Food-Grade Ink Regulations and Industry Standards

Date: Mar 13 2025 From: Star Color

Food-grade ink is specially designed for printing on food packaging, food labels, and food-contact materials with safety in mind. Its formulation and production process must comply with strict food safety standards to ensure that no chemical components migrate into food or release harmful substances, thereby protecting consumer health. Food-grade inks typically do not contain heavy metals, toxic solvents, or other potentially hazardous substances and must comply with international and domestic food-contact material regulations, such as EU (EU) 10/2011, U.S. FDA 21 CFR, and China GB 9685-2016.

I. Key Characteristics of Food-Grade Ink

Low Migration: Free from volatile or harmful chemicals to prevent migration into food.
Non-Toxic and Environmentally Friendly: Does not contain heavy metals, toxic solvents, or other hazardous substances.
Regulatory Compliance: Meets international food safety standards, including EU, U.S. FDA, and China GB requirements.
Heat and Weather Resistance: Suitable for high-temperature sterilization, refrigeration, and other food packaging environments.
Excellent Printability: Compatible with various printing methods such as flexography, gravure, offset, and inkjet printing.

Food-Grade Ink Regulations and Industry Standards

II. Regulations and Standards for Food-Grade Ink

1. International Standards

European Union (EU) Regulations:
- (EC) No 1935/2004 – Framework regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
- (EU) No 10/2011 – Regulation on plastic materials and articles intended for food contact, including ink migration limits.
- Swiss Ordinance SR 817.023.21 – Swiss packaging ink regulation requiring the use of substances from a specific positive list.
U.S. FDA Regulations:
- 21 CFR 170-199 – Safety requirements for food-contact substances.
- Use of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) substances.
Japan:
- The Japanese Food Sanitation Law imposes strict regulations on solvent residues in food packaging materials.

2. Chinese Standards

GB 4806.1-2016 – National Food Safety Standard: General safety requirements for food-contact materials and articles.
GB 9685-2016 – National Food Safety Standard: Standards for the use of additives in food-contact materials and articles.
QB/T 2952-2008 – Food packaging ink standards.
HJ 2537-2014 – Environmental labeling requirements for ink products, emphasizing eco-friendly inks.

III. Testing and Certification of Food-Grade Ink

Food-grade ink must undergo rigorous migration tests, including:

Overall Migration Limit (OML):
- EU standard: OML ≤ 10 mg/dm² (for food-contact materials).
Specific Migration Limits (SML): Tests for the migration of specific harmful substances, such as:
- Primary Aromatic Amines (PAAs): SML ≤ 0.01 mg/kg (EU regulation).
- Bisphenol A (BPA): SML ≤ 0.05 mg/kg (EU 10/2011 regulation).
- Phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP): SML ≤ 0.1 mg/kg (EU REACH regulation).
- Benzo[a]pyrene: SML ≤ 0.01 mg/kg (GB 9685-2016).
Heavy Metal Content: Must comply with EU EN 71-3 and China GB 9685 standards:
- Lead (Pb) ≤ 1.0 mg/kg
- Cadmium (Cd) ≤ 0.1 mg/kg
- Mercury (Hg) ≤ 0.1 mg/kg
- Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) ≤ 0.1 mg/kg
Microbiological Testing: Ensures that the ink does not promote bacterial growth that could compromise food safety.

The development of food-grade ink is crucial for food packaging safety. With increasingly stringent global food safety regulations, manufacturers must strictly adhere to national and international standards, using safe and environmentally friendly raw materials and production processes to meet market and consumer demands.

Starcolor Food-Grade Water-Based Ink strictly complies with FDA, EU 10/2011, and China GB 9685 food safety standards. It features an aromatic-free formula, is free from phthalates, heavy metals, and other hazardous substances, and eliminates migration risks from the source. The product has been tested and certified by authoritative institutions, ensuring safety when in direct contact with food.