Planning to import kitchen utensils, appliances, food packaging, or other food contact materials to the European Union? In this article, we list leading third-party food contact materials testing companies that can help you verify if your products are fully compliant and legal to sell in the EU.
Content Overview
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Eurofins
Established in 1997 by Gilles Martin, Eurofins started as a food testing company. It specializes in food-related compliance services such as lab testing and food products consultancy services.
The company helps clients to meet FCM regulations such as (EC) No.1935/2004 for the EU.
Since the regulatory framework becomes more and stringent; Eurofins technical managers are involved in standardization committees and industry associations for FCM. This allows the company to keep track of the latest regulations and market trends.
In addition, Eurofins built two FCM competence centers, which are located in Germany and Denmark, to offer high-level regulatory consultancy and testing services.
Services
- Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 testing
- GMP regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006
- Plastic Regulation (EC) No. 10/2011 testing
- Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC testing
- Regenerated Cellulose Directive 2007/42/EC testing
- Regulation (EC) No. 1895/2005 testing
- FCM compliance consulting
- FCM related seminars and training
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1997
- Locations: China (Mainland), Hong Kong, Germany, Denmark, United States
Accreditations and Certificates
- EN ISO/IEC 17020
- EN ISO/IEC 17025
HQ Address: 23 Val Fleuri, 1526 Luxembourg
TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland is an independent third-party testing company that provides testing services for food contact materials such as plastics, metals, coatings, and paper.
TÜV Rheinland provides technical regulatory supports to help manufacturers, importers, and online sellers of food contact products to verify and achieve product compliance. They offer testing, compliance assessment, product certification, and employee training.
Their testing and certification processes are performed in accordance with the EU requirements. They also cover lab testing according to national regulations such as LFGB, the German Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance (ChemVerbotsV), and German Articles of Daily Use Ordinance (BedGgstVO).
Services
- NIAS testing
- Directive (EC) No 1935/2004 testing
- Sensory testing
- Chemical testing
- Certification
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1872
- Locations: United States, Hong Kong, China, Germany, and some other EU countries
HQ Address: Am Grauen Stein 29, 51105, Köln, Germany
Intertek
Intertek is one of the leading lab testing companies and was established in 1888.
The company offers FCM lab testing services for different markets including the European Union, and it helps clients to comply with EU FCM regulations.
Being a testing-specialized company, Intertek offers a full cycle arrangement of FCM testing; below you can find a few examples:
a. Gathering the complete list of all materials and substances used in the FCM manufacturing process.
b. Verify both global and local regulations of specific materials and substances.
c. Identify the final food contact applications, such as which kind of foodstuffs are intended to be used with these materials.
d. Set up a compliance program, such as migration testing, worst-case calculations, modeling, screening tests, and toxicological risk assessments.
Services
- FCM chemical testing and migration studies
- Testing and risk assessment for non-intentionally added substances
- Sustainability for FCM
- Training and webinars of FCM subjects
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1885
- Locations: China (Mainland), Hong Kong, U.K., United States, Mexico, and others
Accreditations and Certificates
- EN ISO/IEC 17021
- EN ISO/IEC 17065
HQ Address: 33 Cavendish Square, London, UK
SGS
SGS was founded in France during the 1870s as a quality assurance company to offer inspection and lab testing services.
Today, the company has more than 97,000 employees and 2,600 offices, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
SGS helps clients to make sure that their products comply with the appropriate regulations for FCM. It offers FCM lab testing services such as food packaging testing, and contact materials testing.
SGS provides FCM lab testing to cover a variety of regulations in the EU. While the regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 applies to all FCM; there are also specific regulations you should be aware of, such as directive 93/11/EEC for nitrosamines, directive 84/500/EEC for ceramics, and also other regulations.
Services
- Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 testing
- Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC testing
- Regenerated cellulose film Directive 2007/42/EC testing
- Plastic Regulation (EC) No. 10/2011 testing
- Nitrosamines Directive 93/11/EEC testing
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1878
- Locations: China (Mainland), Hong Kong, Switzerland, United States, and others.
Accreditations and Certificates
- ISO 50003:2014
- ISO IEC 17021:2015
- ISO IEC 17065:2012
HQ Address: 1 Place des Alpes, P.O. Box 2152, 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland
Smithers
Smithers is a compliance lab testing company with headquarters in Ohio, United States. The company was founded in 1925 by Vernon L. Smithers.
It offers different FCM testing solutions to its clients; for example, analyzing food contact materials and compliance, auditing compliance system and provide recommendations, providing FCM training, investigating issues and problems related to FCM.
In addition, Smithers also helps clients to meet the GMP regulation, which requires a manufacturer to minimize or eliminate instances of contamination, mixups, and errors.
Services
- Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 testing
- Plastic Regulation (EC) No. 10/2011 testing
- Regenerated cellulose films Directive 2007/42/EC testing
- BADGE, BFDGE, and NOGE (Regulation No 1895/2005)
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1925
- Locations: China (Mainland), U.K., United States
Accreditations and Certificates
- ISO 17025-2005
- ISO IEC 17201-1: 2015
HQ Address: 121 S. Main Street, Suite 300, Akron, Ohio, United States
Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas was founded in 1828, and it offers lab testing, technical support, and regulatory guidance for FCM.
The company owns offices and laboratories across 140 countries, to provide its technical support and services such as FCM lab testing and FCM consulting.
Bureau Veritas experienced team is familiar with FCM regulations in different markets including the EU. Their lab testing services cover a wide range of products such as plasticware, glassware, ceramics, cutlery, crockery, and any types of food containers or packaging.
Services
- Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 testing
- Ceramic Directive 84/500/EEC testing
- Regenerated Cellulose Directive 2007/42/EC testing
- Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and No 64/2011 testing
- Directive 93/11/EEC testing
- Commission Regulation (EC) 1895/2005 testing
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1828
- Locations: China (Mainland), Hong Kong, U.K., Germany, United States, Canada, and others
Accreditations and Certificates
- EN ISO 9001:2015
- ISO 14001:2015
- OHSAS 18001:2007
HQ Address: 67/71, Boulevard du Chateau Neuilly-Sur-Seine, 92200, France
CMA Testing
Established in 1981, CMA Testing is a compliance lab testing company, with headquarters in Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
The company offers a wide range of FCM related services such as chemical and biological lab testing, allergen testing product certification, standard and regulation updates, workshops, and seminars.
Also, CMA Testing also helps clients to source reliable raw materials by evaluating suppliers’ FCM manufacturing and processing plant levels.
Services
- Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 testing
- LFGB testing (German standard)
- DGCCRF testing (French standard)
- FCM related workshops and seminars
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1981
- Locations: China (Mainland), Hong Kong
Accreditations and Certificates
- HOKLAS
- HKIAS
HQ Address: Room 1302, Yan Hing Centre, 9-13 Wong Chuk Yeung Street, Fo Tan, Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong
Merieux NutriSciences
Merieux NutriSciences was established in 1897 as a company that specializes in the protection of consumers’ health.
Mérieux NutriSciences operates more than 100 laboratories in 22 countries, and offers FCM testing and consultancy services, helping its clients to choose the correct analytical solution to raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.
The company is committed to ensuring all materials are compliant with mandatory FCM application requirements and regulations.
It offers FCM testing services to help its clients.
Services
- Migration testing
- Control of Maximum Quantity (MQ)
- Screening and Set-off
- Food Contact Machines testing
Company information
- Year of Registration: 1897
- Locations: China (Mainland), France, Spain, Germany, Italy, United States, and others
Accreditations and Certificates
- ISO 9001
- ISO 17025: 2005
HQ Address: 113, route de Paris 69160 Tassin la Demi-Lune, France
Viaware
Established in 2013, Viaware is a joint venture among a food contact expert and an IT company.
The company develops software related to food contact safety, legislation, and IT technology.
In particular, Viaware developed a web-based tool called FOCOS, which helps businesses to manage and control their FCM compliance work and documentation. Today, FOCOS is used in around fifteen different countries in the EU.
In addition, the Viaware food contact expert team offers FCM workshops, training, company screenings, and strategy sessions.
Services
- FCM compliance software
- FCM workshops and training
Company information
- Year of Registration: 2013
- Locations: The Netherlands
HQ Address: Twentepoort Oost 55a, 7609 RG Almelo, The Netherlands
