National Reference Laboratory for Materials in contact with food

Several materials like plastics, paper and board, metal and ceramics are used for the production of food-contact materials. This means that such substances should not pose a danger to humans.

The main focus of research by the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment National Reference Laboratory on food contact substances is the development and validation of chemical-analytical methods for determining migration and substance levels. It is currently working on the following topics:

• Determination of plasticisers in lid sealing compounds
• Determination of plasticisers in glass-packaged food
• Determination of plasticisers in edible oil
• Determination of plasticisers in spirits
• Determination of perfluorinated compounds in consumer products and food
• Studies on the migration of primary aromatic amines from kitchen utensils
• Studies on the migration of formaldehyde from melamine formaldehyde resins

The EU Regulation 2004/1935 stipulates that under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, these materials may not release any substances onto the food which could

• harm human health or
• lead to an unacceptable change in the composition of the food or
• lead to an impairment of the organoleptic properties (taste, aroma, appearance, colour) of the food.

The focus of the work of the National Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials within BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is on the official control of the laboratories responsible for food-contact materials by developing corresponding analytical methods, conducting comparative laboratory tests and establishing a national network for these laboratories. The Reference Laboratory works closely with the Community Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials, Joint Research Centre Ispra and ensures that information is passed on to the control laboratories.