Understanding Food Contact Regulations
When hot melt adhesive is used in food packaging, it must comply with food contact regulations in the target market. The two most important regulatory frameworks are FDA (US) and EU 10/2011 (Europe). Compliance is not optional—it is a legal requirement and a critical food safety consideration.
FDA 21 CFR 175.105 (United States)
This regulation covers "Adhesives and coatings intended for repeated or continuous food contact." Key requirements include:
- The adhesive must be formulated from listed raw materials or materials that comply with applicable FDA regulations
- Migration limits must be met: total extraction values must not exceed specified thresholds
- The adhesive must be used within its specified temperature limitations
- Both direct and indirect food contact applications are covered
EU Regulation 10/2011 (European Union)
This regulation covers "plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food." Key requirements include:
- Only authorized substances may be used in the adhesive formulation
- Specific migration limits (SML) apply to individual substances
- Overall migration limit (OML): total migration must not exceed 10 mg/dm²
- Declaration of Compliance (DoC) must be provided to customers
Compliance Documentation
When sourcing food-grade hot melt adhesive, always request the following documentation from your supplier:
- FDA Compliance Statement: Confirming the adhesive meets FDA 21 CFR 175.105 requirements
- EU Declaration of Compliance (DoC): As required by EU 10/2011, listing all substances and their migration limits
- Migration Test Reports: Third-party laboratory test results showing actual migration values
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): Confirming the production batch meets specifications
- REACH/SVHC Statement: Confirming the adhesive does not contain Substances of Very High Concern above threshold levels
Best Practices for Food Packaging Applications
Even with a compliant adhesive, proper application practices are essential:
- Use dedicated equipment for food-grade adhesives—do not mix with non-food-grade products
- Implement regular cleaning schedules to prevent contamination
- Store food-grade adhesive separately from non-food-grade products
- Maintain batch traceability records for each production run
- Conduct regular audits of your adhesive application process
Our Food-Grade Products
Jiajian offers a range of food-grade hot melt adhesives that comply with both FDA and EU regulations. Our Food-Grade Packaging Hot Melt Adhesive is specifically formulated for food packaging applications. Full compliance documentation is provided with every shipment. Contact us for documentation samples.