EU Food Contact Materials · Reg (EC) 1935/2004

Does your material need food-contact compliance?

If your packaging or kitchenware touches food, the EU food-contact-material rules apply. Pick your material and find out which EU specific measure applies, the obligations, and whether you need a Declaration of Compliance.

The rule, in one line

The framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 covers all materials intended to come into contact with food — they must be safe and inert, made under Good Manufacturing Practice (Regulation (EC) 2023/2006), and carry the right labelling. Specific measures then apply per material: plastics under Regulation (EU) 10/2011 (overall migration limit 10 mg/dm²), recycled plastic, ceramics, and more. A written Declaration of Compliance is required at business-to-business stages for materials covered by a specific measure.

Official sources: Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 · Regulation (EU) 10/2011 · European Commission

Check your material

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Check your material

The material your food-contact article is made of. Different materials have different EU specific measures.

FCM rules apply to materials intended to come into contact with food (or that can reasonably be expected to).

A Declaration of Compliance is required at business-to-business stages, not at retail to the final consumer.

In scope — food-contact obligations

5mandatory obligations

Specific measure: Regulation (EU) 10/2011 (plastics)

Compliance checklist

  • Ensure the material is safe and inert — it must not transfer constituents to food in quantities that endanger health or change the foodRegulation (EC) 1935/2004, Art. 3
  • Manufacture under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 (GMP)
  • Label the material 'for food contact' (or with the glass-and-fork symbol) and give any use instructionsRegulation (EC) 1935/2004, Art. 15
  • Provide a written Declaration of Compliance and keep supporting documentation availableRegulation (EC) 1935/2004, Art. 16 + Reg (EU) 10/2011, Art. 16
  • Verify migration limits — the overall migration limit is 10 mg per dm² of food-contact surface, plus the specific migration limits for listed substancesRegulation (EU) 10/2011 (overall + specific migration limits)

Per-material export

FCM compliance pack (PDF) · €29

A print-ready pack: your scope determination, the applicable EU specific measure, the obligations checklist and Declaration-of-Compliance pointers — built from the answers above.

This is guidance, not legal advice. The export restates the FCM rules for your inputs; migration testing is done by an accredited lab.

What this tool is — and isn't

This checker restates the EU food-contact-material framework (Regulation (EC) 1935/2004) and the specific measures for the material you describe. It is an estimate and orientation, not legal advice, and it does not list the per-substance specific migration limits. Migration testing must be done by an accredited laboratory; verify against the linked official sources.

FCM rules last reviewed June 2026.All points verified against EUR-Lex and the European Commission (2026-06-14).

How the determination works

1. Is it a food-contact material?

The framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 applies to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. If yours is, it must be safe and inert (Art 3), made under Good Manufacturing Practice, and correctly labelled.

2. Which specific measure applies?

Plastics are covered by Regulation (EU) 10/2011 (overall migration limit 10 mg/dm²); recycled plastic by Reg (EU) 2022/1616; ceramics by Directive 84/500/EEC; active & intelligent materials by Reg (EC) 450/2009; regenerated cellulose by Dir 2007/42/EC. Glass, metals, paper & board and others have no EU-harmonised measure — the framework plus national rules apply.

3. Documentation

A written Declaration of Compliance is required at business-to-business stages for materials covered by a specific measure (Art 16), with supporting documentation. For plastics, verify the overall migration limit (10 mg/dm²) and the specific migration limits.

Frequently asked questions

Which materials are covered by the FCM rules?
All materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (Regulation (EC) 1935/2004) — packaging, kitchenware, processing equipment and more. Specific measures then apply per material.
What is the overall migration limit?
For plastics (Regulation (EU) 10/2011), the overall migration limit is 10 mg of total constituents released per dm² of food-contact surface, plus specific migration limits for individual listed substances.
Do I need a Declaration of Compliance?
Yes, at business-to-business marketing stages, for materials covered by a specific measure (Art 16 of Reg (EC) 1935/2004). It is not required at retail to the final consumer.
My material has no specific EU measure — what then?
Glass, metals, paper & board and others have no EU-harmonised specific measure. The framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 (safety, inertness, GMP, labelling) still applies, plus any national rules of the Member States where you sell.
Do I have to do migration testing myself?
Migration testing is done by an accredited laboratory. This tool tells you that the overall migration limit (10 mg/dm²) and the specific migration limits must be verified for plastics — it does not perform the test.
Is this legal advice?
No. This tool restates the FCM framework and specific measures for the material you describe. It is orientation, not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.

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