Germany LFGB Testing

Overview

LFGB (Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, Food and Feed Code) is Germany's fundamental food and feed safety law, enacted in 2005, replacing the former Food and Commodities Act (LMBG).

LFGB is a federal law managed by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and is one of the strictest food contact material regulations in Europe.

LFGB makes comprehensive provisions for the safety requirements of food contact materials and everyday articles (such as food packaging, tableware, kitchen utensils, etc.).

Compliance assessment of food contact materials in Germany is based on LFGB as the overarching law, with specific technical requirements specified in recommendations issued by Bf R (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).

Products that pass LFGB testing may use the "Glass and Fork Symbol," which has high recognition among German and European consumers.

Applicable Products

Applicable Products and Service Categories

LFGB food contact material testing applies to the following products: Food packaging materials (plastic films, paper boxes, metal cans, glass bottles, etc.), tableware and kitchenware (cutlery, bowls, plates, pots, cups, etc.), food processing equipment (blenders, food containers, etc.), food-contact parts in small household appliances (such as coffee machine internal tubing), children's tableware and feeding utensils (baby bottles, sippy cups, etc.), food storage containers (food storage boxes, sealed jars, etc.), cooking utensils (spatulas, tongs, baking molds, etc.), beverage containers (water bottles, thermos cups, etc.). LFGB is not only applicable to the German market; its strict testing requirements are also frequently required by buyers in other European countries as a procurement standard.

Test Items and Limit Requirements

Technical Standards and Compliance Indicators

LFGB food contact material test items vary depending on the product material.

Assess the total migration of food contact materials in simulated food solvents. Different food

Overall Migration Limits10 mg/dm2 (contact area) or60 mg/kg (food simulant).

Specific migration limits for certain chemicals in plastic materials (per EU 1

Article 31 (must not release substances harmful to health into food)

Article 32 (prohibits AZO colorants, applicable to textile components)

Taste transfer testing (Transfer of Taste/After food contact materials are stored in contact with food (such as water, milk, chocolate, etc.), a professional sensory evaluation panel assesses whether the food is affected by off-odors or off-colors.

Food Type	Simulant	Test Conditions
---------	--------	----------
Aqueous foods	10% ethanol	40 degrees C x 10 days or actual use conditions
Acidic foods	3% acetic acid	40 degrees C x 10 days
Alcoholic foods	20% ethanol	40 degrees C x 10 days
Fatty foods	Iso-octane or 95% ethanol or vegetable oil	40 degrees C x 10 days
Substance	SMLLimits (mg/kg)
------	-----------------
Bisphenol A (BPA)	0.6 (amended to 0.05 from 2018 under EU 2018/213)
Phthalate DEHP	1.5
Phthalate DBP	0.3
Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO)	60
Caprolactam	15
Formaldehyde	15 (specific materials)
Test Items	Limits	Simulant
---------	------	--------
Overall migration	10 mg/dm2 or 60 mg/kg	3% acetic acid / 10% ethanol / iso-octane
Heavy metal migration (as lead)	1 mg/kg	4% acetic acid
Barium (Ba) migration	1 mg/kg	4% acetic acid
Test Items	Limits
---------	------
Decomposable aromatic amines (24 types)	30 mg/kg
Material	Additional Test Items
------	-------------
Silicone	Volatile organic matter (VOM) migration test, limit 0.5%
Metal	Heavy metal migration (lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, etc.)
Ceramic	Lead and cadmium migration (EN 1388 standard)
Paper products	Formaldehyde migration, PCB testing
Rubber	Nitrosamine migration testing, formaldehyde testing

1. Overall Migration Test

2. Specific Migration Test (Specific Migration Limit, SML)

3. LFGB Special Tests (Articles 31 and 32)

4. Sensory Testing

5. Material-specific Additional Testing

Option A

Assessment method: Use the triangle test method, where panel members must identify differences from control samples. If panel members can accurately identify differences

Option B

the product is deemed non-compliant for taste/odor transfer.

Certification Process

Complete Process from Application to Certification

LFGB food contact material certification process is as follows
Step 1	Confirm the product material type and the types of food it contacts.
Step 2	Select applicable simulants based on material and food type and test conditions.
Step 3	Send samples to a laboratory with LFGB testing qualifications (such as German TUV, SGS, etc.).
Step 4	Conduct overall migration, specific migration, sensory testing, and material-specific additional tests.
Step 5	Upon passing the tests, an LFGB test report (also called Bf R report) is issued.
Step 6	Obtain authorization to use the "Glass and Fork Symbol."
Step 7	Mark products with the Glass and Fork Symbol and "food safe" label.

Required Documents and Notes

Required Documents and Materials for Application

Applying for LFGB testing requires the following documents: Product name and model

Product material description (material type for each food-contact component, such as PP

Types of food the product contacts (aqueous

Product usage conditions (use temperature

Samples (each material requires sufficient surface area, typically no less than 1 square decimeter)

Explanation of applicable regulations. Note: Sensory testing for LFGB testing is a feature of the German standard, many materials are qualified for chemical testing but not for sensory testing (odor transfer), low odor materials are recommended. Test Items and limits of different materials are different, it is recommended to confirm the test plan and cost with the laboratory in advance. The knife and fork mark is not a Certification Mark, but an identification of Food Contact Materials, indicating that the product is suitable for food contact. The Global Migration Test is the base Test Items for all Food Contact Materials. Bf R Recommendations have detailed Technical Requirements for specific materials such as Bf R III (Silicone)

BfR V (Polycarbonate)

Bf R VI (Styrene polymers), etc. When exporting products to Germany and Europe, in addition to LFGB, products must also comply with the EU food contact materials framework regulation EC 1935/2004 and material-specific regulations (such as EU 10/2011 for plastics). LFGB testing is destructive testing.

Bf R Recommendations System

The food contact material recommendations published by Bf R (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) form the technical support system for LFGB regulations. Bf R recommendations are divided into multiple categories by material, with each category specifying component limits and testing conditions for different materials. The main Bf R recommendations include: Bf R I (General silicone)

Bf R II (Silicone for food contact)

BfR III (Silicones)

BfR V (Polycarbonate)

Bf R VI (Styrene polymers such as PS

Bf R VII (Polyolefins such as PE

BfR IX (Polyamide PA)

BfR X (PVC and PVDC)

Bf R XV (Rubber and elastomers)

Bf R XXI (Coatings and coatings)

Bf R XXXVI (Paper and paperboard)

BfR LI (Ceramics and enamel)

Bf R LII (Metals). Food contact materials exported to Germany must confirm the applicable Bf R recommendation number and test according to its requirements. Bf R recommendations are regularly updated; it is recommended to monitor the latest version changes. Some Bf R recommendations are stricter than EU harmonized regulations (such as VOM limits in silicone0.5 %); therefore, passing Bf R testing can be considered as simultaneously meeting most EU requirements.

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German LFGB Food Contact Material Testing

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Overview

Applicable Products

Test Items and Limit Requirements

Certification Process

Required Documents and Notes

Bf R Recommendations System

Why Choose Anmai Testing for German LFGB Food Contact Material Testing

Fast Certification

Authoritative Qualification

Professional Team

Transparent Pricing

Global Coverage

Need German LFGB Food Contact Material Testing?