## What Is Food Contact Material Testing Food Contact Material (FCM) testing applies to any product that directly touches food — tableware, drinkware, cookware, food packaging containers, baby bottles, baking molds, and similar items. The core focus isn't the product's physical performance, but **whether chemical substances in the material could migrate into food during contact**, potentially affecting food safety. ## Key Standards FCM compliance requirements differ by market: - **EU**: EU 10/2011 (Plastic Materials and Articles Regulation) + EU 1935/2004 (general FCM framework), focusing on overall migration limits and specific substance migration (heavy metals, BPA, etc.) - **US**: FDA 21 CFR provisions, with different applicable sections depending on material type (plastic, rubber, coatings, etc.) - **China**: GB 4806 series mandatory national standards (GB 4806.1 general safety requirements + material-specific standards like GB 4806.7 for plastics) If the same product is headed to all three markets, it generally needs to satisfy each set of migration testing requirements separately. ## Common Applicable Products - Plastic/silicone tableware, cups, and thermos liners - Cookware (pan coatings, baking molds, kitchen tools) - Food packaging containers (takeout boxes, storage containers, food bags) - Baby and infant products (bottles, feeding bowls) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: Does stainless steel tableware need FCM testing?** A: Yes — stainless steel products are mainly evaluated for heavy metal migration (nickel, chromium), which involves different test items than plastic products, but still falls under FCM testing. **Q: If I've already done chemical testing (RoHS, etc.), do I still need FCM?** A: No, these are different things. RoHS addresses hazardous substance limits in electrical/electronic products, while FCM addresses migration risk in food-contact scenarios. The standards and test methods differ — the product's nature determines which one applies. If you're unsure whether your product falls under FCM testing, send us the material and intended use case for an initial assessment.

Food Contact Material Testing (FCM)

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