HMC Adopts FDA Standards
HMC Polymers has now adopted the food contact standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all polypropylene grades.
The FDA is the government agency that regulates all matters in elation to food (and drugs) in the United States and is considered the U.S. expert on the subject. All HMC grades conform to FDA standards for food contact. This offers HMC customers the benefit that their products will meet stringent and internationally recognized food contact standards. In addition, customers have the potential for U.S. acceptance of their products on the basis of meeting those standards.
The FDA has regulated food contact materials since 1958 and has developed a wide-ranging set of regulations covering most classes of food packaging materials including: plastics, paper, adhesives, plastics additives, resinous coatings and many others.
The FDA regulation (U.S. FDA) describes the allowed limits of any possible substance migration (e.g. additives) into plastics, when coming in contact with food. Over the years, the FDA regulations have been adopted by many countries around the world, making them a trusted international standard.
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations:
The FDA status in relation to the application of polypropylene in contact with food is: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 177.1520. There are other applicable FDA regulations which are termed “end use regulations” because they apply to the final articles such as Part 177.1210 – Closures with Sealing Gaskets for Food Containers and Part 177.2600 – Rubber Articles Intended for Repeated Use. To fully comply with the end use food contact regulations, the manufacturer of a particular product must test that product and obtain official certification for its use.
Products manufactured by HMC Polymers meet the FDA requirements contained in the Code of Federal Regulations – 21 CFR 177.1520.; and as such, we declare the approved FDA requirements in our HMC RAPIDS (Regulatory Affairs Product Stewardship Information/Certification Data Sheet) which are downloadable for each product grade sold. For example: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of HMC grade EP300H
“The base resin in this product meets the FDA requirements contained in the Code of Federal Regulations in 21 CFR 177.1520(a)(3)(i) and ©3.1a, 3.2a. According to our information, all other ingredients used in this product meet the requirements of their respective FDA regulations and 21 CFR 177.1520(b). This product meets the FDA criteria in 21 CFR 177.1520 for food contact applications, including cooking, listed under conditions of use A through H in 21 CFR 176.170©, Table 2 and can be used in contact with all food types as listed in 21 CFR 176.170©, Table 1.”
Additional detail of the FDA requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations in 21 CFR 177.1520 is listed below:
- 21 CFR 177.1520(a)(3)(i) provides definition for olefin basic copolymer as “the catalytic copolymerization of two or more of the one alkenes having two to eight carbon atoms”
- 21 CFR 177.1520©3.1a provides definition for olefin copolymer for use in an article that contacts food except for articles used for packing or holding food during cooking
- 21 CFR 177.1520©3.2a provides definition for olefin copolymer for use in articles used for packing or holding food during cooking
- 21 CFR 177.1520(b) provides definition for optional adjuvant substances are listed
- 21 CFR 176.170©, Table 2 provides definition for test procedures with temperature conditions for determining amount of extractives from the food contact surface
- 21 CFR 176.170©, Table 1 provides definition for types of raw and processed foods
It’s good for our customers to know that the grades they purchase from HMC Polymers are manufactured and calibrated to a globally recognized high standard for use with food.
Contact HMC Polymers Sales to discuss how our family of PP grades not only allow your packaging to be stronger, lighter, clearer and easier to process; but also certified safe for food contact by the U.S. FDA.
sales@hmcpolymers.com