Overview

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

LFGB is a federal law administered by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and is one of the strictest food grade 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 framework law, with specific technical requirements specified in recommendations issued by BfR (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).

Products that pass LFGB testing may use the "Glass and Fork Symbol," which is highly recognized among consumers in Germany and across Europe.

02

Applicable Product Scope

Applicable product and service categories

LFGB food grade testing applies to the following products: food packaging materials (plastic film, paper cartons, metal cans, glass bottles, etc.), tableware and kitchenware (cutlery, bowls, plates, pots, cups, etc.), food processing equipment (mixers, food containers, etc.), food-contact parts of small household appliances (e.g., coffee machine internal tubing), children's tableware and feeding articles (baby bottles, sippy cups, etc.), food storage containers (food storage boxes, sealed jars, etc.), cooking utensils (spatulas, tongs, baking molds, etc.), and beverage containers (water bottles, thermoses, etc.). LFGB applies not only to the German market; its stringent testing requirements are also frequently demanded by buyers in other European countries as a procurement standard.

03

Test Items and Limit Requirements

Technical standards and compliance indicators

LFGB food grade testing items vary by product material,

Evaluates the overall migration of food contact materials in food simulating solvents. Different food

Overall Migration Limit10 mg/dm² (contact area) or 60 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 (banned azo dyes, applies to textile parts)

Taste Transfer Test (Transfer of Taste/Food contact materials are stored in contact with food (e.g., water, milk, chocolate, etc.), then a professional sensory evaluation panel assesses whether the food has been affected by off-taste or off-color.

Food Type	Simulant	Test Conditions
---------	--------	----------
Aqueous food	10% ethanol	40°C x 10 days or actual use conditions
Acidic food	3% acetic acid	40°C x 10 days
Alcoholic food	20% ethanol	40°C x 10 days
Fatty food	Isooctane or 95% ethanol or vegetable oil	40°C x 10 days
Substance	SML Limit (mg/kg)
------	-----------------
Bisphenol A (BPA)	0.6 (amended to 0.05 by EU 2018/213 from 2018)
Phthalate DEHP	1.5
Phthalate DBP	0.3
Epoxidized soybean oil plasticizer	60
Caprolactam	15
Formaldehyde	15 (specific materials)
Test Item	Limit	Simulant
---------	------	--------
Overall migration	10 mg/dm² or 60 mg/kg	3% acetic acid / 10% ethanol / isooctane
Heavy metal migration (as Pb)	1 mg/kg	4% acetic acid
Barium (Ba) migration	1 mg/kg	4% acetic acid
Test Item	Limit
---------	------
Cleavable 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, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) testing
Rubber	Nitrosamine migration testing, formaldehyde testing

1. Overall Migration Testing

2. Specific Migration Testing (SML)

3. LFGB Special Testing (Articles 31 and 32)

4. Sensory Testing

5. Additional Testing for Specific Materials

Option A

Evaluation method: Uses triangle test method. Panel members must identify differences from the control sample. If panel members can accurately identify differences

Option B

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

04

Certification Process

Complete steps from application to certification

LFGB Food Grade Certification Process
Step 1	Confirm product material type and food types in contact.
Step 2	Select applicable simulants and test conditions based on material and food type.
Step 3	Submit samples to an LFGB-accredited laboratory (e.g., TUV Germany, SGS, etc.).
Step 4	Conduct overall migration, specific migration, sensory testing, and material-specific additional testing.
Step 5	Issue LFGB test report (also known as BfR report) upon successful testing.
Step 6	Obtain authorization to use the "Glass and Fork Symbol."
Step 7	Affix the Glass and Fork symbol and "food safe" label on products.

05

Required Documents & Notes

Required documents and materials checklist

The following documents are required for LFGB testing: Product name and model

Product material description (material type for each food-contact part, e.g., PP

Food types in contact (aqueous

Product use conditions (operating temperature

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

Applicable regulations. Note: The sensory test in LFGB testing is a distinctive feature of the German standard. Many materials pass chemical testing but fail sensory testing (off-taste transfer); low-odor materials are recommended. Test items and limits differ by material; confirm the testing plan and cost with the laboratory in advance. The Glass and Fork symbol is not a certification mark but a food contact material symbol indicating the product is suitable for food contact. Overall migration testing is the fundamental test for all food contact materials. BfR Recommendations contain detailed technical requirements for specific materials, e.g., BfR III (silicone)

BfR V (polycarbonate)

BfR VI (styrene polymers), etc. When exporting products to Germany and Europe, in addition to LFGB, products must also comply with EU food contact material framework regulation EC 1935/2004 and material-specific regulations (e.g., EU 10/2011 plastic regulation). LFGB testing is destructive testing.

06

BfR Recommendation System

The food contact material recommendations published by BfR (German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) form the technical support system for LFGB regulations. BfR Recommendations are divided into multiple categories by material, each specifying composition limits and test conditions for different materials. The main BfR Recommendations include: BfR I (general silicone)

BfR II (silicone for food contact)

BfR III (silicones)

BfR V (polycarbonate)

BfR VI (styrene polymers such as PS

BfR VII (polyolefins such as PE

BfR IX (polyamide PA)

BfR X (PVC and PVDC)

BfR XV (rubber and elastomers)

BfR XXI (coatings and coatings)

BfR XXXVI (paper and board)

BfR LI (ceramics and enamel)

BfR LII (metals). Food contact materials exported to Germany must confirm the applicable BfR Recommendation number and test according to its requirements. BfR Recommendations are regularly updated; stay informed of the latest version changes. Some BfR Recommendations are stricter than EU harmonized regulations (e.g., VOM limit in silicone 0.5 %), therefore passing BfR testing can be considered as meeting most EU requirements simultaneously.

07

Why Choose Anmai Testing for Germany LFGB Food Grade Testing

Why choose Anmai Testing

⚡

Fast Issuance

Germany LFGB Food Grade Testing fast track

🏆

Authoritative Qualifications

ISO 17025 Accredited

👨‍💼

Professional Team

Senior engineers

💰

Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees

🌐

Global Coverage

One report accepted worldwide

Need Germany LFGB food grade testing?

Professional engineers will evaluate your plan for free with fast certification processing

📞 Contact Now: 13580719200

Germany LFGB Food Grade Testing

Free Consultation

Professional Testing

Document Assistance

Fast Certification