FDBusiness.com

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has launched the SGS Food Contact Product Certification Mark to help manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate the safety and performance of their products in regulated, global markets.

Food contact materials (FCM) must not endanger human health or alter the food or drink they are in contact with through chemical substance release. Consumers and regulatory authorities now want evidence that products have been independently verified as safe, functional and compliant with market requirements.

The SGS Food Contact Product Certification Mark covers both mandatory safety requirements and voluntary performance parameters. It improves traceability and builds consumer confidence while simplifying market access and delivering competitive advantage.

SGS’s comprehensive testing and certification solution covers the full range of FCM product categories, including preparation wear (e.g., bibs, napkins etc.), utensils (e.g., bake- or cookware etc.), serving utensils (e.g., drink- and tableware), implements (e.g., cutlery or chopsticks etc.) and food containers (e.g., lunchboxes or foils etc.).

Utilizing state-of-the-art testing solutions, they can test materials and products made from:

• Plastic, rubber & silicone
• Metals & alloys
• Vitreous (glass, ceramic, enamel)
• Paper & paperboard

With SGS’s experience of critical parameters and target market requirements, they define the testing scope to ensure it meets the requirements of the market and manufacturer/supplier.  Certification is offered as either ‘Food Safe’ or ‘Food Safe and Performance’ and is a clear indication that a product complies with all relevant standards required to succeed in competitive, regulated markets like USA, EU, Great Britain, Switzerland and China.

Certified products can display the SGS Food Contact Product Certification Mark, which includes:

• Evidence of independent certification by a trusted service provider
• Information on the criteria against which the product was assessed (safety/performance)
• QR code linked to the ProCert client database

At a time when regulatory authorities and consumers are demanding independent verification that products are safe and will perform effectively, the SGS Food Contact Product Certification Mark shows manufacturers/suppliers have gone beyond basic compliance, building trust in their products and gaining competitive advantage in global markets.