Selling ceramic tableware or kitchenware in the EU and other markets? Make sure your products are safe, tested and supported by the right compliance documentation before they reach the market. We provide expert food-contact support.
Ceramics can release harmful substances from the body, glaze, decoration or other components into food and drinks. Demonstrating food-contact compliance for ceramic articles can be particularly challenging, as the applicable requirements depend on the product, its intended use, the target market and the regulatory framework in force. Product safety can also be influenced by many factors such as the ceramic body and composition, glaze and enamel, pigments and decorations, firing conditions, food-contact surface, product geometry and capacity, and manufacturing processes.
We bring clarity and help ceramic manufacturers, importers, brands, retailers and distributors assess and demonstrate the food-contact compliance of their products for the EU and key global markets.
How to demonstrate ceramic food-contact compliance in the EU?
While EU Member States may have additional national provisions, ceramic articles intended to come into contact with food are subject to the general requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and the specific EU requirements for ceramics under Directive 84/500/EEC, as amended. The framework requires finished ceramic articles to be safe under their intended or foreseeable conditions of use and sets specific migration limits for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The applicable limits depend on the category of ceramic article (such as flatware/non-fillable articles, fillable articles, articles with a decorated drinking rim and cooking ware or large-capacity storage/packaging articles). Testing the wrong product configuration, glaze, decoration or category can create unnecessary costs or leave a compliance gap.
EU Compliance also requires appropriate supporting documentation from manufacturers and importers and, for ceramics, a written Declaration of Compliance at the relevant stages of the supply chain.
Our food-contact experts can support you with compliance assessment and testing against the applicable EU and national requirements in your target European markets.
Food-contact testing for ceramics
Whether you are launching a new ceramic collection, qualifying a supplier, or verifying an existing product, we provide you with testing backed by food-contact expertise to support your compliance decisions.
Services we provide include:
- Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) migration testing for ceramic articles according to DIN EN 1388-1, DIN EN 1388-2, DIN 51032, and international standards such as ISO 6486-1
- Migration testing for other relevant elements, including aluminium, cobalt and arsenic for French market; barium, zinc and antimony for Austrian market;
- Physical durability testing including mechanical resistance, dishwasher safety, and thermal shock performance for microwave or oven usage;
Technical compliance support
Our food-contact experts can help you understand which requirements apply to your products and support you with:
- Assessment of the appropriate testing approach for your ceramic articles including:
- Determining which products or variants need to be tested, based on risk-assessment;
- Guidance on testing requirements for different product types and intended uses
- Technical documentation: helping you verify or develop the documentation that is needed to support compliance.
- Compliance for the EU and other key global markets: major markets, including the EU, USA (FDA), Japan and China, have their own food-contact frameworks and requirements. Our experts can help you identify the relevant testing and compliance requirements and understand how current regulatory developments may affect your future product strategy.
Need to assess your ceramic products? Tell us about your products, intended use and target markets. Request a testing & compliance assessment today.
