Ceramic bowls and plates China GB4806 food contact material testing
Date：2025-07-16 10:41:34 Classification
：【question】 Visits：
According to China's national standard GB4806.4-2016 "National Food Safety Standard Ceramic Products", ceramic bowls and plates are subject to mandatory testing as food contact materials. The following are the key points and process summary:
I. Core standards and scope of testing
1. Applicable standards
- GB4806.4-2016: specifically for ceramic products, replacing the old standard GB13121-1991, etc.
- GB4806.1-2016: General safety requirements for food contact materials (such as sensory and migration limits).
2. Covered products
- Ceramic bowls and plates: All ceramic tableware that directly contacts food, including deep plates, shallow plates, soup bowls, etc.
- Special classification: divided into flat products (depth ≤ 25mm) and hollow products (depth > 25mm) according to shape, with different detection limits.
2. Mandatory inspection items and technical requirements
Test categories
Heavy metal migration
Physical properties
Sensory requirements
3. Test process steps
1. Classification and inspection
- Classification by vessel type: Flat products (bowls/plates) and hollow products (deep bowls/cups) are tested separately.
- Differences in painting techniques: Underglaze and overglaze need to be tested separately (overglaze needs extra attention to lead and cadmium migration).
2. Laboratory test
- Simulated liquid: Soak in 4% acetic acid solution (volume fraction) uniformly.
- Condition setting:
- Products for normal temperature use: Soak at 22℃ for 24 hours;
- Microwavable products: Soak at 100℃ for 15 minutes.
3. Report and certification
- The testing agency issues a CNAS/CMA qualification report with actual migration data;
- After passing, a GB4806.4 compliance certificate is issued (usually valid for 1-2 years).
IV. Key points of enterprise compliance
1. Labeling specifications
- Must be labeled: "food contact", material type, operating temperature range, manufacturer information.
- Prohibited use: "microwaveable" and other unverified claims.
2. Risks of painting process
- Overglaze color pigments need to be tested separately for heavy metal migration, and mineral pigments are preferred.
- Pattern ink formula changes need to be re-submitted for inspection.
3. Common reasons for failure
- Lead and cadmium migration exceeds the standard (caused by inferior glaze) | Missing label | The laboratory has not obtained CNAS qualification.
V. Recommendations and precautions
- New regulations: GB4806.4-2016 will be fully implemented after September 2024, and the old standard will be abolished.
- Sample preparation: Different patterns of the same type need to provide samples separately (such as blue and white bowls and painted bowls).
- Extended compliance: Export products must additionally comply with EU EC 1935/2004 (lead and cadmium limits are stricter).
> Note: For the complete standard text, please refer to GB4806.4-2016. Testing agencies recommend laboratories with CNAS qualifications (such as Dezewei, etc.).
If you need a comparison of EU/US food-grade testing, or specific laboratory fee consultation, you can further supplement your needs.
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