Updated on 15 August 2016
In accordance with Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (2015 version), food contact materials and articles (hereinafter referred to as FCM) shall be compliant with Chinese National Standards (GBs).
First of all, all FCM should comply with additive requirements according to GB 9685-2008 Hygienic standards for uses of additives in food containers and packaging materials. According to GB 9685, if some specific additives are added, the Specific Migration Limit (SML) test or Maximum Residue (QM) of some substances is necessary to conduct to guarantee the safety of the added additives. Based on the GB 9685-2008, companies are suggested to check if you have added the specific food contact additives into FCM and confirm the required test items.
Examples for some food contact additives:
Additive name | CAS No. | Required Test |
Dibutyl phthalate(DBP) | 84-74-2 | 0.3 mg/kg (SML) |
Bisphenol A(BPA) | 80-05-7 | 0.6 mg/kg (SML) |
Ethylene oxide | 75-21-8 | 1.0 mg/kg (QM) |
1,3-butadiene | 106-99-0 | ND (SML, DL=0.02mg/kg) or 1.0 mg/kg (QM) |
In the second place, FCM including plastics, silicone rubber, glass, enamel, ceramics, glass, metal, coating, bamboo products, paper and paper products, etc. has corresponding requirements according to commodity standards (GBs). Therefore, all FCM shall also comply with commodity standards (GBs). Meanwhile, it should be noticed that plastic has two standard requirements, one is for plastic resins and the other one is for finished plastic products. FCM companies are encouraged to test according to GBs to guarantee the product quality.
Examples of some relevant standards (GBs) for food contact material and articles:
Index | Specific FCM | GB No. | GB Name |
Plastic resin | |||
1 | Polyvinyl chloride resin | GB 4803-1994 | Hygienic standard for polyvinyl chloride resin used as food container and packaging material |
2 | Polyethylene resin | GB 9691-1988 | Hygienic standard for polyethylene resin used as food packaging material |
3 | Polystyrene resin | GB 9692-1988 | Hygienic standard for polystyrene resin used as food packaging material |
4 | Polypropylene resin | GB 9693-1988 | Hygienic standard for polypropylene resin used as food packaging material |
5 | Polyethylene glycol terephthalate resin | GB 13114-1991 | Hygienic standard for polyethylene terephthalate resin used as food containers and packaging materials |
6 | Polycarbonate resin | GB 13116-1991 | Hygienic standard for polycarbonate resin used as food containers and packaging materials |
7 | Vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer resin | GB 15204-1994 | Hygienic standard of vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer resins for food containers and packaging material |
8 | Nylon 6 resin | GB 16331-1996 | Hygienic standard of nylon 6 resins food packaging material |
Plastic product | |||
9 | Polyvinyl chloride product | GB 9681-1988 | Hygienic standard of products of polyvinyl chloride for food packaging |
10 | Polyethylene product | GB 9687-1988 | Hygienic standard for polyethylene products used as food containers and tableware |
11 | Polypropylene product | GB 9688-1988 | Hygienic standard for polypropylene products used as food containers and tableware |
12 | Polystyrene product | GB 9689-1988 | Hygienic standard for polystyrene products used as food containers and tableware |
13 | Melamine-formaldehyde Product | GB 9690-2009 | Hygienic standard for melamine-formaldehyde products used as food containers and packaging materials |
14 | Polyethylene glycol terephthalate product | GB 13113-1991 | Hygienic standard for polyethylene terephthalate products used as food containers and packaging materials |
15 | Unsaturated polyester resin and its glass fiber reinforced plastics product | GB 13115-1991 | Hygienic standard of unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber reinforced plastics used as food containers and packaging materials |
16 | Polycarbonate product | GB 14942-1994 | Hygienic standard for polycarbonate products used as food containers and packaging materials |
17 | Nylon product | GB 16332-1996 | Hygienic standard of products of nylon for food packaging material |
18 | Rubber-modified acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene product | GB 17326-1998 | Hygienic standard for rubber-modified acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene products used as food containers and packaging materials |
19 | Polyvinyl chloride for bottle sheet and granular materials | GB 14944-1994 | Hygienic standard for bottle sheet and granular materials of polyvinyl chloride for food packaging |
20 | Acrylonitrile-styrene product | GB 17327-1998 | Hygienic standard for acrylonitrile-styrene products used as food containers and packaging materials |
Rubber | |||
21 | Rubber product | GB 4806.1-1994 | Hygienic standard for foodstuff rubber products |
22 | Rubber nipple product | GB 4806.2-2015 | National food safety standards: nipple |
Paper | |||
23 | Paper product | GB 11680-1989 | Hygienic standard for paper used for food packaging |
24 | Plant fiber product | GB 19305-2003 | Hygienic standard for Plant fiber food containers |
25 | Paper based laminated material | GB/T 18706-2008 | Paper based laminated material for fresh-keeping packaging of liquid food |
Metal | |||
26 | Stainless steel | GB 9684-2011 | Stainless steel product |
27 | Aluminum | GB 11333-1989 | Hygienic standard for aluminum-wares for food uses |
Coating | |||
28 | Perchloravinyl used as internal coating | GB 7105-1986 | The sanitary specifications of perchloravinyl interior coating for food container |
29 | Phenol lacquer coating | GB 9680-1988 | Hygienic standard of phenol lacquer for food container |
30 | Mold release coating | GB 9682-1988 | Hygienic standard for mold release coating for the internal lacquer of food cans |
31 | Polyamide epoxy resin used as internal coating | GB 9686-2012 | Hygienic standard for polyamide epoxy resin used as internal coating of food container |
32 | Organosilicon nonstick coating | GB 11676-2012 | Hygienic standard of anti-coherent silicone paint for food container |
33 | water-based modified epoxy resin coating | GB 11677-2012 | Hygienic standard for water-based modified epoxy resin coating for the internal lacquer of food cans |
34 | Polytetrafluoroethylene used as inner coating | GB 11678-1989 | Hygienic standard for polytetrafluoroethylene used as inner coating of food containers |
35 | epoxy phenolic resin coating | GB 4805-1994 | Hygienic standard for epoxy phenolic resin coating for the internal lacquer of food cans |
Other product | |||
36 | Packaging glass containers | GB 19778-2005 | The limit dissolving quantity of lead, cadmium, arsenic and antimony in packaging glass containers |
37 | Heat-resistant glassware | GB 17762-1999 | Hygienic standard for heat-resistant glassware |
38 | Enamel | GB 4804-1984 | Hygienic standard for enamel tableware containers |
39 | Ceramic | GB 13121-1991 | Hygienic standard for ceramic tableware containers |
40 | Wooden chopsticks | GB 19790.1-2005 | Disposable chopsticks, part 1: Wooden chopsticks |
41 | Bamboo chopsticks | GB 19790.2-2005 | Disposable chopsticks, part 2: Bamboo chopsticks |
In addition, NHFPC (National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China) has released a series of FCM national food safety standards (draft version) in 2015, including additives, resin, plastic, rubber, metal, coating, paper and paperboard, etc. FCM companies are also encouraged to do the product pre-test according to the draft national standards.
Examples for some drafts:
- GB XXXX-201X National Food Safety Standards Glass products
- GB XXXX-201X National Food Safety Standards Ceramic products
CIRS is providing testing services according to relevant Standards (GBs) above. Please pay attention to the GB name to identify the appropriate standards, or contact us at service@cirs-group.com for more information.