Food Contact Plastics: Compliance with EU 10/2011 & 1935/2004

At SRT Plastics, we provide the material expertise and precision fabrication required to ensure your components meet the strict EU food contact regulations. All plastic materials intended for contact with food are governed by Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and the specific measures for plastic materials outlined in EU 10/2011. Achieving compliance depends on a detailed analysis of the application, including the specific food type (aqueous, fatty, or acidic), the contact temperature, and the duration of exposure. We specialize in the supply and CNC machining of food-grade polymers such as PETG, Polycarbonate, PP, and HDPE, ensuring that every shield, guide, or housing is manufactured to your drawings and accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and relevant migration declarations.

Technical Requirements for Food Safety & Migration Control

Specifying a "food-safe" plastic is not a singular choice; it is a process that aligns a specific material grade with its intended operating environment. To ensure a valid compliance chain, documentation must bridge the gap between the raw polymer and the final machined part. Explore our guide on how to specify the necessary variables for food-contact components and the documentation required for a successful audit.

What Information We Need

Food Type Temperature And Time

To match a grade and documentation we need to know the medium for example aqueous fatty or acidic the contact temperature and the exposure time. We also need to know if the part is in repeated contact or single contact. Share this at the quote stage so we can respond with realistic options and documentation.

Request A Compliance Ready Quote
Typical Materials For Food Contact

Clear And Opaque Options

Clear shields often use PETG or polycarbonate depending on requirements. Opaque parts may use certain grades of PP HDPE or other approved plastics. Final suitability depends on grade and supplier documentation. We can propose options and share available statements for the selected grade.

See PETG Material Page
Documentation And Supply

Match Grade To Intended Use

For the chosen material we will request available supplier declarations and any relevant statements for the intended use. We cut to size machine and finish parts and ship with a Certificate of Conformity. Keep the link between the selected grade and the application in your records for audits and repeat orders.

Food Contact FAQ - (1935/2004 and 10/2011)

These are the safety rules for any plastic that touches food. Regulation 1935/2004 is the "umbrella" rule stating that materials must not release chemicals into food in amounts that harm human health. EU 10/2011 is the specific "plastics bible"—it lists exactly which chemicals are allowed to be used and how they must be tested.
Plastics behave differently depending on what they touch. For example, a plastic that is safe for dry crackers might leak chemicals if it touches hot, fatty oils. During testing, we look at "migration"—the movement of molecules from the plastic to the food. The duration of contact and the heat levels are critical to ensuring the plastic remains stable and safe for that specific application.
A CoC is the legal proof that a component is safe for food contact. It isn't just a "quality stamp"; it is a document that traces the material back to its origin and confirms it has passed all necessary migration tests. In the food industry, this documentation is mandatory for audits and ensures that every shield or guide in a machine is legally compliant.