What are the testing items for food contact materials in the EU? The standard to be followed for kitchen utensils exported to the European Union is the EU Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, which is an EU regulation that specifies safety requirements for food contact materials. According to this regulation, materials that come into contact with food must undergo strict testing and evaluation to ensure that the materials do not pose safety issues to the food. Specifically, kitchen utensils need to comply with EU food contact testing standards, including migration substance testing and dissolved substance testing, to evaluate whether harmful substances are released after food contact. In addition, physical and mechanical performance tests, such as durability and wear resistance, are also required.

The EU's testing projects for food contact materials usually include the following aspects:

1. Migration substance testing: By simulating food contact, evaluate whether any chemical substances in the material have migrated into the food and whether they exceed the upper limit specified by regulations.

2. Dissolved substance testing: Evaluate whether chemicals in materials will dissolve and release into food during contact with food.

3. Physical and mechanical performance testing: Evaluate the physical properties of materials, such as durability, wear resistance, etc., to ensure that they do not affect food safety during use.

4. Application suitability test: Evaluate whether the material is suitable for various food contact situations and meets the regulatory requirements of specific industries or products.

5. Safety assessment: Based on the above test results, determine whether the material meets the relevant safety requirements of the European Union's Food Contact Materials Regulations (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004).


Applicable product range for food contact material testing:

Tableware: knives and forks, bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups, plates, etc;

Kitchenware: pots, shovels, cutting boards, stainless steel kitchen utensils, etc;

Food packaging containers: various food packaging bags, beverage food containers, etc;

Kitchen appliances: coffee machine, juicer, mixer, electric kettle, rice cooker, oven, microwave, etc.


There may be some differences in the testing and evaluation of food contact materials among different countries and regions, but the following standards are usually referred to:

1. US FDA Standards: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a strict set of approval standards, including Article 21 of the US Federal Regulations (21 CFR), which set maximum limits, elemental content, and other restrictions for materials in contact with food.

2. Japanese JHOSPA standard: The Japanese Food Hygiene Law stipulates limits and element content, and specific testing methods and standards are developed based on the use of food contact materials, food types, etc.

3. EU regulations: The EU has a strict set of regulatory standards for food contact materials, including the Food Contact Materials Regulations (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004) and the Food Contact Materials Migration and Testing Regulations (Regulation (EU) No 10/2011), which are applicable to products exported to EU countries.

4. Chinese testing standards: Chinese national standards GB4806.1-2016 "General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Products" and GB 9685-2016 "Use of Restricted Substances in Food Contact Materials and Products" are applicable to products exported to China.

It should be noted that there may be some differences in the standards of each country and region. Therefore, before exporting products to other countries that require corresponding testing, it is necessary to first understand the relevant standards and requirements of the target country or region and comply with local laws and regulations.