 16331-1996

Hygienic standard of nylon 6 resins food packaging material

Plastic product

9

Polyvinyl chloride product

GB 9681-1988

Hygienic standard of products of polyvinyl chloride for food packaging

10

Polyethylene product

GB 9687-1988

Hygienic standard for polyethylene products used as food containers and tableware

11

Polypropylene product

GB 9688-1988

Hygienic standard for polypropylene products used as food containers and tableware

12

Polystyrene product

GB 9689-1988

Hygienic standard for polystyrene products used as food containers and tableware

13

Melamine-formaldehyde Product

GB 9690-2009

Hygienic standard for melamine-formaldehyde products used as food containers and packaging materials

14

Polyethylene glycol terephthalate product

GB 13113-1991

Hygienic standard for polyethylene terephthalate products used as food containers and packaging materials

15

Unsaturated polyester resin and its glass fiber reinforced plastics product

GB 13115-1991

Hygienic standard of unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber reinforced plastics used as food containers and packaging materials

16

Polycarbonate product

GB 14942-1994

Hygienic standard for polycarbonate products used as food containers and packaging materials

17

Nylon product

GB 16332-1996

Hygienic standard of products of nylon for food packaging material

18

Rubber-modified acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene product

GB 17326-1998

Hygienic standard for rubber-modified acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene products used as food containers and packaging materials

19

Polyvinyl chloride for bottle sheet and granular materials

GB 14944-1994

Hygienic standard for bottle sheet and granular materials of polyvinyl chloride for food packaging

20

Acrylonitrile-styrene product

GB 17327-1998

Hygienic standard for acrylonitrile-styrene products used as food containers and packaging materials

Rubber

21

Rubber product

GB 4806.1-1994

Hygienic standard for foodstuff rubber products

22

Rubber nipple product

GB 4806.2-2015

National food safety standards: nipple

Paper

23

Paper product

GB 11680-1989

Hygienic standard for paper used for food packaging

24

Plant fiber product

GB 19305-2003

Hygienic standard for Plant fiber food containers

25

Paper based laminated material

GB/T 18706-2008

Paper based laminated material for fresh-keeping packaging of liquid food

Metal

26

Stainless steel

GB 9684-2011

Stainless steel product

27

Aluminum

GB 11333-1989

Hygienic standard for aluminum-wares for food uses

Coating

28

Perchloravinyl used as internal coating

GB 7105-1986

The sanitary specifications of perchloravinyl interior coating for food container

29

Phenol lacquer coating

GB 9680-1988

Hygienic standard of phenol lacquer for food container

30

Mold release coating

GB 9682-1988

Hygienic standard for mold release coating for the internal lacquer of food cans

31

Polyamide epoxy resin used as internal coating

GB 9686-2012

Hygienic standard for polyamide epoxy resin used as internal coating of food container

32

Organosilicon nonstick coating

GB 11676-2012

Hygienic standard of anti-coherent silicone paint for food container

33

water-based modified epoxy resin coating

GB 11677-2012

Hygienic standard for water-based modified epoxy resin coating for the internal lacquer of food cans

34

Polytetrafluoroethylene used as inner coating

GB 11678-1989

Hygienic standard for polytetrafluoroethylene used as inner coating of food containers

35

epoxy phenolic resin coating

GB 4805-1994

Hygienic standard for epoxy phenolic resin coating for the internal lacquer of food cans

Other product

36

Packaging glass containers

GB 19778-2005

The limit dissolving quantity of lead, cadmium, arsenic and antimony in packaging glass containers

37

Heat-resistant glassware

GB 17762-1999

Hygienic standard for heat-resistant glassware

38

Enamel

GB 4804-1984

Hygienic standard for enamel tableware containers

39

Ceramic

GB 13121-1991

Hygienic standard for ceramic tableware containers

40

Wooden chopsticks

GB 19790.1-2005

Disposable chopsticks, part 1: Wooden chopsticks

41

Bamboo chopsticks

GB 19790.2-2005

Disposable chopsticks, part 2: Bamboo chopsticks

In addition, NHFPC (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China) has released a series of FCM national food safety standards (draft version) in 2015, including additives, resin, plastic, rubber, metal, coating, paper and paperboard, etc. FCM companies are also encouraged to do the product pre-test according to the draft national standards.

Examples for some drafts:

CIRS is providing testing services according to relevant Standards (GBs) above. Please pay attention to the GB name to identify the appropriate standards, or contact us at service@hfoushi.com for more information.

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