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Food Contact Materials: your compliance for every business

Food Contact Materials: Your compliance for every business

TÜV Rheinland. One source. Numerous end-to-end solutions.

TÜV Rheinland has vast expertise in the field of food contact materials, with almost 150 years of experience in the compliance management and testing sectors. We offer a comprehensive range of regulatory and testing services via a worldwide network of specialist teams. That means you have one single point of contact. While capitalizing on the full TÜV Rheinland experience with a range of internal and external expert resources and laboratories around the world – for the global, end-to-end compliance of your product!

Our testing services employ cutting-edge technologies to ensure that your products and operations are in accordance with the most recent knowledge of compliance and safety standards. At TÜV Rheinland, we help you keep the world safe.

Marco Scialpi - Food Contact Material Global Business Development Manager & FCM Senior Expert

Our extended service portfolio supports your business, whatever your industry, whatever your size.

Take advantage of the knowledge and industrial experience of our experts, who work closely with developers, FCM manufacturers (raw materials, packaging, electrical appliance and food processing lines), distributors, retailers, restaurants, caterers, hotels, local authorities and more.

To meet industry requirements, we assist you with necessary certifications and the fulfilment of local or global requirements. Those include the areas of GMP, HACCP or ISO standards. All with the goal of navigating through a complex food contact material regulatory system. By linking scientific knowledge, local guidelines and international testing capabilities, we have a solution for every challenge.

Whatever Your Business – TÜV Rheinland Serves You

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Challenges

The packaging and food industry is today confronted by the strong growth of requests for sustainable materials. To meet those demands, you might find it necessary to fully redevelop your portfolio with biobased, compostable or recyclable materials. However, the value chain is complex, making it difficult to obtain a flawless exchange of compliance information. In addition, technology and science are rapidly evolving, increasing the challenge to demonstrate the safety of your products. TÜV Rheinland can support you with overcoming these difficulties.

Solutions

We provide solutions tailored to your specific needs

Regulatory services:
• Establishment of regulatory framework and early warning system
• Regulatory product assessment
• Technical platforms to deal with local authorities, consumer associations and industry regarding new legislations

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices services
• Training, visual standards document review, audit

DOC (Declaration of Conformity) management

Audit service: for international and industry standards

Proof certificate: suitable for food, hazardous chemicals

Compliance assessment

Product testing
• Chemical content and targeted migration
Chemical non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) migration screening and related risk assessments
• Compositional analyses and screening
• Microbiological tests
• Sensory tests
• Product Inspections and shipment release

Sustainable services:
• Bio-based and compostable compliance and safety services
• Recyclable services:
- Product safety services for recycled plastics (acc. to Reg. 282/2008/EC)
- Challenge test safety qualification of RPET
- Input stream audit qualification
- Pre-assessment audit of recycling processes
- Training

Technical support for crisis management
Training FCM personnel certification, customized training for regulatory, DoC management, GMP, testing

Get More Information:

LFGB Food Grade Test

Biodegradability Testing

Packaging

Challenges

Whether cooking pots, bread tins or cutlery – consumers increasingly place great value on the safety and high quality of household goods. Health concerns plays an especially important role in customer decisions when selecting products that come into contact with foodstuffs.

Companies can prove product quality and safety with proper testing and distinguish their brand with a globally recognized test mark. Selection of appropriate raw materials and GMP qualification during the production process play a critical role in this fast-moving industry.

Our experts test your household goods according to criteria such as food contact materials safety & compliance, hygienic properties, mechanical and thermal safety and fit for use properties. We have years of experience and high competence in the field of product testing, and provide optimal, independent support.

Solutions

We provide solutions tailored to your specific needs

Regulatory services:
• Establishment of regulatory framework and early warning system
• Regulatory product assessment
• Technical platforms to deal with local authorities, consumer associations and industry regarding new legislations

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices services
• Training, visual standards document review, audit

DOC (Declaration of Conformity) management

Audit service: for international and industry standards

Proof certificate: suitable for food, hazardous chemicals

Compliance assessment

Product testing
• Chemical content and targeted migration
Chemical non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) migration screening and related risk assessments
• Compositional analyses and screening
• Microbiological tests
• Sensory tests
• Product Inspections and shipment release

Sustainable services:
• Bio-based and compostable compliance and safety services
• Recyclable services:
- Product safety services for recycled plastics (acc. to Reg. 282/2008/EC)
- Challenge test safety qualification of RPET
- Input stream audit qualification
- Pre-assessment audit of recycling processes
- Training

Technical support for crisis management
Training FCM personnel certification, customized training for regulatory, DoC management, GMP, testing

Get More Information:

LFGB Food Grade Test

Biodegradability Testing

Packaging

Challenges

Electrical appliances used for food must also be safe when it comes to food consumption. Due to the numerous amount of components in electrical appliances, it is difficult to choose adequate parts. Careful selection involves collecting declarations of conformity and other information to ensure each component has gone through a production process that results in a safe food contact material. In addition, conforming to a wide variety of end markets with different requirements and documentation formats can be arduous.

The compliance and safety of electrical appliances for food is spread across the full product lifecycle. It starts with selecting the appropriate compliant raw materials and components. During manufacturing, there must be control of GMP within the supply chain as well as testing of the product for multiple FCM legislations.

Regulations in the market of distribution must also be understood, while DoC compliance and the safety and interaction with the designated food and use conditions must be monitored. Even safe disposal needs to be considered, to ensure the raw materials and product itself has a sustainable end-of-life.

Solutions

We provide solutions tailored to your specific needs

Regulatory services:
• Establishment of regulatory framework and early warning system
• Regulatory product assessment
• Technical platforms to deal with local authorities, consumer associations and industry regarding new legislations

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices services
• Training, visual standards document review, audit

DOC (Declaration of Conformity) management

Audit service: for international and industry standards

Proof certificate: suitable for food, hazardous chemicals

Compliance assessment

Product testing
• Chemical content and targeted migration
Chemical non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) migration screening and related risk assessments
• Compositional analyses and screening
• Microbiological tests
• Sensory tests
• Product Inspections and shipment release

Sustainable services:
• Bio-based and compostable compliance and safety services
• Recyclable services:
- Product safety services for recycled plastics (acc. to Reg. 282/2008/EC)
- Challenge test safety qualification of RPET
- Input stream audit qualification
- Pre-assessment audit of recycling processes
- Training

Technical support for crisis management
Training FCM personnel certification, customized training for regulatory, DoC management, GMP, testing

Get More Information:

Household Appliance Testing and Certification

Challenges

A food processing line can be composed of several hundred components, subject to different use conditions and foods. The safety of the final food product and compliance of the processing line – as well as any robotics – start from the design stage and goes through technical maintenance. That involves selecting components and raw materials that comply with the legislation of the final market of distribution. It also means that an assessed /certified design must be obtained to mitigate and control any potential food safety hazards in the final food (chemical, microbiological, allergic, physical, nutritional hazards).

Safety is supported by adequate product testing of critical components and the final food; comprehensive documentation (single component DoC, final machine DoC, test reports, user and maintenance manual); a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) design study; assurance of GMP principles; and the use of compliant components during maintenance.

Solutions

We provide solutions tailored to your specific needs

Regulatory services:
• Establishment of regulatory framework and early warning system
• Regulatory product assessment
• Technical platforms to deal with local authorities, consumer associations and industry regarding new legislations

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices services
• Training, visual standards document review, audit

DOC (Declaration of Conformity) management

Audit service: for international and industry standards

Proof certificate: suitable for food, hazardous chemicals

Compliance assessment

Product testing
• Chemical content and targeted migration
Chemical non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) migration screening and related risk assessments
• Compositional analyses and screening
• Microbiological tests
• Sensory tests
• Product Inspections and shipment release

Sustainable services:
• Bio-based and compostable compliance and safety services
• Recyclable services:
- Product safety services for recycled plastics (acc. to Reg. 282/2008/EC)
- Challenge test safety qualification of RPET
- Input stream audit qualification
- Pre-assessment audit of recycling processes
- Training

Technical support for crisis management
Training FCM personnel certification, customized training for regulatory, DoC management, GMP, testing

Get More Information:

HACCP

Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC

EHEDG Testing and Certification

Challenges

As one of the final pieces in the value chain, customers rely on you to provide compliant products that do not cause safety concerns to the end user. If you fail in this obligation, their displeasure will descend upon you first. That’s why you need to be aware of regulation updates and ensure the safety of the food contact materials you utilize or offer.

If hazardous substances are found in your FCM material – or in the food at border checks or during market surveillance – you will be the one to manage the crisis or recall the product. If the latter occurs, it can be a devastating setback to your brand image.

Given the high number of products, SKUs, markets of distribution and complexity of legislations and supply chains, any type of compliance program must start with the core products and supplier and then be extended to the complete product portfolio. During this process, be aware that you will often be challenged regarding the independence of the performed tests. As a neutral third-party, the involvement of TÜV Rheinland is an obvious benefit.

Solutions

We provide solutions tailored to your specific needs

Regulatory services:
• Establishment of regulatory framework and early warning system
• Regulatory product assessment
• Technical platforms to deal with local authorities, consumer associations and industry regarding new legislations

GMP Good Manufacturing Practices services
• Training, visual standards document review, audit

DOC (Declaration of Conformity) management

Audit service: for international and industry standards

Proof certificate: suitable for food, hazardous chemicals

Compliance assessment

Product testing
• Chemical content and targeted migration
Chemical non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) migration screening and related risk assessments
• Compositional analyses and screening
• Microbiological tests
• Sensory tests
• Product Inspections and shipment release

Sustainable services:
• Bio-based and compostable compliance and safety services
• Recyclable services:
- Product safety services for recycled plastics (acc. to Reg. 282/2008/EC)
- Challenge test safety qualification of RPET
- Input stream audit qualification
- Pre-assessment audit of recycling processes
- Training

Technical support for crisis management
Training FCM personnel certification, customized training for regulatory, DoC management, GMP, testing

Get More Information:

Retail Services – Consumer Products

Regulations & Standards Updates

Keep yourself abreast with changes to Standards and Regulations and learn how they may affect you!

Learn about our solutions

Learn about our solutions

Get in touch with our experts and stay informed about our full-service portfolio related to food contact material.