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Mérieux NutriSciences AQ supports the manufacturing industry in verifying the compliance of food contact materials with local and international regulations through analytical & migration testing services.
All types of food packaging materials, including recycled plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, or metals, can contain dangerous contaminants that can migrate into food. As such, raw, intermediate and final packaging materials need to be analysed to prevent the risk of contamination and ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. With increasing global restrictions for food contact materials (FCMs) and emerging contaminants under scrutiny, now more than ever, manufacturers need to take regular measures to ensure their packaging does not pose a risk to food.
Mérieux NutriSciences AQ can assist companies in selecting the correct packaging test solutions to verify food contact compliance of materials and meet legislative frameworks. Governments state that chemicals from packaging and machinery must not get into edible products, as otherwise undesirable consequences related to food safety and quality may occur. To enable conformance with packaging safety standards, we provide food migration testing and food contact test services.
What is a Migration test for packaging?
Migration testing is the analysis performed on plastic and polymeric products that are in contact with food to determine whether chemical substances are transferred from packaging and food contact materials to food.
Countries have different product safety regulations that include set migration limits from migrating substances within packaging due to their toxicological risk. A migration test helps manufacturers validate that packaging does not endanger humans or change food composition.
Packaging Testing for Food Contact Compliance
Regular packaging testing can ensure total safety across all your production processes. Our testing services include:
Common Packaging Tests
- FT-IR Structure Determine
- NIAS (Non-Intentionally Added Substances): Is an untargeted analysis that can reveal the presence or migration of dangerous substances
- Mechanical-Physical Properties
- Set-off Analyzes: For printed films (metals in inks)
- Sensory Tests
Regulatory Compliance
- Our expert team can support you in meeting regulatory requirements from various regions including Europe, China, and the US.
- For plastic packaging on the EU market, for example, food migration testing must be conducted to comply with Plastics Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and its amendments.
- This testing is done on simulants rather than actual food products, based on the intended use of the product will determine the conditions and simulants to apply.
Migration Tests
- Overall Migration Test: Refers to the total non-volatile chemical structures that pass from plastic to food.
- Specific Migration Test: Refers to the transition of only certain molecules or elements from the plastic structure to food.
Custom Advice
- Advice and consultation of the appropriate requirements for testing to acquire certifications or accreditations
- Migration testing programs for food contact materials.
- Comprehensive testing reports according to legal requirements to assess product compliance.
- Budgeting cost-efficient migration tests according to your market requirements.
- It includes, but is not limited to, Heavy metals, Bisphenol A, Phthalates, Mineral oils (MOSH & MOAH), Melamine, and PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
Mérieux NutriSciences AQ is part of the largest worldwide network of chemical and microbiological laboratories. We are a reputable laboratory partner for manufacturers that wish to accomplish total safety in packaging manufacturing.
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