Regulations on UV Inks in the United States

Date: Nov 18 2024 From: Star Color

The standards for UV inks (ultraviolet-cured inks) in the United States primarily involve environmental protection regulations, product safety, and market norms. Below are the main standards and regulations related to UV inks:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Food Contact Materials (FCM): If UV inks are used for printing food packaging materials, they must comply with FDA regulations under 21 CFR Part 170-199. These regulations address the safety of food contact surfaces, requiring that raw materials and additives used must be evaluated to ensure they do not contaminate food.
Low Migration Inks: Especially for UV inks used in food packaging, they need to meet low migration requirements to ensure that the printed ink does not penetrate into the food.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Regulations: According to the Clean Air Act, the EPA has strict limits on the VOC content in UV inks. Although UV inks are generally considered eco-friendly with low VOC emissions, they still need to ensure that their compositions meet EPA standards.
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): The chemical components in UV inks must be registered under TSCA and must not contain prohibited toxic chemicals.
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Workplace Safety: OSHA has strict safety requirements for workplaces using UV inks. Since the UV curing process generates ozone and other harmful chemicals, safety measures such as ventilation and personal protective equipment (e.g., safety goggles and gloves) are required.
ASTM International Standards
ASTM D7767-11: Standard test methods for evaluating the curing performance of UV inks to ensure that their curing effects meet application requirements.
ASTM D3421: Involves testing for ink migration on plastic films, especially the low migration requirements for food packaging.
UL Certification (Underwriters Laboratories)
UL 2809: Relates to sustainable product certification, including the assessment of harmful chemicals in inks. Obtaining UL certification indicates that UV inks meet environmental and safety standards, especially in the field of sustainable packaging.

To comply with regulatory requirements in the United States, enterprises producing UV inks need to:

Ensure compliance with FDA food contact standards (food-grade).
Adhere to EPA VOC emission limits and hazardous substance control requirements.
Ensure workplace safety in accordance with OSHA standards.
Conduct relevant ASTM tests to ensure ink performance and safety.
Obtain certifications such as UL to enhance market credibility.