These procedures provide formal recognition to competency that independently and impartially verify compliance to a standard or regulation to allow economic operators to access these highly controlled but important markets.
In the Asia Pacific Region, Japan requires foreign laboratories to be designated in order to conduct testing on FCM (and other products) under the Japan Food Sanitation Act (JFSA) for formal acceptance by its quarantine stations. China requires FCM to be tested by laboratories accredited by the China National Accreditation Services (CNAS) and China Metrology Accreditation (CMA), whilst neighboring Republic of Korea (South Korea) requires laboratories to be approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
In the Americas, food contact glass and ceramics destined for Colombia and Mexico are required to undergo certification before these products can be released on to their respective markets. Similarly, certification is required for melamine dinnerware products and vacuum Thermos flasks (including cups) to Kuwait, and FCM to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Saudi Arabia.
The laws and standards for certain important markets requiring designated laboratories and/or certification of food contact goods are summarized in Table 1.
| Jurisdiction | Citation | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| China | China Food Safety Law, April 2015 GB 4806 ‘General Safety requirements on Food Contact Materials and Articles’ and a corresponding series of mandatory standards for products and methods | Food contact materials and articles |
| Colombia | Resolution No. 1440/2021 | Ceramics and glass |
| India | Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 Portable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order, 2023 Cookware and Utensils (Quality Control) Order, 2023 | Food contact materials and articles Portable water bottles (copper, stainless steel, aluminum) Stainless steel cookware, wrought aluminum utensils, stainless steel sinks for domestic purposes, round open top sanitary cans for foods and drinks – tinplate, and aluminum cans for beverages |
| Japan | Act No. 233 of 24 December 1947 ‘Japan Food Sanitation Act’, Chapter III ‘Apparatus, Containers and Packaging’ | Food contact materials and articles |
| Kuwait | Kuwait Conformity Assurance Scheme Guidelines QW-750-21 | Melamine dinnerware, vacuum Thermos flasks (including cups) |
| Mexico | NOM-231-SSA1-2016 | Glazed pottery, glazed ceramics, porcelain and glassware |
| Saudi Arabia | SASO GSO 2231 ‘General Requirements for the Materials Intended to Come into Contact with Food’ | Food contact materials and articles |
| South Korea | Food Sanitation Act Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging for Food Products (Chapter 7 of the Korean Food Code) | Food contact materials and articles |
| Taiwan | Act Governing Food Sanitation Sanitation standards for food utensils, containers and packages | Food contact materials and articles |
| Thailand | Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) Export and Import of Goods Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) for ceramics and metal-coated tableware Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) – mandatory and voluntary standards for specific materials or products | Food contact materials and articles |
| United Arab Emirates | Cabinet Resolution No 20 of 2015 ‘UAE Scheme to Control Food Contact Materials’ | Food contact materials and articles |
| Vietnam | Food Safety Law (No. 55/2010/QH12) Technical standards/Regulations including QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT ‘Plastics’ | Food contact materials and articles |
Table 1.