FOOD CONTACT TESTS

How can I know if the food bag containing the cookie and cake are safe?

GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

As part of the general safety requirements, the quantity of substances transferred from FCM and articles (FCA) to food must not endanger human health or bring about unacceptable changes to the composition of food such as taste and odor.

EUROPE

In EU countries, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 provides the general framework for FCM. Some products may also come under the scope of targeted regulations for ceramics, elastomers and various forms of plastic. Individual countries may differently interpret EU regulations or may maintain their own FCM standards, which will exceed EU standards.

European countries not in the EEA are not bound by EU regulations but may use them as a guide.

USA

FCM are regulated in the USA by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). Stakeholders should also be aware of local prescriptions on FCM, including state specific requirements on bisphenol A (BPA), 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.

GENERAL LAWS AND/OR STANDARDS FOR KEY COUNTRIES IN THIS IMPORTANT REGION

Jurisdiction	Legislation/standard
Australia	Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2 ‘Food Safety Practices – General Requirements’ Regulations 4E ‘Importation of Glazed Ceramicware’ AS 2070 ‘Plastics’
China	Presidential Decree No. 21 ‘Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China’ GB 4806.1-2016 (General Safety Requirements for food contact materials and articles) and a corresponding series of mandatory standards for products and test methods
Japan	Act No. 233 of 24 December, 1947 ‘Japan Food Sanitation Act / Japan Food Sanitation Law (JFSL)’- Chapter III ‘Apparatus, Containers and Packaging’ Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives etc. under the Food Sanitation Act
South Korea	Food Sanitation Act Korea Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging for Food Products (Chapter 7 of the Korean Food Code)
Taiwan	Act Governing Food Sanitation (the Act) Sanitary Standard for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages