Meaning
Standardizing exposure times and temperatures for migration testing represents specific food contact scenarios like long-term storage at room temperature. Om2 test conditions involve exposure at forty degrees Celsius for ten days. This setting is the default for most packaging materials intended for shelf stable products.
Contact Simulation
Exposure in the lab replicates the migration that occurs over six months of actual storage. Using om2 test conditions allows for a faster assessment of compliance than waiting for real-time aging. This protocol is applied to both overall and specific migration testing.
Migration Limit
Results obtained under these settings are compared against the legal limits defined in plastic regulations. Exceeding the limit during om2 test conditions indicates that the material is unsuitable for the intended application. Correct temperature control is required because even small fluctuations can significantly alter the migration rate.
Regulatory Scope
Regulations in the European Union define this specific combination of time and temperature as a standard benchmark. Moulders must specify om2 test conditions on their testing requests to ensure the data is legally defensible. This protocol covers a wide range of dry and aqueous foods but is not sufficient for high temperature filling or microwave use.
