FOOD SAFETY INFORMATION acid anhydrides), phenols, alcohols, and thiols. These co-reactants are often referred to as hardeners or curatives, and the cross-linking reaction is commonly referred to as curing. Reaction of polyepoxides with themselves or with polyfunctional hardeners forms a thermosetting polymer, often with strong mechanical properties as well as high temperature and chemical resistance. In order to prevent any risk to human health, Regulation 10/2011 sets overall and specific migration limits applicable to substances constituting the materials and articles in question, These migration limits correspond to the maximum amount of substances that materials and articles may transfer to food. They are expressed in mg of substance per kg of food (mg/ kg). Additionally, Regulation EC 1895/2005[6] restricts the use of, and lays down, specific migration limits for certain epoxy derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, i.e., • 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane bis(2,3-epoxy propyl) ether, referred to as ‘BADGE’ (CAS No 001675-54-3), and some of its derivatives • bis(hydroxyphenyl)methane bis(2,3-epoxypropyl) ethers, referred to as ‘BFDGE’ (CAS No 03981709-9) • other novolac glycidyl ethers, referred to as ‘NOGE’ Plastics and epoxy resins have a wide range of industrial applications, including their use in the manufacture of food industry cleaning equipment. As such they are subject to migration testing in compliance with Regulations 10/2011 and 1895/2005. Migration testing should be conducted by an independent, accredited laboratory using the prescribed test methods, for example, • BS EN 1186-2:2002[7] - Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs. Plastics. Test methods for *overall migration into olive oil by total immersion BS EN 1186-3:2002[8] - Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs. Plastics. Test methods for overall migration into aqueous food ***simulants by total immersion All plastic materials and articles must comply with *specific migration limits and **overall migration limits. Migration test certificates should be available for inspection by legislators, auditors and customers on request. *’ specific migration limit’ (SML) means the maximum permitted amount of a given substance released from a material or article into food or food ***simulants. **’ overall migration limit’ (OML) means the maximum permitted amount of non-volatile substances released from a material or article into food ***simulants. *** food simulant’ means a test medium imitating food; in its behaviour the food simulant mimics migration from food contact materials. The manufacturer of the plastic equipment must draw up an accompanying, written ‘Declaration of Compliance’ in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation EC 1935/2004, containing the information set out in Annex IV of Regulation EC 10/2011, including, • the identity and address of the business operator issuing the declaration of compliance; • the identity and address of the business operator which manufactures or imports the plastic materials or articles or products from intermediate stages of their manufacturing or the substances intended for the manufacturing of those materials and articles; • the identity of the materials, the articles, products from intermediate stages of manufacture or the substances intended for the manufacturing of those materials and articles; Vikan A/S - Department of Research & Development 03Copyright © 2015 Vikan A/S · All Rights Reserved
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