Meaning
Technical regulations established by the European Committee for Standardization define the testing requirements for materials intended to contact food. The EN 13130 standard provides the analytical methods for measuring the migration of monomers and additives from plastics into various food simulants. This framework ensures that any chemical transfer remains below the safety limits defined by the European Commission.
Testing Protocol
Laboratory procedures specified in the document involve exposing a polymer sample to liquids that mimic the acidity or fat content of food. The EN 13130 standard requires precise temperature control and specific time intervals to simulate real world storage conditions. These tests are necessary for converters who must issue a Declaration of Compliance for every new packaging design.
Migration Limit
Quantifiable boundaries for specific substances prevent the contamination of the food supply with harmful chemicals. Under the EN 13130 standard, chemicals like bisphenol A or various phthalates are assigned a specific migration limit in milligrams per kilogram of food. A result exceeding this value prevents the resin from being used in food grade applications regardless of its mechanical performance.
Compliance Scope
Regulatory coverage extends from raw material producers to the final manufacturers of containers and utensils. While a resin producer provides the initial data, the EN 13130 standard often requires the final moulder to conduct tests on the finished part to account for changes during the heating and shaping process. This ensures that the final consumer product is safe for its intended use across its entire shelf life.
The documentation produced during these tests forms the legal basis for selling plastic packaging within the European Union.
