Low Migration
Migration is the “transition” of substances from the packaging to the filling material. It is important to avoid migration.
Food companies are responsible for the safety of the products they put on the market. The regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament regulates the production and placing on the market of food. Further subordinate regulations regulate the handling of food contact materials, the packaging.
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
- Regulation (EC) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
- Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practice for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
Large food manufacturers have developed their own internal standards.
In 2017 Switzerland introduced the FCM (= food contact materials) regulation, SR 817.023.21 [EDI (= Eidgenössische Departement des Innern) Regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs] to align with the EU FCM regulations.
Following migration limits generally apply:
Global migration value: 60 ppm
Unrated substances: 10 ppb
Evaluated substances: specific migration limit
- You can meet these values with an inertisation of PrintConcept and a coordinated printing process.
- With inertisation, less photo initiator can be used than with curing under air.
- With lower UV dose, a higher double bond conversion is achieved.
- The proportion of volatile components is reduced under nitrogen compared to air.
- There is practically no smell when cured under nitrogen.
- There is no critical load on the food during its shelf life.
By the way: the topic of migration is a challenge for the entire packaging chain.
All product factors must be optimised at avoiding migration.