Examinationmethods
Conformity Status
The conformity status is a summing up and evaluation of the available information concerning food regulatory assessment of the specified article. It identifies, where required, open issues of compliance work.
SML (specific migration limit) analysis of individual substances for compliance evaluation
Quantitative analysis of substances with limits (SML, SML(T), QM, QMA etc.) or non-evaluated substances by gas chromatography (e.g. HS-GC, GC/MS), liquid chromatography (e.g. HPLC/MS), mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) in food simulants or foodstuffs after migration or (residual) content determination in the material or article
10 ppb screening or NIAS screening (non-target analysis) semiquantitative
Semi-quantitative screening for the presence of NIAS (non-intentionally added substances) or some SML substances by GC/MS after migration with food simulant ethanol 95% for foods with hydrophilic or lipophilic properties or simulant E (poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide or Tenax ®) for dry foods. In principle, substances with molecular weights of approx. 100 - 700 Dalton (or approx. 100 -700 g/mol) can be detected.
Heavy metals / metals
Elements according to the Packaging Directive 94/62 / EC (lead, cadmium, total chromium, mercury), EDQM Publication: Metals and alloys in food contact materials or metals in accordance with Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011
Primary aromatic amines photometric sum method
Photometric sum method according to § 64 LFGB method L 00.006
mineral oils MOSH, POSH, and MOAH
Determination of hydrocarbons, MOSH (mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons), POSH (polyolfin oligomeric saturated hydrocarbons) and MOAH (mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons) in food, in food simulants, in packaging or investigation of the barrier of packaging materials against it.
Residual solvents determination
DIN EN 13628-2 (industrial method), Headspace gas chromatography FID, multi-method, listing of solvents: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, cyclohexane, acetone, benzene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), 1-methoxy-2-propanol, toluene, n-propyl acetate, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methoxy -1-butanol, isododecane, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, 3-butoxy-2-propanol, diacetone alcohol, acetylacetone
set off test from printings and laquers according Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006
Laboratory storage test to evaluate the inertness of printed and laquered articles in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 (GMP), transfer of ink constituents or coating components from the printed surface on the food-contact surface, e.g. winded reels, or hollow bodies stacked in stacks of material, with materials / objects that are intended for direct food contact in the laboratory. Specific migrations or NIAS screenings are required afterwards, which must be selected depending on the printing ink/varnish used in order to evaluate whether a migration is occurring (please add additional test).
Plasticizers
Multi-method for the determination of esters of phthalic acid or adipic acid and 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, diisononyl ester (DiNCH) by GC-MS
organo tin compounds
determination of organo tin compounds (methyl tin-, butyl tin-, octyl tin-, hexyl tin- and triphenyl tin-cation) after migration with a multi method
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), determination of content
Substances:
acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[g,h,i]peryrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene,fluoranthene, fluorene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, naphthaline, phenanthrene, pyrene
with expanded scope of testing: 5-methylchrysene, benzo[c]fluorene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene
Overall migration acc. Reg. (EU) No 10/2011 standard test conditions (OM 0 - OM 7)
Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 (PIM)/DIN EN 1186 classical food simulants for all filling goods (no alternative tests like Isooctane testing):
A = Ethanol 10 % (v/v), B = Acetic acid 3 % (w/v), C= Ethanol 20 % (v/v), D1 = Ethanol 50 % (v/v), D2 = Vegetable oil, E = poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) (Tenax ®)
sensory analysis of packaging materials/transition of sensory perceptible substances to (test) foodstuffs
Organoleptic determination of the flavour transition (gustatory, olfactory and trigeminal sensations may be influenced by tactile, thermal, painful and/or kinaestesic effects) from packaging materials to standard test foodstuffs, commonly known as the "Robinson test", as well as change in appearance and odour of the (test) foodstuff.
overall migration rapid tests and alternative simulants
Food simulant substitutes according to Reg EU 10/2011: To screen for overall migration food simulants can be replaced if based on scientific evidence the substitute food simulants overestimate migration compared to the regulated food simulants.
Rapid tests are carried out by usage of solvents like Isooctane (for testing of non polar materials e.g. polyolefines) or Ethanol 95% (for testing of polar materials like e.g. PET).
overall migration special tests / Substitute test OM8 und OM9
Test conditions free configurable according DIN EN 1186, classical food simulants (exceptionally alternative tests like Isooctane or 95 Vol.-% Ethanol testing):
water, A= Ethanol 10 % (v/v), B= Acetic acid 3 % (w/v), C= Ethanol 20 % (v/v), D1= Ethanol 50 % (v/v), D 2= Vegetable oil, E= poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) (Tenax ®)
Substitute test for OM7 with food simulant D2: OM8 und OM9 acc. Resolution (EC) 10/2011
colourfastness of dyes of plastic materials
Acc. to the 24th Communication on the testing of plastics, Bundesgesundheitsblatt 15 (1972) "(...) There are no objections to the use of colorants for coloring plastics and other polymers 2 in the manufacture of commodities (...), provided (...) the requirement of no visible migration to food stuffs during proper use of the commodity (...)." This requirement can be easily checked with the test available here.
microbiological examination
Determination of total viabl count, yeasts and moulds resp. enterobacteria
Determination of migration test temperature (SML and OM) for microwave application
Tests of specific migration (SML) and overall migration (OM) on plastic articles which are intended for use in microwave ovens,in accordance with EN 1186-1 are performed under the appropriate time and temperature conditions in a conventional oven. For this purpose the temperature that occurs at the interface of food / packaging during heating of the contents under the conditions of use in the worst foreseeable conditions must be determined. This is done by using a calibrated microwave oven at the predetermined heat output.
Carbondioxyde transmission (CO2 TR) rate of plastic films, laminates, coated papers, Alufoils, etc.
Testing performed with the manometric method acc. DIN 53380 T 2 resp. ISO 15105-1 (Brugger-method), also comparable to ASTM D 1434-procedure M.
Determination of (residual) oxygen and carbon dioxide content in ready-made packages
(Residual) oxygen and carbon dioxide content in sealed containers of any kind provided with modified gas atmosphere (MAP), e. g. cups, bottles, pouches, trays. The testing can be carried out with filled as well as empty packages. The method is not suitable for testing vacuum packages. Basic price, measurement of 5 emptied and cleaned packages included, additional measurements according to time.
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