EU Releases New Guidelines for Metals and Alloys in Food Contact Materials

On August 1, 2024, the European Quality Council for Medicines and Healthcare (EQDM) announced the release of the second edition of the technical guide "Metals and Alloys used in Food Contact Materials and Articles 2024," which will replace the previous CM/Res (2013) 9 version.

Main Updates

The updates primarily include the following aspects:

Resolution Document Update: The CM/Res (2013) 9 resolution document has been repealed and replaced with the updated CM/Res (2020) 9.
Specific Release Limits (SRLs): The specific release limits for metal elements have been updated in Chapter 1.
Testing and Analysis Methods: Adjustments have been made to the testing and analysis methods in Chapter 3, now referencing the 4th edition of the JRC guide "Test Conditions for Kitchenware Used in Contact with Food: Plastics, Metals, Silicone Rubber, and Rubber, Cardboard" 2023 or its revised versions.
Compliance Statement: The original compliance statement content in Chapter 4 has been removed to maintain consistency with CM/Res (2020) 9.

Compliance Update Highlights

Selection of Migration Test Simulants: Ensuring the correct simulants are used for migration tests.

Type of Food	Simulant
Aqueous/Alcoholic/Fatty Foods	Artificial tap water
Acidic Foods (pH≤4.5)	0.5% Citric Acid

Judgment Rules:

Single-use products: The first migration should be ≤ SRLs.

Repeated use products: The third migration should be ≤ SRLs, and the sum of the first and second migrations should be ≤ 7×SRLs.

Specific Release Limits (SRLs) for Metal Elements: The release limits for various metal elements have been updated, measured in mg/kg.

Recommendations from CIRS C&K Testing

CIRS C&K Testing advises all relevant businesses to stay updated on this regulation, gather and analyze product-related data, and ensure full compliance with the new EU safety standards. Additionally, we offer professional consulting and testing services to help businesses understand and meet the new regulatory requirements, ensuring product compliance and minimizing compliance risks.

CIRS C&K Testing will continue to provide the latest industry news and professional testing support. Please contact us for more information and solutions.

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via test@cirs-group.com.