Food Contact Analysis
From standard migration testing to supporting regulatory submissions to contaminant risk assessments and investigations, we provide comprehensive analytical support for clients who require food contact testing.
Beyond established limits: How risk assessment supports food contact compliance
Helping you understand how hazard and exposure assessment can support food contact compliance where established regulatory limits are unavailable
Demonstrating compliance for food contact materials can be challenging when established substance-specific migration limits or other regulatory measures are unavailable. Materials such as inks, coatings and adhesives can contain complex mixtures, while non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) can introduce further uncertainty into the assessment process.
In these situations, manufacturers may need to consider how the potential risks associated with a substance can be evaluated using the available scientific evidence. Understanding both the potential hazards and the level of consumer exposure is central to making informed, evidence-based compliance decisions.
This expert article from Smithers’ food contact specialists explores the role of scientific risk assessment in supporting food contact compliance, highlighting the key challenges involved and the approaches that can help organisations assess substances when established limits are unavailable. It considers how analytical testing, hazard and exposure assessment, and regulatory expertise can contribute to evaluating complex compliance challenges and determining an appropriate, evidence-based approach.