Food Contact Material Regulations – Asia Pacific Region

General Safety Requirements

As part of the general safety requirements, the quantity of substances transferred from FCM and articles (FCA) to food must not endanger human health or bring about unacceptable changes to the composition of food such as taste and odor.

Diversity & Complexity

The requirements in the Asia Pacific Region are highly complex and diverse. Some countries such as China, Japan and South Korea require conformity assessment procedures to be carried out from approved laboratories for formal acceptance.

General Laws and/or Standards for Key Countries in this Important Region

Jurisdiction	Legislation/Standard
Australia	Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2 ‘Food Safety Practices – General Requirements’ Regulations 4E ‘Importation of Glazed Ceramicware’ AS 4371 ‘Ceramic Tableware’
China	Presidential Decree No. 21 ‘Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China’ GB 4806.1 (General Safety Requirements for food contact materials and articles) and a corresponding series of mandatory standards for products and test methods
India	The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 (FSSA, No. 34 of 2006)
Indonesia	Food Law 18/2012 National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) Regulation No. 20, 2019 on Food Packaging
Japan	Act No. 233 of December 24, 1947 ‘Japan Food Sanitation Act / Japan Food Sanitation Law (JFSL)’- Chapter III ‘Utensils, Containers and Packaging’ Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 370 (1959) – Specifications and standards for foods, food additives etc. No. 3 Apparatus, containers and packaging Positive list for synthetic resins
Malaysia	Food Act 1983 Food Regulations of 1985 (P.U. (A) 437/1985), Part VI ‘Packages for food’
Philippines	Republic Act No. 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013)
Singapore	Food Regulations under the Sale of Food Act, 1973
South Korea	Food Sanitation Act Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging for Food Products (Chapter 7 of the Korean Food Code)
Taiwan	Act Governing Food Sanitation (the Act) Sanitary Standard for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages
Thailand	Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) Ministry of Public Health Notification No. 435, B.E. 2565 (2022) issued under the Food Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) for plastics Ministry of Commerce Regarding the Imposition of Ceramic Table ware Metal-coated Tableware to be prohibited or required certificate for importation into the country B.E. 2551 (2008) Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) – mandatory and voluntary standards for specific materials or products
Vietnam	Food Safety Law (No. 55/2010/QH12) Technical standards/Regulations including QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT ‘Plastics’

Specific Measures Affecting Bisphenol A (BPA)

Similar to many jurisdictions around the world, many countries in this region restrict or prohibit the use of BPA in FCM and FCA. This includes, but is not limited to China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. In Australia, certain major retailers have voluntarily phased-out the use of BPA in polycarbonate plastic feeding bottles.

Jurisdiction	Citation	Scope	Requirement
Australia	Announcement by Parliament Secretary for Health Media Release, 30 June, 2010	Baby bottles	Voluntary phase out by certain major retailers
China	Ministry of Health, Bulletin No. 15 of 2011	Polycarbonate baby feeding bottles and other infant feeding bottles	Prohibited
Japan	Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 370 (1959) – Specifications and standards for foods, food additives etc. No. 3 Apparatus, containers and packaging	Food contact polycarbonate plastics	≤ 2.5 μg/mL migration (including phenol and p-tert-butylphenol)
Malaysia	P.U. (A) 35/12 of the Food Regulations 1985	Feeding bottles	Prohibited
South Korea	Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages	Infant feeding bottles	Prohibited

Food Safety Testing

SGS has the expertise to help manufacturers and suppliers of FCM achieve compliance with markets around the globe. Our technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and articles for many markets. We offer the full range of FCM testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. Our experience can ensure your products meet the appropriate territorial regulations for food contact materials and help pave the way for compliance.