Since 2005, a new EU Food grade Directive called Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 October 2004－on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing Directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC has been implement. This Directive has replaced and repealed the former two directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC. The product sold in EU market should follow the directive strictly. Different EU countries established its owned national foodgrade regulation with specific testing requirement, such as Germany, France, etc.

Any product in compliance with food grade safety directive can display the following symbol on the packing or surface of the products. It is defined as “product for food use”. Mark on those food contact materials and articles when they are put on market (e.g. cookware, cutlery, food package, food contact electrical appliances).

Additional marking requirement:

• When the food contact product is placed on the market, marking requirement as follows:

-         The words “for food use” or “food grade symbol”

-         Special instruction for safe and appropriate use of the material and articles; any special conditions when they are being use (eg. not for microwave usage; not suitable for fatty foodstuff)

-         Company information :

1)      Name or trade mark

2)      address of registered office, manufacturer, processor or seller

• In language easily understood
• Clearly legible

Besides Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, the products contacting with food which are put on Germany market should follow Germany regulation: LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuches) Food and Feed Law§30, 31 (Former name: LMBG§30, 31).

As well as Germany, Besides Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, the products contacting with food which are put on French market should follow its owned regulation: French DGCCRF 2004-64 and French Décret nº 92-631. French regulation not only concern on plastic materials, but also it has specific classification and requirement to metal products, e.g. metal cookware with organic coating has requirements to both contacting with food organic surface and based metal material.

In US, FDA regulated the majority of food-contact products through the Food Additive Petition (FAP) process. If a food additive or food contact material was found to be suitable for the intended use through the FAP process, this material was added to the appropriate regulation in U.S. FDA 21 CFR, parts 170 through 189.  These regulations are generic and apply to any manufacturer who can produce material that meets the given end-tests in the applicable regulation.

General requirement for material in contact with food:

－ Factory is under GMP system

－ Material used meet the definition of the material in corresponding sub-title (US FDA CFR 21 Part 170 – 189)

－ Raw material in compliance with the specification defined in sub-title (US FDA CFR Part 170-189)

－ Any new material put into market must be approved by US FDA authority before (very similar to new EU Foodgrade Directive 2004/1935/EC)

The wares shipped to California, they should meet California Proposition 65 requirement (including ware in contact with food part, exterior decoration，rim part of cup and mug). Covered products are:

l         Food/Beverage Glass and Ceramics Products that are intended for the storage, serving or consumption of food or beverages

l         Non-Food/Beverage Glass and Ceramic Products (household products)