The "Food Safety National Standard for Ink for Food Contact Materials and Products" (GB 4806.14-2023) is China's first national standard for ink for food contact materials and products, officially released on September 25, 2023, and will be implemented on September 6, 2024. The publication of the standard aims to regulate the production and use of ink for food contact materials and products to ensure food safety and safeguard the health of consumers.
This standard applies to ink used for food contact materials and products and the ink layer formed by it, clearly specifies that "ink used for food contact materials and products" is intended to be printed on food contact materials and products, direct contact with food or indirect contact with food but its ingredients may be transferred to food ink, including the light oil used with ink.
According to whether the ink is in direct contact with food, the standard divides the ink into two categories: "direct contact with food ink" and "indirect contact with food ink". These two types of inks have different requirements on the use of basic raw materials and additives to ensure the safety of the ink. In order to ensure the safety of ink for food contact, the standard specifies the following basic requirements: ink for food contact materials and products should first meet the provisions of GB 4806.1, and its production and printing process should meet the provisions of GB 31603. The basic raw materials and additives for ink used in direct contact with food should use substances that can be directly added to food, and the list of substances should comply with GB 2760 and related announcements. The base material of inks for indirect contact with food should be the base material that has been evaluated for safety and allowed to be used in other materials, and the list of additive substances should be GB 9685 and related announcements.
Taking into account the particularity of the later use of ink, the standard points out that the migration test of "direct contact with food ink" and "indirect contact with food ink" will be carried out, and the migration test should be carried out with reference to the final product standard after printing. Label identification and traceability: the label identification of ink and the traceability of all links of the supply chain are stipulated to ensure that the source and use of ink can be traced.
The release and implementation of the "Food Safety National Standard Ink for Food Contact Materials and Products" (GB 4806.14-2023) will have a profound impact on the production and use of ink for food contact materials and products in China. By clarifying the scope of application, product classification, basic requirements and other requirements, the standard will effectively regulate the production and use of ink, reduce food safety risks, and protect consumer health.
